August 19, 2005

Fruit, vegetable growers can get information at Purdue center

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Fruit and vegetable farmers and market gardeners will have the opportunity to tour the Meigs Horticultural Facility at the Throckmorton Purdue University Agricultural Center 5-8 p.m. Sept. 7 in West Lafayette, Ind.

Participants of the Fruit and Vegetable Twilight Meeting will be able to look at pumpkin and sweet corn variety plots as well as apple and grape research plots. Many specialists will be on hand to discuss and answer questions about issues concerning growers today.

"In the past, these meetings were more informal and included a lot of one-on-one discussion. This year, we'll still have time for one-on-one, but we're also planning for brief reports to be given to the group as a whole," said Liz Maynard, a Purdue Extension specialist of commercial vegetable and floriculture crops.

These topics and speakers will include:

• Harvest practices for produce safety - Shari Plimpton, Center for Innovative Food Technology and food safety educator with the Ohio and Indiana Specialty Crop Food Safety Initiative.

• Grape varieties and training systems - Bruce Bordelon, Purdue Extension horticulture specialist.

• Apple varieties, dwarf apple pruning and training and organic apple production - Anish Malladi, graduate student in horticulture and landscape architecture.

• Organic vegetable research - Steve Weller, Purdue Extension horticulture specialist.

• Pumpkin and sweet corn variety plots - Liz Maynard, Purdue Extension horticulture specialist, NW Commercial Horticulture Program.

• Cantaloupe and watermelon trial highlights - Chris Gunter, Purdue Extension specialist in the Southwest Purdue Ag Program.

• Pumpkin disease management - Dan Egel, Extension specialist, Southwest Purdue Ag Program.

• Pumpkin insect management - Frankie Lam, Extension specialist, Southwest Purdue Ag Program.

• Update on Sandea herbicide trials - Steve Weller.

• Sweet corn insect management - Kate Girsch, graduate student in entomology.

"The Twilight Meeting is really geared more for growers wishing to sell their products," said Maynard. "But, all growers would probably find the new varieties being grown and the new organic vegetable research at Meigs farm interesting."

An optional dinner will be served immediately following the tours and will cost $5 per person. There is no cost for the tour itself, and those wishing to register should call (219) 785-5674 and leave a message with their name and number of people attending. For program information, contact Liz Maynard at (219) 785-5673.

This program is sponsored by Purdue Extension, Purdue Ag Centers and the Departments of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Botany and Plant Pathology, and Entomology. For information on the Twilight Meeting go online.

Writer: Jennifer Culy, (765) 494-8402, jculy@purdue.edu

Source: Liz Maynard, (219) 785-5483, emaynard@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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