December 17, 2018
Indiana Horticultural Congress to offer top crop of experts
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Indiana Horticultural Congress and Trade Show, held Feb. 12-14, will give fruit and vegetable producers and marketers from Indiana and surrounding states the opportunity to network while learning critical information about production, marketing, pest and disease control, farm management, and food safety.
The three-day program will be at the Marriott East, 7202 E. 21st St., Indianapolis. Program tracks cover the broad areas of business and marketing, fresh vegetables, food safety, fruit, organic farming, wine grape, raw products, greenhouse and high-tunnel production.
The trade show features vendors of products for the specialty crop industry such as seeds, plant protection items, processed foods and irrigation supplies.
"Our educational sessions will feature top experts to meet the needs of growers and marketers for information that directly impacts their operations and their bottom lines," said Peter Hirst, chair of the Indiana Horticultural Congress and a Purdue University professor of horticulture. "There will also be ample opportunity for attendees to network with their peers and connect with businesses through our trade show and at luncheons and social events."
This year's IHC will include a special session called "Climate and Food Crops: Climate Information, Tools and Needs for Indiana Fruit and Vegetable Production and Planning." Presenters for additional sessions include Purdue faculty, staff and Extension specialists as well as experts from California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri New York, Ohio and Tennessee.
Other special events include:
* Trade show social hour.
* Cider judging contest for Indiana cider makers.
* Silent auction to benefit the fruit and vegetable extension and research fund.
* Hort Congress social hour.
* Raw products luncheon.
* IHC luncheon.
Certified private pesticide applicators may attend recertification sessions for a small additional fee. Participants must provide their private applicator license number to receive recertification credit. Continuing certification hours for licensed commercial applicators will be available as well as continuing education units for certified crop advisers, certified professional agronomists, certified professional soil scientists and soil classifiers.
Those interested in attending the Indiana Horticultural Congress and Trade Show can register online at https://www.inhortcongress.org/registation/. Students and educators are eligible for free admission. Three-day and one-day registration packages are available. Cost of the three-day registration is $140 for the first member and $115 for additional attendees from the same operation if made before Dec. 31. Prices increase by $20 after that date.
Special hotel rates for attendees are $138 per night at the Marriott East and $128 per night at the Delta Indianapolis East if rooms are reserved before Jan. 11. Reservations can be made via the link on the IHC website or by calling 1-800-991-3346 and requesting the IHC block rate.
IHC sponsorships are still available for businesses wanting to increase their brand awareness. Those interested can go to https://www.inhortcongress.org/sponsorship/ for details.
For more information, contact Lori Jolly-Brown, events and communications coordinator for Purdue's Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, at 765-494-1296, ljollybr@purdue.edu.
Media contact: Maureen Manier, Purdue Agricultural Communication, mmanier@purdue.edu
Source: Lori Jolly-Brown, 765-494-1296, ljollybr@purdue.edu
Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu
