Writer: Paul Schattenberg, 210-859-5752, paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Larry Stein: 830-278-9151, Larry.Stein@ag.tamu.edu
NEW BRAUNFELS — The sixth annual Texas Fruit Conference, scheduled for Oct. 2-3 at the City of New Braunfels Civic Convention Center, 325 S. Castell Ave., will offer a comprehensive program for novice and experienced fruit growers, coordinators said.
Early-bird registration is $65 per person by Sept 10. Regular online registration is from Sept. 11-28 is $75/person and on-site registration Oct. 2 is $85 per person. All registration includes lunch on Oct. 3.
The sixth annual Texas Fruit Conference focusing on perennial fruits will be held Oct. 2-3 at the City of New Braunfels Convention Center, 375 S. Castell Ave. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo)
Dr. Larry Stein, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist, Uvalde, said the conference focuses on berries, fruit trees and citrus suitable for cropping over multiple years.
“We also address grapes, peaches, blackberries and blueberries,” he said. “This year, we will give attention to land preparation and have basic information about irrigation and how to prepare the soil for planting.”
Stein said the conference typically draws anyone from the commercial producer to fruit enthusiasts and non-commercial fruit hobbyists to people just trying to figure out what to do with their rural property.
“We get an eclectic audience but everyone there has a common interest in growing perennial fruit,” he said. “There will be a lot at the conference for enthusiasts and hobbyists, and we’ll also have Monte Nesbitt, an AgriLife Extension program specialist in pecan, fruit and citrus from College Station, plus Jim Kamas, an AgriLife Extension fruit specialist from the Hill County, whose presentations should appeal to small and commercial fruit producers.”
Conference rates have been established with two New Braunfels Hotels. Courtyard Marriott River Village offers rates of $99 per night, http://www.guestreservations.com/courtyard-new-braunfels-river-village/booking. Fairfield Inn and Suites New Braunfels offers a rate of $79 per night. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/satbf-fairfield-inn-and-suites-new-braunfels.
Conference registration is available at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/Fruit
Stein said the pest management component of the conference should be of particular interest to established growers.
The program will offer six Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units in general, integrated pest management and laws and regulations.
The educational program this year has three components — Basic Training for New Fruit Growers, CEU Recertification and The Future of Fruit Growing in Texas — and will include a Texas fruit tasting.
The basic training component will include detailed information on how to make a successful start with a new fruit orchard. Topics include evaluating and preparing soil for a new orchard; irrigation system installation, management and modification, reducing tree and vine failure through planting and establishment practices and fruit variety selection by region.
The CEU component will cover pesticide laws and regulations; fruit crop herbicides and ground rig sprayer calibration; fruit crop fungicides and tree sprayer calibration; fruit crop insecticides for grasshoppers, scales, borers, stink bugs and other pests.
“We are offering even more CEUs at this year’s conference during a four-hour program Oct. 3,” Stein said.
The component on the future of growing fruit in Texas will take an in-depth look at stone fruits, pome fruits, citrus, berries and other important fruits, as well as challenges and opportunities on the horizon for these fruits as part of the state’s agriculture.
“During this part of the program, we will review and look forward at the challenges and past successes we have had with peaches, apples, pears and minor fruit crops,” Stein said. “We’ll discuss what went right or wrong with these crops, look at some of the most recent research on them and consider how we might approach things differently in the future. This should be interesting for even some of our more accomplished growers.”
Stein said the fruit tasting of fall-season, Texas-grown fruits has become an important part of the evert and has been expanded for this year’s conference.
“We’ll be bringing in some additional fruits grown in Texas in as well as some value-added products for this portion of the program, which is being sponsored by the Texas Fruit Growers association,” he said.
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