The 2019 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention will be held Jan. 29-31 at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa. More than 2,400 fruit, vegetable and berry growers are expected to attend, as well as other industry people from the Mid-Atlantic and beyond.

There will be several preconvention workshops, a farm market bus tour and a trade show with over 165 exhibitors, plus three days of six or more concurrent educational sessions.

This year’s keynote speaker is Andy Masters, an award-winning author and international speaker on various leadership and customer service topics who has presented over 750 programs across North America. 

Masters’ keynote speech, “Leadership Lessons from Hollywood,” will be held the opening day of the convention. He has written five books and earned four degrees. He is the author of the award-winning book "Kiss Your Customer: 77 Reasons Why Sales & Service Are Just Like Dating & Relationships.” His latest book is “Things LEADERS Say: A Daily Guide to Help Every Leader Empower & Inspire.”  

Workshops and training sessions
Preconvention activities include a bus tour of farm markets and several different workshops, including food safety grower training; pros and cons of thinning apples early; irrigation basics; high tunnel bramble production; a greenhouse short course; an introduction to social media; and Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator License training.

Jan. 29 will feature sessions on season extension and high tunnels, organic vegetables, tree fruit, wildlife controls, general vegetables, irrigation, allium pests, snap beans, cut flowers, edible flowers, wholesale marketing, food trends and farm market bakeries.

Sessions on Jan. 30 include tomatoes, tree fruit, stone fruit, farm market trends, farm market financial management, small fruit, wine grapes, greenhouse ornamentals, soil health and general vegetables. 

Also offered will be the session “Técnicas de Producción de Frutas y Hortalizas” for Spanish-speaking workers in the fruit and vegetable industries.

The final day of the convention will feature sessions on sweet corn, pumpkins and vine crops, peppers and eggplant, greenhouse vegetables, tree fruit, small fruit, stone fruit, potatoes, pollinators, farm management, creative direct marketing and social media skills will be featured.

Awards banquet and cider contest
The 13th annual Mid-Atlantic Cider Contest will be conducted during the convention to determine the best-tasting cider produced in the region. On Jan. 29, fruit and vegetable growers will gather for the annual Fruit and Vegetable Growers Banquet, which will include awards and recognitions.

Registration is required for all persons attending the convention trade show or educational sessions. Registration with any of the five sponsoring organizations allows one to attend any of the sessions although there are additional charges for workshops and meals.

For more information, go to mafvc.org or call 717-677-4184 or 717-694-3596.         

Source: Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention