Apricot and cherry growers from California’s Central Coast counties can participate in a Fruit Institute on Feb. 13, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at the Veterans Memorial Building, 649 San Benito Street, Hollister, Calif.

Here’s the program:

8:30 – Pesticide regulations – Ron Ross, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner, San Benito County

9:00 – Insect management for apricot and cherry orchards, chill accumulations – Bill Coates, University of California (UC) Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Farm Advisor, fruit and nut crops, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and Monterey counties

9:30 – Break

10:00 – Zinc nutrition – Dr. Scott Johnson, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis and Kearney Agricultural Center

10:30 – Eutypa and other limb dieback diseases and bacterial canker of cherry and apricot trees – Dr. Doug Gubler, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis

11:00 – Bloom and pre-harvest diseases of sweet cherries and apricots – Dr. Jim Adaskaveg, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Riverside

11:30 – Pollinator considerations – Dr. Eric Mussen, Department of Entomology, UC Davis

Application for continuing education credits has been made through the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (1.5 hours pest management, 0.5 hour laws and regulations).

All-day parking is available on East Street behind the Veterans Building and on the Veterans Building side of 7th Street.

For more information, call Bill Coats at (831) 637-5346 or by e-mail at [email protected].