Lufkin will host the East Texas Fruit and Vegetable Conference in just a couple of weeks on Friday, Feb. 17. Held annually across East Texas, theLufkin’s Pitser Garrison Convention Center in Lufkin is the site for this year’s event.
The program offers some new, advanced topics as well as plenty for the home gardener. Registration before Feb. 10 is $30 and $50 per couple. Fees at the door are $40 and $60 per couple. Lunch, snacks and materials are all included in the fee. The day starts off at 8 am for registration and 8:30 begins the day’s program.
Three general sessions at the beginning include: Wild Pigs Conflict Resolution, Pest Management in Raised Beds/ High Tunnels, and Bees & Pollinators. The session on bees and pollinators will discuss the importance and protection of not only the honeybees but our wonderful native pollinators as well. Our guest speaker for this topic is Mark Dykes, Chief Apiary Inspector for the Texas Apiary Inspection Service. The European honeybees have been in the news for their health issues, but not many folks are aware of the other hard-working native pollinators that can do a great job as well.
Wild pigs (also commonly referred to as feral hogs) have and will continue to be an issue. We’ll look at best management strategies of what works at keeping them at bay. Dr. Billy Higginbotham, wildlife specialist out of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will cover that topic.
After the first three topics, attendees will have the opportunity to choose from three concurrent sessions. The first session will cover the following topics: Are Golden Kiwis Coming to Texas, Tomato Production, and lastly Blueberries, Figs & Muscadines for the Home Fruit Orchard.
Yes, kiwis are looking like they will be on the horizon for East Texas. Following trials at Stephen F. Austin State University, Dr. David Creech will discuss the work they’ve been conducting on kiwis.
Tomatoes as well as figs, muscadines and blueberries are pretty much a staple of many East Texas gardens. Getting them to maximum production will be the goal of Dr. Joe Masabni’s presentation. Dr. Masabni is a professor/vegetable specialist with the AgriLife Extension Service.
In the second session, topics include Home Remedies: Do They Work?, The Case For Farmers Markets, and Aquaponics on a Budget.
We read about treatments and remedies on the internet and social media, but how well do they really work, if at all? Home brews will be discussed and evaluation according to systematic, replicated trials.
Aquaponics has seen a resurgence of interest locally with the desire for sustainable food production. There are lots of kits and products on the market, but how can we replicate the results without the costs of the newest equipment? Again, Dr. Masabni will bring his years of experience and trials to those attending.
The final session will offer two sessions on home food preservation and then information on the Texas Cottage Food Law. It should be obvious that the successful gardener will have an abundance of fresh produce and often it is coming out of the garden at a rate no family can keep up with consuming! Preserving it for later use is worth pursuing. Family and Consumer Science Extension Agents will teach canning principles in a two-hour session.
Lastly, Texas’ Cottage Food Law offers a tremendous opportunity for gardeners and homeowners to sell certain food items for sale to the public without the need for a commercial kitchen. Professors from Texas A&M University will talk about those guidelines and the opportunities that exist.
To pre-register at the lower price, drop by the Angelina County Extension Office by this Friday, Feb. 10 on the south loop in Lufkin or mail the fees (postmarked Feb 10!) to 2201 S. Medford Dr., Lufkin, Tx, 75901. Cost is $10.00 more per person at the door. Handouts and materials will be provided. The Angelina County Extension office is located on south loop 287 at 2201 S. Medford Drive, next to the Farmers Market.
For more Information please call (936) 634-6414 ext. 2 or e-mail cw-sims@tamu.edu.
