The Texas Fruit Conference is set for October 28th and 29th at the New Braunfels Civic Convention Center, 375 S Castell Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130. Full conference program is shown below.
We are excited to announce that the 8th annual offering of this event will feature 15 different speakers and 18 presentations covering a range of subjects and crops, including peaches, strawberries, citrus, grapes and blackberries.
Conference Highlights:
• We are excited to host Dr. John Clark, Distinguished Professor of Horticulture with University of Arkansas, who will highlight a Monday morning session on blackberry production. Dr. Clark’s direction of the University of Arkansas Fruit Breeding Program has led to the introduction of more than 50 varieties of fruits, including important contemporary floricane and primocane-fruiting varieties of blackberries like Kiowa, Natchez, Ouachita, PrimeArk-45, and Prime Ark Freedom. Dr. Clark will give two presentations, “Advances in blackberry breeding and global production” and “Factors influencing fruit breeding and new releases”
• A post-conference tour on Wednesday, October 30th, is offered this year that will focus on protected culture and temperature modification of fruit crops in Fredericksburg, Texas. The tour will visit Studebaker Farms, Blumenthal, Texas (near Stonewall) and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Viticulture and Fruit Lab. As an introduction to the tour, our conference program on Tuesday afternoon, presentations will highlight climate change, high tunnel management and use of shade and color fabrics to manipulate fruit yield and quality.
• Peaches are one of the most important deciduous fruit crops in Texas. Our program this year features three unique discussions of peach culture, from advances in culture and breeding in China, to transplanting of mature peach trees, and keys to success and profitability for small orchards.
• The environmental and biotic challenges of growing fruit in Texas are unique. Participants will hear discussions of organic pest management, water management and use of cover crops in orchard floors. We expect to offer between 4 and 6 CEU’s for Texas Pesticide License holders.
Conference Format:
We start early this year—Monday morning, October 28th, with registration at 8:00 am and presentations at 9:00 am on both days. With our post-conference tour happening in Fredericksburg on Wednesday morning, we will conclude the conference education earlier than usual on Tuesday, at approximately 3:00 pm.
Registration Now Open:
Online Registration Link: http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/
Fees this year: Conference regular: $100 per person online ($85 if registered online by 9/15); Post-Conference tour: $35 per person; Conference and tour combo package is $110 per person when registered online. In person registration fee (day of event) is $110 per person (conference) and $40 (tour). Lunch is included this year all three days.
Accommodations:
In New Braunfels: Faust Hotel & Brewing Co. (https://www.fausthotel.com/). This is historic hotel is one block away from the New Braunfels Civic Convention Center, and offers rooms ranging from $69/night (Single w/double bed); $89/night (Std. Queen); $109 (Deluxe Queen) to Standard King for $129/night. Ask for Texas Fruit Conference Rates by October 10th. Availability is first come-first serve.
In Fredericksburg: Our program in Fredericksburg will start 9:00 am on Wednesday, Oct. 30th. Participants may drive from New Braunfels (about 1.5 hours drive) or stay in Fredericksburg. A wide variety of accommodations are available.
