Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference 2011

Another great three days at the MAFVC.  As always I came home with a bag full (well actually a box full) of information about new products, protectants, and techniques.  Speakers from across the USA came to discuss the findings of recent studies, and farmers gave lectures regarding varieties and practices that are working really well for them.  Last year over 1,000 growers came to listen to these sessions, and this year probably wold have been the same if the weather had held up.  In the exhibition hall, vendors from around the world were there to present their new containers, machines, seeds, and chemicals.  Koppert had their clear bumblebee hive set up like last year.  In the next booth was IPM Laboratories which had biological insect control products on display.  These 'products' are actually little critters that attack pests in the field or the greenhouse.  Some of them come loaded in refrigerated cards, some in little take home containers, and others in shakers.

I learned a lot again this year, and this information will definitely help as we get ready to start plants in about a month.