2024 New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference with UConn Extension Dec 17-19 NH
The New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference is one of the premier educational conferences available in our region for vegetable and fruit farmers. The conference is organized by Extension programs in New England and NY, plus the New England Vegetable & Berry Grower’s Association and the Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association. It is held in Manchester NH every two years in December. This year, the 3-day conference will take place from December 17 to December 19.
The conference and trade show cater to commercial farmers who grow for direct to consumer and wholesale customers and include farms large to small. There are 30 educational sessions where extension specialists, academic researchers and farmers will present cutting edge information on the effectiveness of certain production techniques and practices. There are also 14 farmer to farmer sessions where you can learn from other farmers in a moderated peer to peer discussion.
Please note that this conference is not appropriate for gardeners or homesteaders who are not focused on growing crops for sale. However, if you are not yet farming at a commercial scale but hope to do so soon, we encourage you to consider participating. This conference has traditionally had very few socially disadvantaged farmers or speakers in attendance, so it can feel intimidating, overwhelming, isolating and unwelcoming. UConn Extension Solid Ground Program will lead a small group of farmers to attend the conference and trade show as a mutually supportive cohort so that these farmers have access to an important educational opportunity. Priority will be given to first time attendees who can demonstrate that they would not otherwise attend the conference.
Registration, lodging at the hotel and a mileage reimbursement is available for 6 farmers from CT. Farmers may bring an additional person to share their hotel room but that person must pay for their conference registration ($115 before November 30). Meals are not included and each farmer should plan for their own meals. Farmers are expected to attend the entire 3 day conference in support of each other, so please do not apply for this opportunity if you are unable to commit to attending all 3 days.
As of October 7, the full 2024 conference schedule has not been finalized. However, the 2022 conference brochure has been posted at https://newenglandvfc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2022NEVFCBrochure-1.pdf. You can also review the presentation slides from 2022 at https://newenglandvfc.org/2022-presentations-and-proceedings/ .
If you are interested in becoming a member of this cohort of farmers to attend the conference, please complete all required/starred questions in the application below. Applications will be accepted until November 1 2024. Decisions will be made by November 15 2024.
More information about the conference can be found on the official web site – https://newenglandvfc.org and in this document – https://ipm-cahnr.media.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3216/2024/09/FU_9_16_24.pdf
Register here.