The 2018 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference will have something of interest for all fruit and vegetable producers. The event runs from 8 a.m. EST Jan. 8 until 5 p.m. Jan. 9 at Lexington’s Embassy Suites Hotel.

Preconference evening activities Jan. 7 will include vegetable, tree fruit and small fruit roundtable discussions.

“This conference never disappoints, and this year we will once again offer many excellent sessions with dozens of expert speakers,” said John Strang, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment horticulture specialist. “For vegetable and fruit growers, management skills are a big part of a successful operation, especially time management. This conference is for beginners and advanced growers alike. We have something to share with everyone, no matter their experience level.”

Participants may choose from several concurrent sessions with topics including farmers markets, commercial fruit and vegetable production, small fruit production, organic production, wholesale marketing, direct marketing, the Grape and Wine Short Course, agritourism and a produce best practices training.

Participants may enjoy Kentucky Proud products at the exhibitor/grower and conference luncheons, and they will be able to visit with exhibitors at the trade show.

The conference is a joint meeting of the Kentucky State Horticulture Society, the Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association, the Organic Association of Kentucky and the Kentucky Wineries Association.

Participants may attend the optional Commissioner Cup Wine Tasting at 6 p.m. Jan. 8, which will feature Kentucky 2017 Commissioner’s Cup Award winning wines. The $20 cost for the event includes a souvenir glass and refreshments.

Participants will have an opportunity to use a Trading Post bulletin board to sell used equipment.

Conference registration is $40 per person and includes a one-year membership in the Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association, Kentucky State Horticulture Society or the Organic Association of Kentucky and entry to the Grape and Wine Short Course. Strang recommended preregistering by Dec. 15 as registration at the door will be $60 per person.

The UK Cooperative Extension Service, Kentucky State University and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture jointly sponsor the conference.

For more information about the conference, or to request registration materials, contact Mary Ann Kelley at 270-365-7541, ext. 216. The conference program and registration sheet are available online at http://www.uky.edu/hort/node/1762.