Marketing, Labor, And Legal Issues Among Presentations At Illinois Specialty Crops Conference

Marketing, labor and legal issues, and production are among the topics that will be presented at the Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organic Conference in Springfield, IL, Jan. 8-10 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Workshops and general sessions and breakout sessions are aimed at helping Illinois specialty growers cultivate their operations.

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Production topics include insect management in tomatoes, apples, peaches, and brambles; prevention of sunburn in apples; reducing blossom density using hormonal sprays in peaches; weed management in leafy greens; and alleviating soil compaction with cover crops on an organic farm. The conference also focuses on labor and legal issues with sessions on risk management, employee handbook training, proposed changes to immigration law, and health care for employers. Marketing sessions include the evolution of the adventure farm; the farmer-consumer connection; direct marketing pricing strategies; and marketing plans 101.

Participants may attend one of the preconference workshops held Jan. 8 that include pumpkin production; season extension and year-round markets; Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs) and food safety guidelines; optimizing plasticulture and drip irrigation practices; and growing unique fruits and vegetables.

2014 Illinois Cider Contest

The 25th Annual Cider Contest and the 12th Annual Hard Cider Contest will again be hosted at the Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organic Conference and will be sponsored by the Illinois State Horticulture Society.

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Illinois contestants will compete against other state producers for the Illinois State awards. Illinois ciders makers will also have the opportunity to submit their best ciders to challenge the out-of-state entries for the North American and Midwest Awards. Midwest awards are open to states surrounding and including Illinois, and North American awards are open to all cider makers in North America. For the Apple Cider Contest, contestants are asked to submit a one-gallon full container of unclarified apple cider that may be fresh or have been stored frozen.

Those making hard apple cider will need to submit hard apple cider, not hard apple cider wine. The criteria for a hard apple cider product is a beverage with alcohol content below 8%. Hard apple ciders containing other fruit flavoring, such as pear, cherry, peach, or cranberry will not be considered for judging. Hard apple cider contestants are asked to submit a one-quart, but no more than a one-gallon, container of product for the hard apple cider-judging contest.

Registration for all apple cider contests will be on Jan. 9 from 8-9:45 a.m.  Judging will commence at 10 a.m.  The fee will be $10 per entry for each contest with one entry per orchard and/or farm family.  Awards will be announced during the conference’s dinner banquet.

For more information about the conference agenda and cider contest details can be viewed at www.specialtygrowers.org/iscaoc-conference.html.

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