2024 East Texas Fruit, Nut, and Vegetable Conference

2024 East Texas Fruit, Nut, and Vegetable Conference

Scheduled for February 9 in Tyler

Tyler, Texas. The annual East Texas Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Conference, Friday February 9 at
the Tyler Rose Garden Center (420 Rose Park Dr. Tyler, Texas 75702) will offer both
professional and amateur gardeners tips on blackberries, blueberries, bunch grapes, muscadines,
and IPM (Integrated Pest Management) on peppers and tomatoes.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m.; followed by the first session at 8:30 a.m. Lunch is provided.
Pre-registration is required (for lunch head count) and ends February 7 at 5:00 pm. The cost of
the program is $25 (plus 5% convenience fee for online credit card payment). The program will
be held in person only. Pre-registration is required for a lunch headcount. To register and pay in
person, contact the Smith County Extension Office. One hour of Department of Agriculture IPM
CEU will be awarded for this event. However, CE’s (5 hours) for certified Texas Master
Gardeners will be.
Topics and speakers include:
Growing Blueberries in East Texas: Dr. David Creech, Professor Emeritus, Stephen F. Austin
State University. Dr. Creech is the director of SFA Gardens in Nacogdoches and the leading
expert on blueberries in Texas.
Growing Muscadines and Bunch Grapes in East Texas: Michael Cook, Viticulture Regional
Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Michael earned his Master of Science in
Viticulture and Enology at California State University-Fresno.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) on Peppers and Tomatoes: Dr. Rafia Khan, Assistant
Professor and Extension Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Dr. Khan is the
new entomologist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Experiment Station in Overton and
has experience conducting research on commercial tomatoes in Florida.
Knowing and Growing Pears in East Texas: Dr. Andrew King, King’s Nursery, Tenaha, Texas.
Dr. King is a 4th generation East Texas nurseryman and the assistant director of SFA Gardens in
Nacogdoches.
Growing Blackberries in East Texas: Dr. Tim Hartmann, Assistant Professor, Fruit Crops, Texas
A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Dr. Hartmann is a lifelong horticulturist and well versed in all
things “fruit.”
This event was organized to meet the growing demand for information about fruit, nut, and
vegetable production for home gardeners and commercial growers in East Texas. It’s an
opportunity to learn tips from specialists and agents on how to be successful, how to avoid
common pitfalls, and how to learn more as you grow.
For more information contact the Smith County Extension office at 903-590-2980. The flyer,
schedule, and registration link are posted on the “Texas A&M AgriLife-Smith County”
Facebook page and on the county web page at smith.agrilife.org/fnvc/.