31st Hawai‘i International Tropical Fruit Conference Coming Up in October

The 31st Hawai‘i International Tropical Fruit Conference will be both virtual and in-person this year.

Titled “Mango Makers and Food Preservers,” the conference will be held Oct. 8-9 at the Maui County Business Resource Center, located at 110 Alaihi St. in Kahului. Additionally, mini sessions and tours will take place on Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Hilo and Kona Oct. 10-14.

Geared to farmers, educators, orchard managers and proponents of sustainable agriculture, the multi-day conference is presented by the statewide Hawai‘i Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) and open to the public. Videos for 2021 presentations will be posted at htfg.org.

The 2021 conference offers a lineup of visiting researchers and agro experts sharing information and leading engaging breakout sessions on a variety of fruit-related topics. Attendees will be able to log into discussions on the Tatura trellis system, avocados, advanced dehydration and canning methods, propagation techniques and unusual fruits with future economic potential.

Steve Brady will give the keynote, “The World of Mangos” with Jane Tai and HTFG Executive Director Ken Love offering a presentation on “Processing and Utilizing Your Fruit to Develop Award-Winning, Value-Added Products.” A tour with farmer Jordan Longman at the HTFG Repository will cover fruit fly trap making and pruning techniques utilized in Australia and Japan.

A retired internist, Brady has been collecting and growing all sorts of tropical and exotic fruit for over six decades. He helped found the Naples Botanical Garden and was curator of its Tropical Fruit and Edible Plants Collection. A resident of the Sunshine State, Brady teaches an annual class on mangos for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Science as well as training classes for master gardeners.

The conference is made possible with the support of the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, County of Kaua‘i and HTFG members from across the state.

Registration forms and fee schedule are available at www.HTFG.org or by emailing Love at kenlove@hawaiiantel.net or Mark Suiso at mark.suiso@gmail.com.