HTFG Conference Goes Virtual Due to COVID Surge

Originally scheduled in person this week, the 31st Hawaiʻi International Tropical Fruit Conference pivoted to all-virtual presentations due to the recent surge of COVID-19.

The title of the 2021 conference is “Mango Makers and Food Preservers.”

Videos and PowerPoints for free by researchers and agro experts are geared to farmers, educators, orchard managers and proponents of sustainable agriculture. All conference downloads will be available here.

Ken Love, executive director of the statewide Hawaiʻi Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG), invites all members and the public to watch and participate in a Q&A with farming experts.

Videos from speakers have already been posted to the HTFG website. Florida mango expert and keynote Stephen Brady offers a detailed, three-part presentation on mango culture and viewers can download a handy mango rating form.

HTFG President Mark Suiso of Oʻahu’s Makaha Mangoes provides his fruit-growing tips. Jane Tai has a presentation on “Demonstrating Value-Added Specialty Crops with Dehydration,” as well as an Agriculture Legislative Recap by Sen. Mike Gabbard.

Other reports include an Update on Distribution of BBTV-Resistant bananas, the latest information on the Avocado Lace Bug and a wide variety of videos from the Hawaiʻi Ulu Cooperative in Kona.

This is the second year the conference was presented in a virtual format. The conference is made possible with the support of the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture, County of Kauaʻi and HTFG members from across the state.

Contact Ken Love at kenlove@hawaiiantel.net or Mark Suiso at mark.suiso@gmail.com for questions.