HTFG Annual Conference Returns Sept. 22 to 29

The 27th Annual Hawai‘i International Tropical Fruit Conference returns Sept. 22 to 29, beginning at the Kaikodo Building in HIlo and continuing to Kona, Maui, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu and Kaua‘i for mini-conferences.

The eight-day event, presented by the statewide Hawai‘i Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG), is open to the public and aimed toward farmers, educators, orchard managers and supporters of sustainable agriculture.

This year’s conference is titled “Facing Challenges” and will include a lineup of visiting researchers and experts sharing information on a variety of topics through presentations and breakout sessions. The scheduled presenters include: Ed Stover on “Huanglongbing and the U.S. Citrus Industry: Status and Ongoing Research,” Lindsay Basik on “Durian Cultivation Around the World,” and David Karp on the “History and Genealogy of Citrus.”

HTFG Executive Director Ken Love said Hilo activities will include the University of Hawai‘i, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) updates, a report and survey on specialty crops, Q&A with guest speakers, a Sunday tour of OK Farms with Brian Lievens, networking and fruit tasting.

Registration forms and the fee schedule are available online at www.HTFG.org, or by contacting Love at kenlove@hawaiiantel.net or Mark Suiso at suiso@aloha.net.

Conference room rates at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel are available through Aug. 9, 2017, using code HH7027.

The HTFG annual conference is made possible through funding from the County of Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture.