By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Producers have a unique opportunity to gain insight into the fruits, vegetable and herbs markets that make up the specialty crops industry in the state by attending the Illinois Specialty Crops and Agritourism Conference.

While most producers fall into the corn and soybean categories, a growing number are diversifying, and some are going the specialty crop-only route.

“In Illinois it is a smaller segment of the population that grows specialty crops,” Diane Hadley, Illinois specialty crop co-coordinator shared, “but it is just as important.”

The chance to network and learn what is new and different is right around the corner. The conference will be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Springfield Jan. 7-10, 2009. Three conference workshops will be offered concurrently during the daytime on Jan. 7, which will include “Pumpkins,” “Biocontrol in High Tunnels and Greenhouses” and “Federal Grant Writing Basics.”

Hadley added, “Two pre-conference seminars will be available on Wednesday evening, Jan. 7, on AGR-Lite Crop Insurance and Labor and Legal Issues.”

On Jan. 8-9, the conference will kick off with chefs and culinary educators Michael and Brigitta McGreal as the keynote speakers. They were the judges on last season’s popular television show Hell’s Kitchen. Besides the reality show, the two are famous for their presentation Foods That Heal, which offers cooking demonstrations for cancer survivors.

“They will help you learn how to incorporate gourmet food, healthy foods shown to reduce cancer rates and fight obesity, into your daily meals,” Hadley said.

This session will be followed by the traditional concurrent breakout sessions on fruits, vegetables, herbs and agritourism/marketing. The conference will continue on Thursday evening, featuring a banquet followed by the announcement of the annual cider contest winners and comments from Matt Lohr, farmer and Virginia state legislator. Part of his appeal is he emphasizes the importance of agricultural preservation and farm heritage.

Peach and apple production will take center stage of the fruit breakout sessions with talks on disease management, pruning, insecticides and weed management. Wesley Autio, University of Massachusetts, will discuss Simple Rules for Pruning Apple and Peach Trees and Controlling Growth in the Tops of Apple Trees.
Disease Management in Peaches and Apples will be the focus of two presentations by Patty McManus, University of Wisconsin.
“Topics in the vegetable sessions will run the gamut of disease management to production problems to marketing,” said Hadley. “Galen Dively, University of Maryland, will discuss Organic Insecticides for Vegetable Insect Control and Options, Effectiveness and Management of Bt sweet corn.”

She also explained the agritourism/marketing track will feature sessions on how to capitalize on consumer trends, how to increase on-farm sales and how to work with the media.

To receive registration materials or obtain exhibitor information, she may be reached at 309-557-2107 or by e-mail at handley@ilfb.org

A detailed conference agenda can be viewed at www.specialtygrowers.org