54TH ANNUAL WINTER VEGETABLE CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW

1 Resort Drive,Asheville NC 28806

23 February, 2022

Description

This is the largest commercial vegetable grower event in the region with a high quality educational program. This is the largest commercial vegetable grower event in the region with a high quality educational program put together by vegetable extension specialist/agents at NC State University Cooperative Extension. The conference program (see below) reflects growers' needs covering many aspects of production, including pest management, tomato breeding, and food safety. We hope that you take advantage of this opportunity to learn about current issues associated with vegetables and take time with the representatives from agricultural companies and other businesses that support our industry during our 2-day trade show. A sponsored lunch and awards program will be included at noon on Thursday. NC Pesticide credits will be available for attendees in the following catagories: D, N, O, and X. You may also register by mail by going to our website at www.nctomatoes.com and printing the registration form from our site and mailing with a check to the address on the form. Please visit the Crowne Plaza website for the latest COVID-19 Advisory Information: https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/customer-care/travel-advisory CONFERENCE AGENDAWednesday, February 23, 2022Lunch on Your Own 8:30am Registration Opens 8:30am-1:00pm Visit Trade Show 9:00am-12:00pm NCTGA Board Meeting Afternoon Education Sessions Include the Following Topics (1-4:30pm) Growing Broccoli in the SE, High Tunnel Tomatoes, Managing Pepper and Tomato Diseases, Food Safety Updates, Root Knot Nematode Management in Peppers and Tomatoes, Cultural Practices for Grafted Tomatoes, Weed Control, Insect Updates, and more.4:30pm-5:00pm NC Tomato Growers Association Business Meeting 5:00pm-6:00pm "Z" Credit Fumigation Workshop Thursday, February 24, 2022Morning Education Sessions Include the Following Topics (8:30-12:00pm) Variety Showcase from the World's Top Seed Companies, Experimental Tomato Hybrids with Combined Resistances to Bacterial Leaf Spot and Verticillium Wilt, Variety Trials and Breeding Efforts to Increase Sustainability of Tomato Production, Fumigation and Biological Based Strategies to Manage Soil Borne Pests in Vegetables, and Climate Change: What it Means for Ag in NC.12:00pm-1:30pm Tomato Growers Association Sponsored Awards Luncheon 1:30pm-3:30pm Private Applicator "V" Training-Charlie Clark, Eli Snyder LOCATIONThe conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville, N.C. BOOKING GUEST ROOMS AT THE CROWNE PLAZA RESORT A block of rooms has been reserved at the Crowne Plaza Resort for the conference. The cost is $94.00 plus tax per night for a room with two queen beds and $114 for a king. Deadline for this rate is midnight February 8, 2022. To make your reservations, please call 1-800-733-3211 and refer to the NC Tomato Growers Association group and meeting name NCTGA - 2022 Annual Conference. You may also call the local number, 828-254-3211 to make your reservations. The hotel website is https://ashevillecp.com/ TICKETS Ticket prices are $50 per person and this includes your Annual NC Tomato Growers Association Membership Dues. Registration after January 31, 2022 and at the door will be $60. Please click on the green "Register" button to see all the options for attendees, sponsors and exhibitors. Details are included in the ticket area. We plan to hold the conference regardless of weather conditions, so please plan accordingly. We reserve the right to make modifications to the program to accommodate adverse weather and other unforeseeable situations (e.g., speaker illness) TRADE SHOW There will be a trade show again this year with a large number of sponsors and exhibitors setting up their displays for attendees to visit. Interested vendors should register early. SPONSORS/EXHIBITORS We welcome sponsors for our event.  Sponsorships give you the opportunity to showcase your business and allow us to make this a special conference for attendees.  Sponsorships also support scholarships.  Details are included on the sponsorship ticket descriptions in the "get tickets" link above.  If you need to be invoiced and send a check, please contact Ellen Moss at [email protected]. SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS This year we will be holding a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction to support our scholarship fund. Raffle prices are $10/each or 12 for $100. During the conference see the Registration Desk to purchase your raffle tickets or for more information. Drawing will occur at the Tomato Growers Association Luncheon on Thursday. You Must Be Present to Win! If you are not interested in purchasing a raffle ticket or bidding on the silent auction, but would still like to support the scholarship fund, donations are greatly appreciated! Your generosity ensures that NCTGA continues to support future generations of farmers with an endowment fund used to offer merit/need-based scholarships. You can make a donation through this Eventbrite page via the donations ticket button. Details are included in the "get tickets" link above.  If you need to be invoiced and send a check, or need a receipt for a tax deduction please contact Ellen Moss at [email protected]. Thank You to All our 2021 Sponsors! We hope to see you again in 2022! The North Carolina Tomato Growers Association's purpose is to encourage, promote and develop all phases of the tomato industry and all additional agricultural interests including breeding, growing, and disease controls to facilitate the most practical application of all research pertaining to agricultural products especially as it pertains to production, sanitation, and marketing of tomatoes; and to promote any shows, sales, exhibitions and contests for the betterment of agriculture in North Carolina.