Texas New Fruit Growers conference set for Oct. 9-10 in Fort Worth
Program aims to educate new and prospective fruit growers
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host the Texas New Fruit Growers conference on Oct. 9-10 in Fort Worth.
The two-day event will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Tarrant County, 200 Taylor St., Suite 500, on Oct. 9 and from 8 a.m. to noon at Goober Bub’s Orchard and Bakery in Justin on Oct. 10.
The cost is $130, and registration is available until Oct. 2 at https://tx.ag/NFG2025 or by calling 979-321-7028. AgriLife Extension employees can register for $65.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide license continuing education credits are available — two general and one integrated pest management.
About the conference
New and existing farmers in many areas of Texas have an opportunity to sell locally grown fruits and vegetables to a growing population of customers who want to experience fresh and authentic Texas-grown produce.
The Texas New Fruit Growers conference introduces individuals with no prior experience in farming or food production to the unique challenges of managing a fruit orchard or vineyard.
Participants will learn how to select an appropriate site, choose crops that grow successfully in their area, establish a vineyard or orchard, and protect it from some of the unique weather and pest challenges that fruit growers encounter.
The program is an AgriLife Extension event that combines classroom instruction, experiential learning and peer-to-peer networking into an effective learning experience.
Conference events
The following events will be part of the conference:
Oct. 9:
- Getting started class — This half-day class will set you on the proper path to success.
- Site and resource evaluation for new fruit orchards — Stephen Janak, AgriLife Extension program specialist, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Hallettsville.
- Fruit orchard establishment — Larry Stein, AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist and professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Uvalde.
- Budgeting time resources – what it takes to start and manage an orchard — Jacy Lewis, manager of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Viticulture and Fruit Lab in Fredericksburg, a part of the Department of Horticultural Sciences.
- Disease and insect threats to successful fruit production — Monte Nesbitt, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist and assistant professor, Department of Horticultural Science, Bryan-College Station.
- Developing an orchard IPM philosophy — Kyle Slusher, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension entomologist and assistant professor, Department of Entomology, Stephenville.
- Tree-to-plate networking lunch — Enjoy an array of fresh fruit and diverse fruit-centric culinary products while exchanging fruit growing and marketing ideas with other growers from around the state.
- Live-action lab — How-to demonstrations on fruit tree planting, pruning, irrigation, fertilization and pest management.
Oct. 10:
- Fast-forward fruit tour — See and learn about the realities of fruit growing with a commercial orchard tour of Goober Bub’s Orchard and Bakery.
