33rd Annual Horticulture Industries Show slated Jan. 10-11

Monday, December 9, 2013

Oklahoma State University, together with the University of Arkansas, will sponsor the 33rd Annual Oklahoma and Arkansas Horticulture Industries Show (HIS). Both gardening professionals and enthusiasts should mark their calendars for this two-day event slated Jan. 10-11, 2014, at the Tulsa Community College, Northeast Campus, 3727 E. Apache, Tulsa. The theme of the meeting is “Improving Your Production Toolbox.”

HIS has consistently provided growers and the public with the latest information on vegetables, fruit, Christmas trees, farmers market crops and public gardening issues. The public and growers from Arkansas, Oklahoma and surrounding states are welcome to attend.

Other sponsors of HIS include the Arkansas State Horticultural Society, OSU’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Tulsa Community College and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

Advance registration is $50 for both days or $35 for one day. A spouse and up to two additional adults from the same farm/business may register for $35 each. Advance registration is due by Dec. 20. Late or on-site registration is $75 per person and additional adults may register for $38.

Bill Lamont, professor of vegetable crops at Penn State University, will serve as keynote speaker for the meeting. He has done extensive research in areas including cultivar evaluations, feasibility of growing new crops in high tunnels and plasticulture systems, sustainable and organic production of various vegetable crops and tomato breeding. Most recently he has been involved in helping to establish high tunnels in Philadelphia to promote the production of nutritious vegetables and winter production of greens and other crops for the city’s population.

“Bill is one of the leading authorities on plasticulture and protected agriculture in the United States,” said Lynn Brandenberger, OSU Cooperative Extension food crops specialist. He has a great wealth of knowledge and experience and he knows how to share it.”

Lamont also will head up a hands-on experience off-site from the conference dealing with high tunnels and season extension.

In addition to the valuable information shared by the Lamont, attendees also will have the opportunity to take part in concurrent educational sessions covering topics such as invasive insects, postharvest practices for maintaining quality in fruits, edible natives, grape breeding, water needs, 2014 Oklahoma Proven plants, vermicomposting, low maintenance lawns, selling to buyers, LED technology and many other topics.

For more information contact Donna Dollins, HIS secretary/treasurer, at 405-744-6460, or email at donna.dollins@okstate.edu. You also may go to http://www.hortla.okstate.edu/his/.