2009 Southern Illinois Commercial Vegetable and Fruit Grower's Schools

This year's University of Illinois Extension growers' schools for southern Illinois are being held once again at the Holiday Inn in Mount Vernon.

The Commercial Vegetable School is planned for February 11 and features sessions on new sweet corn varieties, tomato diseases and "quirks", mite management, and the latest in specialty curcurbits for markets. Growers can also learn about direct marketing strategies and low tech ways to minimize loss at harvest time.

Marketers focused on tree fruit will want to check out sessions at the Tree Fruit School on February 3, and those growing sweet treats closer to the ground can learn more at the Small Fruit and Strawberry School March 3-4.

The U of I grower's schools are well attended with presentations by experts who research and teach in this region. For more information about the Vegetable or Tree Fruit Schools or to register, contact Elizabeth Wahle at 618-692-9434 or wahle@illinois.edu. If you're interested in the Small Fruit and Strawberry School, get in touch with Bronwyn Aly at 618-695-2444 or baly@uiuc.edu.