February 2003
Organic strawberry production short course in Salinas Feb. 27-28
Lectures, practical demonstrations and field study will be provided by UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors and specialists, USDA researchers and industry speakers, and will focus on certification, economics and production. Course materials will draw from the forthcoming Organic Strawberry Production Manual.
"Cost and regulatory issues in the last few years have prompted the California strawberry industry to reduce pesticide use and seek alternatives to methyl bromide," said Sean L. Swezey, director of the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP), a course co-sponsor. "At the same time, organic strawberry production has been increasing-in 2002, more than 130 growers in 35 counties were growing organic strawberries valued at more than $9.5 million."
Swezey noted that the course is designed to meet the needs of growers and consultants, but may also be of interest to newcomers to the industry.
Simultaneous Spanish translation will be provided. The cost of the course is $125, which includes materials, continental breakfast and lunch each day, and field trip transportation. For more information or to enroll, call toll free (800) 752-0881, email aginfo@unexmail.ucdavis.edu or visit http://www.extension.ucdavis.edu/agriculture. Scholarships to defray registration costs for limited-resource participants are available by contacting Kristen Rosenow, Ecological Farming Association, 406 Main St., Suite 313, Watsonville, CA 95076; (831) 763-2111.
Other course co-sponsors include the UC ANR Organic Farming Research Workgroup, the Ecological Farming Association, and UC Cooperative Extension, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. Funding for the course has been provided as part of a Buy California Initiative grant to SAREP from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Media Contacts:
Lyra Halprin, (530) 752-8664, lhalprin@ucdavis.edu
