This workshop, the seventh class in the Ultra-Niche educational series for farmers seeking new crop opportunities, will be held on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., simultaneously in Cape May Court House, Bridgewater, and West Windsor, New Jersey.
The beach plum is a native shrub that produces small, tart, edible plums. Since 2005 growers and researchers have made important strides in developing beach plums into a commercial crop.
The workshop will feature a 20-minute “Virtual Field Trip” video on the production and marketing of beach plums, as well as, a speakers’ panel that includes a farmer, specialist and a buyer.
The farmer is David Van Vorst, President of the Cape May County Board of Agriculture and the Cape May County Beach Plum Association. He has been growing beach plums commercially for over 10 years and is actively involved in beach plum research and development.
Also, on the panel is Jenny Carleo, County Agent, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County. She is currently conducting a two-year study, funded by the Cape May County Beach Plum Association, on pollination of the beach plum and was involved in the release of the new Rutgers Jersey Jems Beach Plum variety.
Participants at the beach plum class will be led through worksheets to help them determine whether or not growing this crop is right for them, their acreage, and their situation. The cost for this workshop is $20 and includes a dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 6 p.m.
Pesticide recertification credits are available for Ultra-Niche classes.
The beach plum is a native shrub that produces small, tart, edible plums. Since 2005 growers and researchers have made important strides in developing beach plums into a commercial crop.
The workshop will feature a 20-minute “Virtual Field Trip” video on the production and marketing of beach plums, as well as, a speakers’ panel that includes a farmer, specialist and a buyer.
The farmer is David Van Vorst, President of the Cape May County Board of Agriculture and the Cape May County Beach Plum Association. He has been growing beach plums commercially for over 10 years and is actively involved in beach plum research and development.
Also, on the panel is Jenny Carleo, County Agent, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County. She is currently conducting a two-year study, funded by the Cape May County Beach Plum Association, on pollination of the beach plum and was involved in the release of the new Rutgers Jersey Jems Beach Plum variety.
Participants at the beach plum class will be led through worksheets to help them determine whether or not growing this crop is right for them, their acreage, and their situation. The cost for this workshop is $20 and includes a dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 6 p.m.
Pesticide recertification credits are available for Ultra-Niche classes.
To register go to Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ultra-niche-crops-beach-plums-tickets-38005972888
The deadline to register is November 1, 2017.
The deadline to register is November 1, 2017.
For more information:
Jenny Carleo
Tel: (609) 465-5115