Save the Dates: Conferences Set for Fruit Growers and Food Preservers
Save the Dates: Conferences Set for Fruit Growers and Food Preservers
HILO, HAWAII—Two statewide organizations that promote the production and use of local produce announce their separate annual conferences this fall at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.
The Hawaii Master Food Preservers (HMFP) debuts its first conference on October 23 while the 35th Hawaii International Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) Conference is October 24-26. “Digging Deeper” is the theme for the back-to-back conferences that are open to the public.
The one-day HMFP gathering includes presentations on pectin, value-added product development and food safety, the state’s new cottage industry laws and updates from the USDA, the US Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center (PBARC) and the Maui Innovation Center. Headlining the gathering is Dr. Carla Schwan, director of the National Center for Home Food Preservation and Derek Kurisu, a KTA champion in fostering Hawai‘i food sustainability. A panel will discuss current successful preserved food products.
“The food preservers conference is a great opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to discover our evolving local food cottage industry,” says Ken Love, president of the HMFP and executive director of HTFG. “Those wishing to sell their canned, pickled, fermented, dehydrated and frozen products to retail stores, online and farmer’s markets should attend.”
With a keynote by Dr. Yoshimi Yonemoto on “Pruning, Pollination and Predictions to Produce More Fruit,” the 2025 HTFG conference offers a full lineup of educational offerings including growing dwarf trees and creating healthy soil and quality crops. In addition to a trade show and the popular fruit tasting, discussions will cover ag theft, new local research and legislative updates.
The fruit growers gathering is annually geared to farmers, educators, orchard managers and proponents of sustainable agriculture. On October 26, attendees are invited to tour a selection of local farms.
The conferences are made possible by support from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and organization members across the state.
Enjoy 50 percent early bird registration discounts before Sept. 1 for both conferences. For info visit HMFP at https://mfphawaii.org and HTFG at www.HTFG.org.
Hawaii Master Food Preservers: HMFP is dedicated to the education and training of individuals in the discipline of food safety, food preservation science and the development of unique value-added products from locally grown and sourced produce. Founded in 2020, the statewide organizationʻs primary focus is the advancement of entrepreneurial skills and work-force dvelopment. HMFP is commited to increasing Hawaiiʻs innovative, value-added products through exports and creating new income sources for greater sustainabiity in the community. Follow Hawaii Master Food Preservers on Facebook and visit https://mfphawaii.org.
Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers: Marking its 36th year, HTFG was incorporated in 1989 to promote tropical fruit grown in Hawaii. It is a statewide association of tropical fruit growers, packers, distributors and hobbyists dedicated to tropical fruit research, education, marketing and promotion; www.HTFG.org.
