Saturday, February 21, 2004

9:00 a.m. NABGA Exec. Council Board Mtng

11:00 a.m. NABGA Research Committeee Meeeting

11:00 a.m. Conference Registration

1:00 p.m. Welcome and Introductions

1:10 p.m. Bramble Opportunities - A Marketer's Perspective
                   Keith Mixon, SunnyRidge Farms, Winter Haven FL

1:35 p.m. Bramble Opportunities - A Grower's Perspective
                    TBA

2:00 p.m. A Budget Model for Southeastern Blackberries
                    Dr. Charles Safley, NC State University, Raleigh NC

2:30 p.m. Break, refreshments

2:45 p.m.  Food Safety, GAPS, Security and Labeling Issues
                    Dr. Dennis Osborne, NC State University, Raleigh NC

3:30 p.m. Research Updates for Brambles
                    Dr. Gina Fernandez, NC State University, Raleigh NC

4:00 p.m. Questions for the Speakers
                   Milton Parker - Moderator

4:30 p.m. NABGA Annual Meeting of Members
                    Mark Ciotoli - President

5:00 p.m. Conference Recess
                    Until 9:00 a.m. Sunday

Sunday, February 22, 2004

9:00 a.m. Significant Bramble Diseases and Their Control
                    Dr. Barbara Smith, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, Poplarville MS

9:30 a.m. Significant Bramble Insects and Their Control
                    Dr. Doug Pfeiffer, Small Fruit Entomologist, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA

10:00 a.m. The IR-4 Process and Some Future Pest Control Options for Brambles
                     Dr. Keith Dorschner, IR-4 Project Coordinator, Rutgers Univ, New Brunswick NJ

10:30 a.m. Break, refreshments

11:00 a.m. Tips for Successful Bramble Establishment
                    Mark Ciotoli, Bramble Grower, Matawan NJ

11:30 a.m. Off-season Raspberry Production in Warm Season Climates
                    Dr. Rebecca Darnell, Professor of Small Fruits, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville FL

12:00 noon. Lunch - on your own

1:15 p.m. The Southeastern Bamble Virus Survey
                    Dr. Zvesdana Pesic VanEsbroeck, Dept. Plant Pathology, NC State University, Raleigh NC

1:45 p.m. Bramble Breeding UPdates - Panel
                    Dr. Kimberly Lewers, USDA-ARS Fruit Lab, Beltsville MD
                    Dr. Courtney Weber, Cornell Univ., Geneva NY
                    Dr. Harry Swartz, University of Maryland
                    Dr. Gina Fernandez, NC State University

3:00 p.m. Break, refreshments

3:20 p.m. Health Benefits of Bramble Fruit
                    Dr. Kimberly Lewers, USDA-ARS Fruit Lab, Beltsville MD

3:45 p.m. Stepping Up to Our Opportunities and Challenges
                    Dr. Harry Swartz, University of Maryland

4:40 p.m. Recess - Until 6:30, dinner on your own

6:30 p.m. Open session (send in any topic you wish for discussion with registration form
                    Moderator - Sam Erwin, Indiana Berry and Plant Co., Huntington IN

Monday, February 23, 2004

9:00 a.m. Conference tour (not included in NABGA Conference Registration. NASGA invites NABGA members to join the tour. Limited registration - first come, first served.