Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention expected to attract thousands

HERSHEY, PA - About 2,200 fruit and vegetable growers and other industry persons from the mid-Atlantic region and beyond will be gathering at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pennsylvania, for the Convention, which will run from January 31st to February 2nd, 2023. The program covers nearly every aspect of fruit, vegetable, potato, berry, cut flower, and greenhouse production and marketing.

The Convention has been jointly sponsored by the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association, the Maryland State Horticultural Society, and the New Jersey State Horticultural Society for the past 45 years, making the 2023 Convention the 46th meeting. The Virginia State Horticultural Society joined the Convention in 2014. Penn State Extension, University of Maryland Extension, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and Virginia Cooperative Extension all assist in organizing the educational sessions. The Convention has become one of the premier grower meetings in the Northeast.

The Great American Hall, the Aztec Room, and the Confection Level Lobby at the Hershey Lodge hosts the Trade Show with over 160 exhibitors. Specialized horticultural equipment, farm market merchandise, and packaging, are all on display along with information on the latest seed varieties, fruit varieties, pesticides and other supplies and services for the commercial grower. The trade show exhibits are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. the first two days, January 31 and February 1. On February 2, they open at 8:00 a.m. but close at 2:00 p.m. Here’s the list of 2022 Trade Show exhibitors. For information on exhibiting at the Trade Show, contact: Maureen Irvin, Convention Coordinator 717-677-4184.

On January 31, the annual Fruit and Vegetable Growers Reception and Banquet will be held. The Banquet will include awards and recognitions after a delicious buffet dinner. Tickets are required for the Banquet. On February 1, there will be a reception for apple growers at 5:00 p.m. and the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association will host its annual Ice Cream Social for all Convention attendees at 7:00 p.m.

Registration

Persons registered for the main Convention can attend all the educational sessions offered plus the trade show. Registration either online, through the mail or at the door is required to attend both the trade show and educational sessions. Registration registration/Fees and Forms are found here. Convention registration does not include any meals. Lunch can be purchased at buffets located in the lobbys. Separate fees are charged for the pre-convention workshops and the farm market bus tour offered on January 30, 2023.