THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012
Theme – An Indoor Field Day
9:00 am to 12:00 noon Member Panel: One on one time with existing growers.
Several established growers will show photos of their Aronia fields and discuss personal experience and plans. Attendees can visit with these existing growers to learn local information and establish relationships.
12:00 noon to 1:30 pm Lunch and Vendor Time
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Panel Discussion Mike Mathiasen, Chair,
Marketing Committee , Midwest Aronia Association
Market Update
Member Panel—Marketing in your local community
MAA Sponsorship for Food Competition
Q&A
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm Organic Certification
Maury Wills, Maury oversees Organic Certification through Iowa Dept of Ag, & Land Stewardship, IDALS
4:00 pm to 5:30 pm Social time – Cash bar followed by … dinner on your own, or …
CHEF MARK MURPHY’S DEMONSTRATION DINNER
Chef Mark Murphy will demonstrate preparation of gourmet meals using Aronia in recipes.
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012
Theme – Medical Research
9:00 am to 9:15 am Greetings from President Kevin Bailey.
9:15 am to 10:15 am KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Aronia affect on colon cancer cells. Dr Monica Giusti PhD, Assistant Professor, Ohio State University. Presentation on current research with Q / A.
10:15 am to 11:30 am Summary-Analysis of Aronia in Medical research
Jan Mills, Artemis International. A survey and summary of promising medical advancement using Aronia and Aronia components.
11:30 am to 1:00 pm Vendor Time and Luncheon, provided with Full Registration or Individual Ticket
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm “Exploring the Potential of Cooperatives–Individual
Cooperative Extension Panel” Colleen Nipp, Chair
2:00 pm to 4:30 pm Horticulture Workshop
Dr. Andrew Ristvey, Eastern Regional Extension Specialist for Commercial Horticulture at Wye Research and Education Center at Queenstown, MD and affiliate faculty with the Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Department at the University of Maryland, College Park. University of Maryland.
Why Aronia?
Cultivar selection
Assessing your land
Organic vs. conventional farming technique
Understanding soil test reports
Field preparation
Planting systems
Fertilizers, insect and weed control
Irrigation and watering systems
Pruning
Growth enhancement
Seasonal protection
4:30 pm to 5:15 pm Cash Bar and Social Time
5:15 pm to 6:15 pm Annual Business Meeting
7:00 pm to …
Annual Banquet and Special Project Presentation
Kevin Bailey, President of Midwest Aronia Association:
Dr Andrew Ristvey, University of Maryland;
Presentation and discussion on the formation of a National Aronia Council
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2012
Theme – The Harvest
8:00 AM to 9:00 am Understanding food safety and the new Government law, Senate Bill 510
Dr. Angela Laury, Asst Professor ISU Food Science.
9:00 AM to 10:00 am Labor laws effecting hiring workers – migrant, non-profit, fund-raising groups (4H,
church groups, etc)
Melissa O’Rourke, Attorney ISU Extension.
10:00 AM to 11:00 am Harvest economics- labor vs. mechanical harvest
Dr Georgeanne Artz, ISU, extension. How to justify harvester purchase. Economic formula’s to aid in capital equipment
purchase decisions.
11:00 am to 12 Noon Lunch Provided
12 Noon to 1:00 pm Mechanical Harvesters, BEI inc and Johanna III
1:00 PM to 3:00 pm Processor Workshop:
Artemis, Alpine, Westin: Purchase and Intake procedures, requirements, grading, products and future product plans.
A presentation of the Product Development and Marketing Strategies based on Industry and Consumer Preferences, Dale Secher / Dr. Jonathan Smith
Adjourn
