The 2014 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference and Trade Show will have something of interest for all fruit and vegetable producers. This year’s event convenes at 8 a.m. Jan. 6 at Lexington’s Embassy Suites Hotel and concludes around 5 p.m. Jan. 7.

Preconference activities on Jan. 5 include tree fruit and small fruit roundtable discussions.

“We always have many excellent sessions and speakers, and this year is no different,” said John Strang, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment horticulture specialist. “Success with fruit and vegetables is most always based on a producer's management skills, especially being able to do things on time. This conference is for beginners and experienced growers alike. We believe we have something to share with everyone, no matter how steep their learning curve."

Participants may choose from several concurrent sessions with topics including farmers markets, commercial fruit and vegetable production, high tunnels, small fruit production, organic production, direct marketing and agritourism.

This year, participants will enjoy Kentucky Proud products at the exhibitor/grower and conference luncheons.

The conference is a joint meeting of the Kentucky State Horticulture Society, the Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association, the Kentucky Farmers’ Market Association, the Organic Association of Kentucky, the Kentucky Wine Association and the Kentucky Vineyard Society.

The Kentucky Vineyard Society will offer an optional Celebration of Kentucky Wines at 6 p.m. Jan. 6. The celebration will include wines from Atwood Hill Winery & Vineyards, Boucherie Vineyards & Winery, Chuckleberry Winery, Heritage at Kentuscany, Lake Cumberland Winery, Louisville Meade Co., Old 502 Winery, Rose Hill Farm Winery and Verona Vineyards. The cost for wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres is $20 per person.

Participants will have an opportunity to use a Trading Post bulletin board to sell used equipment.

Conference registration is $30 and includes a one-year membership in the Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association, Kentucky State Horticulture Society or the Organic Association of Kentucky and entry to the Grape and Wine Short Course. Strang recommended preregistering by Dec. 20 to ensure participants’ nametags and conference materials are ready for them at the door.

The UK Cooperative Extension Service, Kentucky State University and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture jointly sponsor the conference.

For more information about the conference, or to request registration materials, contact Mary Ann Kelley at 270-365-7541, ext. 216. The conference program and registration sheet are available online at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/NewCrops/2014KFVCprogram.pdf and the Ag Credit AgGenius Agriculture Innovations Contest entry form may be found at  http://www.uky.edu/Ag/NewCrops/2013AgGeniusAwardsProgram.pdf.