The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will present its Organic Crops Field Tour on Thursday, April 25. This spring event will equip home and commercial growers alike with tips and resources for planting, harvesting and processing organic fruits and vegetables.

Steven Hopp, founder and director of the Meadowview Farmers’ Guild and Harvest Table Restaurant, will be the keynote speaker.  Steven works with local and regional projects and programs to promote local economies and coauthored Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, which he says “outlines a yearlong attempt by our family to try and eat as close to home as possible.”

Learn more about garlic, lettuce, and fruit crop production.! Organic disease control and soil biology will also be discussed with sessions on pollinators, community-supported agriculture, and vegetable garden tips. Speakers include Extension specialists, county Extension agents, and other UT experts. Jim Brown, of Honey Rock Herb Farm in Louisville, Tennessee, will also be sharing his experiences with herb cultivation.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. with refreshments exhibit tent open. Morning session will kick-off at 10 a.m. repeating in the afternoon. The day closes with a 45-minute question-and-answer session featuring all presenters.

The event will be held at the Organic Crops Unit of the UT East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, located at 7315 Government Farm Road in Knoxville. The Organic Crops Field Tour occurs only every 18 months on the UTIA Field Day calendar, rotating from spring to fall, so producers interested in organic production are encouraged to attend.

Register HERE. Preregistration is $10. Registration forms can also be downloaded and mailed, but must be postmarked by April 15 to receive the discounted preregistration rate. All registrations postmarked after April 15 and onsite registrations are $15. The cost of registration includes a catered lunch by the popular Knoxville restaurant, The Tomato Head.

Click HERE for more information!