By now I hope you have scheduled a day to join your fellow Florida Blueberry Growers at our Fall Conference and Trade Show on October 20. If you come, you’ll get to meet with fellow growers with whom you have a great deal in common. They share many of the same challenges and rewards of growing blueberries in Florida that you do. You’ll learn about the latest research and advice from experts that are targeted specifically to growing blueberries successfully in our climatic conditions. I promise you’ll get more out of your participation at the conference than it costs you in the small amount of time and expense you invest.  

Why not follow the business practice I was taught years ago when I justified attending much more expensive conferences: Always plan to find at least one good idea that more than pays for whatever the conference costs. It could be a better supplier, a better growing practice, a key industry contact, a better understanding of how the industry works. When you head back to the farm you’ll have some great ideas you can leverage for greater success. You’ll be better connected, more competitive, and more successful if you come to the Fall Conference.  

It opens early at 8 a.m. and runs till 4 p.m. If you haven’t already registered, go to floridablueberrygrowers.org to register if you haven’t already.  Reward some of your staff members with a day immersed in the industry.  It’s held at Mission Inn in Howie-in-the Hills near Tavares. If you have to travel to get there, why not come Wednesday evening? We’ve reserved a block of convenient rooms to help out. Hope to see you there!

Thank You, Brittany Lee!

I also want to express some words of sincere appreciation for the hard work and dedication of Brittany Lee, our Past President and most recently the Executive Director of the FBGA. She has stepped down to focus her attention on her growing family and her Florida Blue Farms. We were fortunate to have her serve as Executive Director as she creatively sustained our association through the hard times of Covid. She also worked diligently behind the scenes to spearhead our fundraising and officially represent us in the fight for a favorable Section 201 ruling. Though the US International Trade Commission ruled against us, her hard work helped the powers that be understand the need to support American-grown blueberries. She continues to support our industry on a national platform through her work with USHBC, not to mention by growing great Florida Blueberries. Brittany, thanks for carrying our torch these past years!

Leonard Park

President

Florida Blueberry Growers Association