Peach workshop to be held July 19
A workshop designed to provide peach growers with information ranging from pre-plant considerations through harvest will take place July 19 at the Sandhills Research Station in Jackson Springs.
Dr. Mike Parker, a peach expert and N.C. Cooperative Extension Service horticultural science specialist with N.C. State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will lead the workshop. It is tailored for growers new to peach production or those considering growing peaches for profit and will provide fundamental research-based information on optimizing peach production.
Experienced growers can benefit, too, from a refresher of proper production practices and from updated information.
The program runs from 4 to 8 p.m. and will cover topics ranging from site selection to proper harvest maturity and storage.
Before the program, there will be a discussion on frost and freeze protection with wind machines during a tour of Garrett Johnson’s peach orchards. The tour will leave from the research station at 2 pm by bus or van. To allow for sufficient transportation to the orchard, please RSVP for the tour by calling Richmond County’s Cooperative Extension Center at 910-997-8255.
The event is sponsored by the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service and the N.C. Agricultural Research Service at N.C. State University and the N.C. Peach Growers Society. A meal and refreshments are sponsored by BASF, Bayer Crop Science, Carolina Farm Credit of Ellerbe, McLeod Chemicals, Mid-Carolina Packaging, LLC, and Valent.
For more information, contact Paige Burns, assistant horticulture agent and interim director of Richmond County’s Cooperative Extension Center by phone, 910-997-8255, or by email, Paige_Burns@ncsu.edu. An online program lists program details.
