The 2016 North American Raspberry and Blackberry Conference will be held March 1-4 at the Williamsburg Lodge. The conference will feature an opening reception on March 1, and a full-day tour on March 2 will stop at Virginia State University’s Randolph Farm outside of Petersburg, Agriberry Farms in Hanover County, and online grocer Relay Foods and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, both in Richmond. The tour, which will be by chartered bus, will include lunch, dinner and a beer tasting. Workshops on March 3 will cover topics such as the fundamentals of blackberry and raspberry production, creating a farm food safety plan, communicating berry health benefits and managing a farm bakery or restaurant. A Virginia Berry Conference track on March 4 will include a blueberry production presentation. Reduced Friday-only registration rates are available for Virginia growers through sponsorships by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the VSU Small Farm Outreach Program and the Virginia Berry Growers Association. For event details and to register, visit raspberryblackberry.com, or contact the North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association at info@raspberryblackberry.com or (919) 542-4037.
