NAFEX

Restoration Agriculture and Low-Input Orchards - NAFEX 2023 Virtual Conference, Session 5
2023-11-10 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | ZOOM
Looking to have a low input orchard? This is the talk for you. Mark Shepard, author of Restoration Agriculture: Real-World Permaculture for Farmers will be talk about his developed “Sheer, Total, Utter, Neglect” (STUN) method for breeding and selecting cultivars that are adapted to his microclimate and biome. This method can be used to select for flavor, disease resistance and vigorous growth, among other traits.
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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2023 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 9-11, via ZOOM or by phone.
Soil food web expert Dr. Elaine Ingham will deliver the keynote address. The conference, which is open to fruit growers of all experience levels, will feature 8 interactive sessions and 12 speakers over 3 days. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recordings later.
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 11 at Noon and 2 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

All About Hybrid Persimmons - NAFEX 2023 Virtual Conference, Session 6
2023-11-10 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | ZOOM
Join persimmon grower Timothy Lane for a look at recent persimmon hybridizing efforts in Ukraine and the United States.
Many of these hybrid Diospyros kaki (Asian) x Diospyros virginiana (American) persimmon cultivars have bigger fruit, better flavor and increased cold hardiness than some of their popular predecessors, Rosseyanka and Nikita’s Gift. Timothy will share a detailed account of hybrid persimmon fruit, foliage, cold-hardiness and care.
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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2023 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 9-11, via ZOOM or by phone.
Soil food web expert Dr. Elaine Ingham will deliver the keynote address. The conference, which is open to fruit growers of all experience levels, will feature 8 interactive sessions and 12 speakers over 3 days. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recordings later.
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 11 at Noon and 2 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

Show & Tell and Annual Meeting - NAFEX 2023 Virtual Conference, Session 7
2023-11-11 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | ZOOM
Show us your fruit! And share your fruit growing journey in 2023. Fruit growers of all experience levels are invited to share their growing experiences (successes or failures) in our casual, virtual fruit grower’s Show and Tell. This year, the Show and Tell will emphasize discovering or breeding fruit but all stories are welcome – as are new members.

Wondering what the North American Fruit Explorers is all about? The 90-minute online session includes an overview by our president, Kris Klueg Heeter, and a brief annual meeting. Join us as we take a brief look back at 2023, look ahead to 2024, and review our Board of Directors candidates.
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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2023 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 9-11, via ZOOM or by phone.
Soil food web expert Dr. Elaine Ingham will deliver the keynote address. The conference, which is open to fruit growers of all experience levels, will feature 8 interactive sessions and 12 speakers over 3 days. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recordings later.
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 11 at Noon and 2 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

Healthy Fruit from Healthy Soil - 2023 Virtual Conference Keynote, Session 8
2023-11-11 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | ZOOM
Dr. Elaine Ingham, the soil microbiologist who coined the term “Soil Food Web,” will discuss growing healthy fruiting plants from the ground up, using regenerative growing practices to restore the ecological functions of soil and improve nutrient levels and yields in fruit production.
The Soil Food Web is the community of organisms living all or part of their lives in the soil. It describes the complex living system in the soil and how it interacts with the environment, plants, and animals.
Dr. Elaine will help fruit growers understand how artificial fertilizers affect soil and plant health and how soil biology determines a plant’s ability to unlock and utilize nutrients. If you want to learn more about how to improve your soil to grow better fruit, you won’t want to miss this talk.
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This interactive webinar will be the closing keynote session of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2023 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 9-11, via ZOOM or by phone. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recorded sessions later.
The conference is open to fruit growers of all experience levels and will feature 8 sessions and 12 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 11 at Noon and 2 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

Starting a New Orchard: Lessons Learned - A Virtual Interest Group Meeting
2024-01-30 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Join us Tuesday, January 30, for our monthly NAFEX Interest Group meetup on lessons learned starting a new orchard. NAFEX members Josh Fuder and Matt Stevens will lead the conversation.
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Interest Group meeting is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!

Which are the best apples and pears for making cider and perry?
2024-02-27 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Perry pears and cider apples are quite different from their fresh eating counterparts not

only in taste but in growth and harvest.

At our next virtual meetup, Charles McGonegal owner of AEppelTreow will discuss the types of European perry pears that can be grown in the US and how true perry pears can change a perry.
Tim Graham of Left Bank Ciders will discuss cider apples and how they are different from their dessert brethren in more than just taste. He will cover not only what varieties are grown but also their classification (e.g. Bittersharp, Bittersweet, etc.) and more. If you’re curious about fruit, cider or perry stop by Tuesday, February 27 6:30 CST.

Meeting is via Zoom, connection details will be made available later to NAFEX members only on the Interest Groups page.

Future Apples and Pears - A Virtual Interest Group Meeting
2024-03-26 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Are you curious about what’s going on in the world of apple breeding besides crispy apples? Maybe the future releases of a 100 year old pear breeding program peak your interest? Either way join us on March 26th as Christopher Gottschalk, Ph.D. of the USDA ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station discusses these topics and more.
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Interest Group meeting is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!

Cicada and Lanternfly - A Virtual Interest Group Meeting
2024-04-30 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Are you worried about your fruit trees and the billions of cicadas that are about to emerge? Perhaps invasive lantern flies have started to make their way to your area and pose more of a threat? Join us as Douglas Pfeiffer Ph.D. of Virginia Tech discusses how to deal with these pest pressures and provides tips to safeguard your own trees.
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Interest Group meeting is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

Rediscovering Lost Goldrush Era Fruit Trees - A Virtual Interest Group Meeting
2024-05-28 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Does the thrill of the hunt to rediscover California gold rush era fruit trees intrigue you? Maybe you’ve heard of the work of the Felix Gillet Institute or the man himself. Join us to discover how a team of fruit detectives and preservationists search abandoned ghost towns and the countryside for 100+ year old fruit trees. Learn how the Felix Gillet Institute works to preserve lost heritage fruit trees and bring them back for future generations to enjoy.
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Interest Group meeting is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

Pawpaw 101 and KSU Pawpaw Program Update - A Virtual Interest Group Meeting
2024-06-25 19:30 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
What’s new in the world of pawpaws? Join us for an evening of discussion about North America’s largest fruit with Dr. Kirk Pomper of Kentucky State University who will provide insights into all things pawpaw and an update on the KSU Pawpaw program. Come with your questions for one of the country’s foremost experts on pawpaws.
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Interest Group meeting is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

Beneficial Birds: Rewilding our yards and orchards to control pests - A Virtual Interest Group Meeting
2024-07-30 19:30 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Learn how to support raptors and other beneficial birds in fruit growing operations to manage pests. Ashley Chesser with Wild Farm Alliance and Dr. Catherine Lindell from Michigan State University will provide an overview about how and why to incorporate birds into the farm landscape and some specifics about the use of American Kestrel boxes. Participants will learn about the behavior and ecology of birds and their role in providing ecosystem services and disservices in agriculture landscapes. Dr. Lindell will share results of her team’s studies to investigate the value of attracting predatory American Kestrels with nest boxes in cherry orchards to diminish the number of fruit-eating birds.
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Interest Group meeting is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

Concepts for Understanding How Fruit Trees Work
2024-08-27 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Join us for an evening of discussion on understanding how temperate deciduous fruit trees work and how growers can efficiently manage tree fruit orchards. Dr. Ted Dejong of UC Davis University will provide insights into working with fruiting trees within the orchard setting highlighting peaches, plum and nectarines. Come with your questions!!
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Interest Group meeting is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

Food Forests - Community Orchards
2024-09-26 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Join us for an evening of discussion about food forests and community orchards. Josh David of the Bloomington Community Orchard in Bloomington, IN will introduce the concepts of establishing forests in communities and highlight topics from planning and design to maintenance and community input. Come with your questions!!
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Interest Group meeting is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

Pollination for Production
2024-10-29 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Are you interested in promoting pollinators in your backyards or orchards? Join us for an evening of discussion about bee biology and how habitat relates to having bees present at bloom-time. Dr. Rufus Isaacs of Michigan State University will also discuss establishing a wildflower habitat and sources of funding to support seed purchase, and habitat establishment.
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Interest Group meeting is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

NAFEX 2024 Virtual Conference
2024-11-07 - 2024-11-09 | ZOOM
Save the dates and plan to join the North American Fruit Explorers for the NAFEX 2024 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 7-9, via ZOOM or by phone.
Author Helen Atthowe will deliver the keynote address. The conference, which is open to fruit growers of all experience levels, will feature 8 interactive sessions and 10 speakers over 3 days. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recordings later.
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 8 at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 9 at Noon and 2 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

Outside the Cider Apple Box - NAFEX 2024 Virtual Conference, Session 1
2024-11-07 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | ZOOM
Cider apples have been cultivated for centuries in Europe, but their performance in North America has not been without its challenges. A movement of fruit explorers and citizen scientists are changing the way ciders and perrys are made in the US.
Dave Carr of Raging Cider in San Marcos, California joins us to discuss how he has utilized a combination of feral, foraged, and cultivated fruit to craft very unique ciders and perrys. Carr will discuss the environmental pressures of growing in Southern California and how he has adapted to environmental pressures. He will also discuss seedling trials and his orchard. Whether you’re a seasoned grower, forager, cider maker or just curious, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how to perhaps craft your own exceptional cider.
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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2024 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 7-9, via ZOOM or by phone. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recorded sessions later.
The conference is open to fruit growers of all experience levels and will feature 8 sessions and 10 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

No Land, No Problem. Growing with minimal space - NAFEX 2024 Virtual Conference, Session 2
2024-11-07 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | ZOOM
Do you want to grow some of your own food but have a small yard? This session will show you how to do that successfully. Author Lee Reich will cover proven techniques for growing abundant crops in a small footprint.
This session will also be of interest for growers with an interest in shaping their trees into beautiful and elaborate shapes.
Lee’s session will include oblique cordon & espalier techniques, as well as European-style and backyard growing. And, an audience favorite, Lee will discuss methods for growing a delicious variety of figs.
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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2024 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 7-9, via ZOOM or by phone. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recorded sessions later.
The conference is open to fruit growers of all experience levels and will feature 8 sessions and 10 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

Old Southern Apples & New Opportunities - NAFEX 2024 Virtual Conference, Session 3
2024-11-08 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | ZOOM
Go back on a journey in time, deep into the heart of Southern homesteads and orchards where wonderful apple varieties were being grown. Overtime like many of these apples became lost as old southern apples were not immune to conformity and many varieties fell into obscurity. Many varieties are lost for good. However, if it weren’t for some modern day fruit explorers like Creighton Lee Calhoun, Tom Brown, and Joyce Neighbors we would have lost a lot more. Today even after both Calhoun and Neighbors have passed their rediscoveries still live on at historical orchards and backyards across the US.
Join us as Jason Bowen and Josh Fuder discuss Old Southern Apples and their place in the Southern foodways. They will provide background into regional varieties and nurseries. Interesting stories on apples like Junaluska and answer a nagging question. Do Limbertwigs really have a Limbertwiggy flavor? Learn what is being done to preserve these large collections of southern apples and how southern apples may fit in a warming plan?
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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2024 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 7-9, via ZOOM or by phone. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recorded sessions later.
The conference is open to fruit growers of all experience levels and will feature 8 sessions and 10 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

Project Pawpaw - NAFEX 2024 Virtual Conference, Session 4
2024-11-08 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | ZOOM
Adam D’Angelo of Project Pawpaw will introduce us to the future of sustainable agriculture via the pawpaw!
What’s Project Pawpaw?
Project Pawpaw is a collaborative effort to develop varieties of pawpaw (Asimina triloba) that better meet the needs of both farmers and consumers. They aim to develop new cultivars of pawpaws which taste great, grow well, and have a longer shelf life. Their work is entirely crowdfunded – all of their funding comes from the sale of products through our online store and at in-person events. This funding structure gives them the agility to explore new areas of scientific inquiry while also keeping them efficient.
Join us to hear what may be happening with Pawpaws in the near future!
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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2024 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 7-9, via ZOOM or by phone. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recorded sessions later.
The conference is open to fruit growers of all experience levels and will feature 8 sessions and 10 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

Vitis Vinifera and Muscadines: Grape Breeders seek the best of both grapes - NAFEX 2024 Virtual Conference, Session 5
2024-11-08 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | ZOOM
Muscadines may be the folksy American of the grape world, but they have many qualities like disease resistance and unique flavors that are desired in the more popular Vitis vinifera (bunch grapes) species.
Likewise, Vitis vinifera — the species that most people eat as table grapes and drink in wine — has many characteristics desirable for muscadines, like thinner skin, a crispier texture and seedlessness. Successfully combining traits from these two species of grapes is a challenge due to differing numbers of base chromosomes.
Margaret Worthington and Renee Threlfall with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are co-directors of a national project supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to crossbreed muscadines and Vitis vinifera grapes for shared desirable traits. New table grape varieties like Candy Hearts™ and Cotton Candy™ show that consumers are excited about new bold flavors for fruit. However, the genetics for disease resistance are lacking in Vitis grapes, and there is still work needed to make muscadines more appealing to a broader consumer base.
Join us to learn what new grapes may be available to grow in the future!

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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2024 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 7-9, via ZOOM or by phone. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recorded sessions later.
The conference is open to fruit growers of all experience levels and will feature 8 sessions and 10 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

Show & Tell and Annual Meeting - NAFEX 2024 Virtual Conference, Session 6
2024-11-08 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | ZOOM
Bring your stories about fruit growing for the always-fun member Show and Tell. The Show and Tell will emphasize discovering or breeding fruit but all stories are welcome – as are new members.
Wondering what the North American Fruit Explorers is all about? The 90-minute online session includes an overview by our president, Kris Klueg Heeter, and a brief annual meeting. Join us as we take a brief look back at 2023, look ahead to 2024, and review our Board of Directors candidates.
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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2024 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 7-9, via ZOOM or by phone. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recorded sessions later.
The conference is open to fruit growers of all experience levels and will feature 8 sessions and 10 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

Biological Tools an Overview of IPM for Fruit Production - NAFEX 2024 Virtual Conference, Session 7
2024-11-09 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | ZOOM
Alison Kutz will take a Birds Eye look at some of the innovative IPM (Integrated Pest Management) angles that growers of Blueberries, Apples, Hazelnuts, Wine Grapes and more have embraced over the last few years. From building soil with compost teas, to tackling disease and pests with microbial tools, growers have found the need to reach for new ideas. While research does its best to follow the industry lead of production growers, it’s really the farmer (and their challenges) that are willing to lead the brigade and do things differently. Where do these worlds intersect? This presentation will give examples of the use of beneficial insects with novel drone deployment over orchards, vineyards, almonds and strawberries, and share some ideas from the biological realm that will stimulate your own on-farm brainstorming.

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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2024 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 7-9, via ZOOM or by phone. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recorded sessions later.
The conference is open to fruit growers of all experience levels and will feature 8 sessions and 10 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

2024 Virtual Conference Keynote - The Ecological Orchard, Session 8
2024-11-09 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | ZOOM
Helen Atthowe’s no-till, no-spray, selective-weeding, grow-your-own-fertilizer system for organic orchards that was developed & refined over 35 years while owning & operating (and co-operating with her late husband) on 3 certified organic orchards and vegetable farms ranging from 30-211 acres, spanning 3 states. You won’t want to miss this talk.

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This interactive webinar will be the closing keynote session of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2024 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 7-9, via ZOOM or by phone. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recorded sessions later.
The conference is open to fruit growers of all experience levels and will feature 8 sessions and 10 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage.
Registration and Cost
Members: This live conference (and recordings) is FREE for current NAFEX members. Members will receive email updates with conference notices and links. Not sure if your membership is current? Check the status of your NAFEX membership here.
Non-members: The conference is only $19 and you’ll receive full conference access plus full member benefits for one year! We invite you to join today.

Winter Scion Wood and Pruning
2025-01-28 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
This is the 1st of 3 townhalls. We will have an open discussion about winter collection of scion wood and also discuss pruning. February will also be focused on pruning and grafting. We hope that many of you can show up and add your questions and expertise to the open discussion and converse with your fellow members!!
Have a favorite brand of pruners or saws show us!
Found a way to keep your scion stored for a longer period tell us about it!
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Townhall Meetup is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

Grafting, Rootstock and More
2025-02-25 19:30 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
This is the 2nd townhall with an open discussion about rootstock choices and grafting. We hope that many of you can show up and add your questions and expertise to the open discussion and converse with your fellow members!!
Have a favorite grafting tool to show us!
Tell us your favorite grafting method, and why!
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Townhall Meetup is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

Starting Your Own Small Nursery
2025-03-25 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
NAFEX member Larry Stephenson and owner of Southern Cultured Orchards and Nursery will be sharing the in’s and out’s of getting your own business going. Come with your questions for this very informative talk.
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Townhall Meetup is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

Cold Hardy Fig Production
2025-04-29 19:30 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
For our April Meetup NAFEX President, Kris Heeter, will be talking with us about a USDA-SARE Partnership research grant on cold-hardy fig production.
Kris will be sharing the details of a funded partnership that is studying a number of cold-hardy fig varieties in Zones 5 and 6, planting techniques, and winter protection to produce local fig production. Value-added products from these varieties will also be discussed.
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Townhall Meetup is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

USDA Pomological Paintings: History and Uses
2025-06-24 19:30 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Join us June 24th for an evening of discussion about the USDA Pomological Watercolors. NAFEX Board Members will discuss their history and usefulness beyond their aesthetic value. We will provide some tips on how to use the paintings to support your own fruit exploration efforts or just how to enjoy and understand these treasures.
Between 1886 and 1942, USDA’s Division of Pomology commissioned artists to create illustrations of thousands of fruits and nuts. A historic botanical resource, the Pomological Watercolor Collection, which is housed at the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Maryland, contains 7,497 watercolor paintings, 87 line drawings, and 79 wax models created by approximately 21 artists.
USDA botanists introduced thousands of plants and fruits through exploration around the globe in an effort to advance agricultural endeavors in the United States. Additionally as people across the country created new cultivars, or varieties, through hybridization, the US Department of Agriculture set out to document them with a national register of fruits. The paintings indirectly became a way of patenting discoveries and inventions through breeding before a formal patent system existed in the US.
In order to ensure color accuracy, watercolor—rather than photography—was the preferred medium. These technically precise paintings were used to create lithographs illustrating USDA bulletins, yearbooks, and other series distributed to growers and gardeners across America.
These valuable paintings represent the rich history of fruit development and introduction to the US. Today the pomological watercolors are used by historians and fruit explorers to identify fruit based upon phenotypical characteristics in an effort to identify fruit trees and possibly rediscover lost heirlooms.
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Townhall Meetup is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

Orchard Resilience Through Homegrown Soil Fertility
2025-07-29 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Join us July 29th for a discussion with NAFEX Board member Ryan Watson who also works at the Giving Grove. He will be talking with us about improving soil fertility for tree health and also give us some background into the Giving Grove.
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Townhall Meetup is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org

Preserving Heritage Fruit Trees
2025-08-26 19:30 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Join us August 26th for a discussion with Leslie Duthie of the Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston MA.
The meeting will be held on ZOOM and by phone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. This virtual NAFEX Townhall Meetup is FREE with your $19 NAFEX membership. Find the ZOOM link and call-in numbers in your inbox or on our member Interest Group page. Plan to join us!
Not a member yet? Join for $19/yr and get access to this ZOOM meetup and all past recorded meetings and conference settings! www.nafex.org
