NAFEX

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)
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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

Cultivating Connections: Fall Harvest Show and Tell
2025-09-30 19:30 (America/New_York)
Join us September 30th for a open member discussion about this years fall harvest.
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

Growing Tropicals in Temperate Zones
2025-10-29 19:30 (America/New_York)
Join us October 29th for a discussion on growing tropicals in temperate zones
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

NAFEX 2025 Virtual Conference
2025-11-06 - 2025-11-08
Save the dates and plan to join the North American Fruit Explorers for the NAFEX 2025 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 6-8, via ZOOM or by phone.
Author, forager and wildcrafter Pascal Baudar will deliver the keynote address. The conference, which is open to fruit growers of all experience levels, will feature eight interactive sessions and nine speakers over 3 days. Participate and ask questions in real time or watch the recordings later.
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Speakers and Session Topics
Check out the full lineup of speakers and topics on our conference webpage coming soon.
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.

Haskaps: The Superfruit Revolution - NAFEX 2025 Virtual Conference, Session 1
2025-11-06 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis)
Haskaps have gained a growing popularity due in part to their “superfruit” status. Just think of a better blueberry, as they contain high antioxidant levels and a unique flavor profile. Long grown commercially in Japan, they have become increasingly popular in Canada and parts of the US. Quite similar in image to a blue berry but they ripen two weeks before other fruit, winter hardy to -50c, have a six-week harvest window, depending on varieties. These bushes have become popular additions to the small scale market places; farmers markets, U-Pick operations, and fine restaurants alike. Now with larger acres planted, they are breaking into larger scale production and processing.
Andrew Rosychuk of Rosy Farms and Haskap Alberta Association will explore the history of Haskaps across the world and their entry into North America, touch on breeding and research, discuss important elements for successfully growing, and compare the growth of the haskap industry to that of other cold hardy fruits including saskatoon berries and blueberries, as it is evolving quickly.
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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2025 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 6-8, 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 9 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 8 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.

Making Successful Community Orchards - NAFEX 2025 Virtual Conference, Session 2
2025-11-06 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis)
Learn how community orchards are transforming neighborhoods across the country by providing fresh fruit, green spaces, and opportunities for connection.
This panel brings together three leaders with deep experience in building and sustaining these orchards in diverse contexts: Phil Forsyth of the Philadelphia Orchard Project, Linda Appel-Lipsius of the Denver Urban Gardens, and Ashley Vernon of The Giving Grove, which oversees a national network that supports orchards across the U.S., offering scalable models and resources to help neighborhoods grow and maintain thriving, productive spaces.
Together, the panelists will share practical insights, lessons learned, and strategies for creating orchards that not only grow fruit, but also foster healthier, more connected communities.
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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2025 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 6-8, 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 9 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 8 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.

Foraged Apples: Science, Cider and Lore - NAFEX 2025 Virtual Conference, Session 3
2025-11-07 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis)
How can foraged and wild apples shape the orchards and ciders of tomorrow?
All cultivated apple varieties are the product of careful human selection and horticultural propagation. Aside from intentional breeding projects, many of these selections begin with the discovery of a wilding apple of particularly useful quality. With the technologies of plant breeding so far advanced, what is the worth of a wilding apple?
Drawing on fieldwork in New York and New England, Dr. Maria Kennedy of Rutgers University’s Foraged Fruit Project will discuss the research and outcomes of a collaborative research project with Dr. Gregory Peck of Cornell University, which investigates the impact of a renewed interest in wild, foraged, and feral fruits amongst contemporary cider makers and growers.
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This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2025 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 6-8, 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 9 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 8 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.

Weather-Wise Orchards - NAFEX 2025 Virtual Conference, Session 4
2025-11-07 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis)
Changing weather patterns have a profound impact on our ability to grow fruits. Pam Knox, State Agricultural Climatologist at the University of Georgia and director of the UGA Weather Network, will provide an outlook on the upcoming El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle and its potential impacts on fruit production nationwide.
She will highlight expected winter and spring weather patterns, including chill accumulation, frost risk, and regional variability. Attendees will also learn how to get involved in citizen science weather programs that contribute valuable data to the broader climate community.
—
This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2025 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 6-8, 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 9 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 8 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.

Growing Stone Fruits in Cold Climates - NAFEX 2025 Virtual Conference, Session 5
2025-11-07 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis)
Learn how to push the limits to grow stone fruits in cold climates. Minnesota fruit grower and NAFEX member Dan Sheild has trialed over 60 varieties of peaches and will share his inspiring high tunnel project that has allowed them to survive in temperatures as low as -36°.
Dan’s goal is to create a commercially viable system model that allows peaches of high-quality to be sold throughout the upper Midwest.
—
This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2025 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 6-8, 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 9 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 8 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.

Annual Meeting and Show and Tell - NAFEX 2025 Virtual Conference, Session 6
2025-11-07 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis)
Bring your stories about fruit growing for the always-fun member NAFEX Show and Tell. Share your successes, challenges and failures. 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 2025, look ahead to 2026.
—
This interactive meeting is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2025 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 6-8, via ZOOM or by phone.
The conference is open to fruit growers of all experience levels and will feature 8 sessions and 9 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 8 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.

Red Mulberry Search and Rescue - NAFEX 2025 Virtual Conference, Session 7
2025-11-08 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis)
Red mulberry (Morus rubra) produces delicious, complex fruit and shows strong potential for both backyard and commercial production — yet they’re slowly disappearing as invasive white mulberries (Morus alba) threaten to hybridize them out of existence.
Working with a team of researchers, Weston Lombard led the Mulberry Search and Rescue Contest to crowdsource pure rubra specimens, DNA-test them, and identify the best specimens for potential distribution. Early results are promising: pure or nearly pure red mulberries still exist, and with preservation and propagation, this important native fruit may yet thrive.
Join Weston to learn more about this ongoing research and how to grow and preserve red mulberry in your orchard.
—
This interactive webinar is part of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2025 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 6-8, 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 9 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 8 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

Foraging and Wildcrafting with Wild Fruits - NAFEX 2025 Virtual Conference Keynote, Session 8
2025-11-08 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis)
Explore the flavor, creativity, and terroir of wild fruits with author, forager and wildcrafter Pascal Baudar.
Pascal will lead us on an exploration of the edible landscape including foraging, fermenting and making natural wine and ciders with wild fruits.
Drawing on his bestselling books like The New Wildcrafted Cuisine, The Wildcrafting Brewer, and Wildcrafted Fermentation, as well as his deep engagement with local terroir, Baudar will showcase how sometimes under-appreciated native, non-native and invasive fruits can be preserved, fermented, brewed, and crafted into vinegars, sodas, condiments, and libations.
These creations capture the terroir’s true flavor—revealing how even the humblest wild berry or seed can evoke a sense of place, enrich palates, and support environmental stewardship through sustainable harvesting.
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This interactive webinar is the closing session and keynote of the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) 2025 Virtual Conference, featuring three days of inspiring and informative online sessions for fruit growers, November 6-8, 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 9 speakers over 3 days. Plan to join us!
Conference Session Dates and Times
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 8 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

Integrated Pest Management
2026-01-27 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for our January 27th session with this month’s interest group speaker Rick Weinzierl of Weinzierl Fruit and Consulting, LLC. Rick will be speaking to us about Integrated Pest Management specifically in apple orchards and covering some stone fruit. He will be highlighting conventional and organic methods of pest management for small orchards to backyard growers. A retired entomologist from the University of Illinois Rick has his own orchard and consults with large commercial orchards. Bring your questions and join us!!
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
