Held during Yuma's Ag Week, the Southwest Agriculture Summit is an agriculture industry show that includes keynote speakers, exhibitor booths, educational seminars, field demonstration, networking, golfing, social events and more. This year, the Southwest Ag Summit committee is excited to share that they are partnering with the International Spinach Conference. The 2015 Yuma's Ag Week will kick off with the Spinach Conference on February 24th and then roll into the Southwest Ag Summit on February 25th. The Summit will begin with a Registration Breakfast and continue through February 26th ending with the Harvest Dinner, a celebration of Yuma agriculture and the partnerships with other agriculture communities. The Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association, in partnership with Arizona Western College Foundation, University of Arizona, and Yuma County Farm Bureau, are working diligently to ensure the Summit is current, relevant and valuable for all in attendance.
Held at Arizona Western College, the Summit will kick off on the 25th with a breakfast burrito breakfast and the field demonstration event. There will also be a farm welding seminar where new and valuable applications to repairing and strengthening farm equipment will be presented. The afternoon will include a golf tournament and reception. In addition to the Summit's activities, there are additional opportunities offered including Yuma river tours, cooking classes and a dinner at a local historic spot with a speaker who will share Yuma's rich history.
Thursday's events will kick off with a morning keynote panel discussing water issues in the desert southwest. Speakers will include Dave Roberts, Senior Director of Water Resources of the Salt River Project as well as a representative from the Central Arizona Project. Following the morning educational sessions and exhibitor show, the Southwest Ag Summit keynote speaker, Lori Taylor, author of The Produce Mom ® will share the importance of everyone's "story" within the Specialty Crop Industry. Launched in January 2012, The Produce Mom is the official blog and consumer brand of Indianapolis Fruit Company, a supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables to retailers in more than 14 Midwestern states. As The Produce Mom, Lori has received national recognitions, including the top 40 Under Forty from Produce Business Magazine, Fruit & Veggies-More Matters Industry Champion by Produce for Better Health Foundation, Walt Disney Kids Concern, and one of the most influential produce industry professionals in the "Packer 25" by leading trade journal, The Packer.
Pest and Disease Management, Desert Alfalfa Production, Fresh Produce Safety Update, Marketing and Technology, Crop Management and Fertility and Ag Business Management are just a few of the scheduled session topics. A complete list of events and description of breakout sessions will be available online at www.swagsummit.com
The Summit will close with the always sold-out Harvest Dinner, held at the Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park. Tickets for the dinner go on sale November 3, 2014. Be sure to stay for Yuma Lettuce Days, an agri-culinary show that will take place February 28-March 1, 2015 at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Farm.
For Summit sponsorship or registration information, please visit www.swagsummit.com or call 928-344-1720.
The Arizona Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Consultation and Training has funded all or a portion of this Project using Specialty Crop Block Grant funds provided by the USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
Source: The Arizona Department of Agriculture