The First Annual Southeast Winter Apple School will be held on February 6-7, 2024 and it won't be complete without you. So, what's different this year. This year's meeting will be a combined meeting of the traditional Winter Apple School with the North Carolina Apple Grower's Annual Southeast Apple Conference. It's one event with so much more.

This year's meeting will be a two-day affair with a tour/demonstration session on February 6 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Flavorful Farms and KB Orchards. The field portion will include a tour of the Flavorful Farms facilities as well as equipment displays/demonstrations. The afternoon session on February 6 will be at Blue Ridge Community College and will feature sessions on agritourism, a legislative update from Farm Bureau, a grower presentation from Mike Cullipher of Virginia Beach, VA, food safety for direct marketers and more.

Then on February 7, the meeting reconvenes at BRCC at 8:30am with a power-packed lineup of apple experts and industry leaders. Dr. Sue Brown, apple breeder at Cornell University and Mr. Bill Pitts of the Midwest Apple Improvement Association will be guest out-of-state speakers that day.

In addition, there will be presentations from our NCSU apple team and a report from U.S. Apple from Ms. Diane Kurrle. Each of these speakers brings a unique discussion of apples from their various disciplines. Breaks and lunch will be provided on February 7.

The Tuesday afternoon session and the Wednesday sessions will be held at the Technology Education and Development Center at Blue Ridge Community College. After a reduced crop in 2023, the 2024 season is already underway and  the Southeast  Winter Apple School will be an integral part of the preparation.

An annual highlight that continues are the awards presentations from the Blue Ridge Apple Growers and the North Carolina Apple Growers. BRAG will present their Apple Grower of the Year, Friend of the Apple Grower and Lifetime Achievement Awards, which are all distinguished honors announced at that time. For the second year, they will also present an award to someone who works behind the scenes to make their business thrive. Who will be the next "Behind the Scenes Award" winner.

The cost for attendance is only $55.00 for the entire program. This also entitles you to membership in the Blue Ridge Apple Growers Association AND the North Carolina Apple Growers Assocation for one year. What a bargain! Attendees who are there for the entire program will receive two hours of pesticide credit.

Registration forms can be found at NC Apple Growers which includes an option for credit card payment.

To see the tentative agenda, follow the link below. We hope to see you on February 6-7, 2024 at Flavorful Farms/KB Orchards and Blue Ridge Community College for Southeast Winter Apple School.