New Orleans to Host 2014 Farm to Table International Symposium

This is an invitation to all states and their Cooperative Extension Service faculty, as well as those involved in production, processing and/or distribution of locally sourced produce and protein, to come and participate in the 2014 Farm to Table International Symposium, scheduled for August 2-4 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

The Farm To Table International Symposium (F2Ti) offers practical knowledge for all those interested in the topics of sourcing, producing, and consuming foods locally. Join in lively discussions on the topic which will feature the brightest thought leaders and leading practitioners in the burgeoning farm-to-table movement. This year’s theme, “The Process,” examines the agricultural-culinary cycle at all levels and will feature its own organic urban farm research project. Topics will include the best practices for urban farming, bringing products to market, sourcing locally, sustainability and the latest with the imposing Food Safety Modernization Act. The Symposium occurs in tandem with the Louisiana Restaurant Association’s Annual Food-service Expo in a city that has its own unique culinary culture. The LSU AgCenter is a partner supporting this educational opportunity. For more information and registration visit:

http://f2t-int.com/#sthash.fHGhuLH7.dpuf

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Master Gardeners Attend Appreciation Day at Hammond Research Station

More than 180 Louisiana Master Gardeners (LMG) braved showers and cloudy skies to attend the annual LMG Appreciation Day at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station on May 9th. Each year Louisiana Master Gardeners provide more than 70,000 hours of volunteer service to the AgCenter through involvement in everything from plant health clinics to answering gardening questions in LSU AgCenter parish offices, to manning educational booths at fairs and festivals. Some Master Gardener associations also are actively involved in the rapidly expanding youth gardening, school gardening and community gardening programs.

The annual appreciation day has been held in Hammond the past several years to show Master Gardeners how much their volunteer efforts mean to the statewide horticulture programming efforts of the AgCenter. Activities for the day included a presentation by LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill. In addition, LSU AgCenter extension specialists Alan Morgan, Ron Strahan, Kathryn Fontenot and Raj Singh participated by having booth displays at the event. The program included contests, such as “Name that Weed” and “What’s Wrong with This Plant?” Horticulturist Allen Owings lead a tour of the sun garden trials featuring new plants for 2015 in addition to a new planting of tropical and sub-tropical plants from Florida.

This year Louisiana Master Gardeners voted for their favorite Louisiana Super Plant. The winners were – Camelot foxglove (first place) and Kauai torenia (second place). Belinda’s Dream rose and Serena angelonia tied for third place. Master Gardeners also voted on their favorite plants in the shade and sun gardens at the station during their event: The winners were – Mesa Bright Bicolor gaillardia (Gold Medal), Diamonds Blue delphinium (Silver Medal), Tidepool Dark Blue lobelia, Camelot Mix foxglove and Carnival summer poinsettia (Bronze Medals).  Honorable Mentions went to Drift Coral rose, Endurascape Red  verbena, Kauai Deep Blue torenia ,Techno Heat Lite Blue Improved lobelia, Dash Magician dianthus, Mesa Peach gaillardia, Swan Mix columbine, Flutterby Petite Tutti Frutti Pink butterfly bush, Dalmation Lavender Improved foxglove, Fragrant Bouquet hosta and bog sage (Salvia uliginosa).

For additional information about the Louisiana Master Gardener program, contact your local LSU AgCenter parish office or State Master Gardener Coordinator Miles Brashier at mbrashier@agcenter.lsu.edu or 225-638-5533.

 

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