The New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference (NEVFC) is a biennial event that brings together growers and producers from across the New England states. This event began in 1979 and has been growing exponentially since.

A new record was hit this year, as by the first day of the conference, attendance was completely sold out. The three-day conference consisted of a trade show with a wide variety of exhibitors, as well as educational sessions and an award ceremony.

Trevor Hardy of Brookdale Fruit Farm, president of the New England Vegetable & Berry Growers Association (NEVBGA), opened the awards ceremony by thanking everyone who helped put on the conference. Hardy mentioned that the NEVBGA is the “oldest growers association in the country,” and recognized the NEVFC as “a great tradition.”

Hardy presented the Robert E. Young Award to two men who “have gone above and beyond their call of duty.”

Robert E. Young was responsible for developing the Waltham butternut squash, which Hardy said is “the most widely grown squash in the world.” Hardy had the privilege to recognize Dr. David Hanley and Dr. Mark Hutton, both of whom have “touched us and helped us in our community for a long time.”

(L – R) Dr. David Hanley, Trevor Hardy and Dr. Mark Hutton. Photo by Kelsi Devolve

Hanley is a UMaine vegetable and small fruit specialist, as well as a Cooperative professor of horticulture. For nearly 40 years, he’s been conducting a wide variety of research at UMaine’s Highmoor Farm. Hardy recognized Hanley for his statewide integrated pest management programs for strawberries and sweet corn as well as Extension fact sheets, newsletters and more.

Hutton is a UMaine Cooperative Extension vegetable specialist who conducts applied research in vegetable production and season extension in conventional and organic systems at Highmoor Farm. Both Hanley and Hutton have helped to teach and lead upcoming Extension members. They have taught the groundwork of communicating with the rest of Extension and their farmers, and work to “bring proactive and productive solutions” to the field.

by Kelsi Devolve