2018 Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit Production Seminar

San Diego County Farm Bureau

420 South Broadway, Suite 200 | Escondido, CA 92025

Friday - August 24, 2018

7:00am – 4:30pm

TOPICS TO BE COVERED:

• San Diego County Agriculture – Water, Policies and Regulatory Update
• Pitahaya Research Update – Variety Evaluation and Performance, Genetic Characterization
• Irrigation Water Management Strategies and Pitahaya Irrigation
• Pitahaya Post Harvest Management & Sensory Evaluation
• Pitahaya or Dragon Fruit Markets and Marketing - An Overview and Global Perspective
• Pitahaya Orchard Establishment & Economics Considerations
• Pitahaya Fertility Management & Soil Analytical Reports (Tentative)
• Nematode Issues and their Impact for Pitahaya Production
• Insect Pest Management & Pesticide Use Safety for Pitahayas and Other Specialty Crops
• Weeds and Weed Management Strategies for Specialty Crops, including Pitahaya
• Diseases – Diagnosis and Management Strategies for Pitahaya Production
• Hydroponics – An Evaluation of Soilless Substrates for Pitahaya Production (Tentative) 

2018 Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit Festival/Field Day

UC South Coast Research and Extension Center

7601 Irvine Boulevard | Irvine, CA 92618

Saturday - August 25, 2016

6:30am – 3:30pm

TOPICS TO BE COVERED:

• Review of Pitahaya Varieties and Hand Pollination Demonstration
• Integrated Pest Management Strategies for Specialty Crops Production
• Pitahaya Irrigation Research and System Design Consideration
• Pitahaya Trellis Systems Demonstration
• Pitahaya Production for Home or Backyard Growers
• Pitahaya or Dragon Fruit and Ice Cream Tasting 

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

-PLEASE READ-

REGISTER EARLY. This event has sold out in the past!! Attendance is limited to 60 participants for the seminar on August 24th and 100 for the festival/field day on August 25th. This would also help us plan for handouts and cuttings. No refunds will be issued, but substitutions are allowed.

PRICINGincludes continental breakfast, refreshments, lunch, (Catered by Phil's BBQ on 8/24), pitahaya/dragon fruit ice cream, smoothie tasting, and an information packet:

• Package Registration for Seminar & Festival/Field Day: $80.00, 

If paid online with a credit card or post-marked by Friday - August 17, 2018.

No package registrations after this date.

• Seminar Registration ONLY: $60.00, 

If paid online with a credit card or post-marked by Friday - August 17, 2018

$70.00 after this date or at the door, if space allows*

• Festival/Field Day Registration ONLY: $ 40.00,

If paid online with a credit card or post-marked by Friday - August 17, 2018

$50.00 after this date or at the door, if space allows*

*Walk-ins will be allowed if space is available, but you MUST have exact change or checks. Credit cards will NOT be accepted day of.

Please be aware that you WILL be turned away if space is not available! NO EXCEPTIONS.

TO REGISTER,please complete the online registration form at:

https://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=25236

For registration questions, please contact

Erin Spaniel

Administrative Assistant II

858-822-7919

enspaniel@ucanr.edu

University of California Cooperative Extension, USDA Farm Service Agency, California Avocado Commission and California Avocado Society

Fire Recovery and Frost Refresher

Santa Paula Agricultural Museum, 926 Railroad Ave, Santa Paula

January 10, 9 – 11 AM, Wednesday

Introduction – Ben Faber, UCCE

Fire Damage to Santa Barbara and Ventura County Agriculture – Henry Gonzales, VC Ag Commissioner

Damage to Avocado Orchards – Ken Melban, CAC

Disaster Resources Available from USDA – Farm Service Agency – Daisy Banda, USDA- FSA

Assessing Fire and Frost Damage and Recovery Practices – Ben Faber

Fire Loss Calculator – Eta Takele, UCCE

Fire Experiences – What Works, What Doesn't and What Might – Grower Panel

Representatives from Ventura and Santa Barbara Agriculture Commissions will be present

FSA will be present from 8-12 to take Disaster Applications

Refreshments will be served.

For information contact: Ben Faber (805)645-1462

The University of California prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person employed by or seeking employment with the University on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized).

University Policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable State and Federal laws.

Inquiries regarding the University's nondiscrimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action/Staff Personnel Services Director, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 300 Lakeside Dr., 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612-3550 (510) 987-0096.

2017 Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit Production Tour – Ventura

UC Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center

14292 W Telegraph Rd. | Santa Paula, CA 93060

Enter on Briggs Road Entrance

Phone: (805) 525-9293 |Fax: (805) 525-5475

Monday – October 2, 2017

Self Driven Tour-Volunteer Drivers Needed for Carpooling

Tour Itinerary & Agenda:

7:00 am           Registration, Continental Breakfast, Welcome and Introductions - Ramiro Lobo, UCCE San Diego, Ben Faber and Jose Fernandez de Soto, Ben Faber UCCE San Diego

7:45 am          Depart for MVP Ranch in Fillmore, CA. – Tour hosted by Jose Fernandez, UCCE Hansen REC and Ramiro Lobo, UCCE San Diego County

9:15 am          Depart for Thille Ranch in Santa Paula, CA. – Tour hosted by Dave Pommer

11:00 am         Depart for UC Hansen REC in Santa Paula, CA. – Tour hosted by Jose Fernandez de Soto, UC Hansen REC

12:30 pm        LUNCH, Pitahaya Fruit and Ice Cream Tasting, Pitahaya Cutting Exchange

2:00 pm          Adjourn

Topics to be Discussed/Highlighted:

• Overview of farming operations visited
• Variety selection, planting, trellis and growing systems (pots vs. soils, shade vs. full sun, etc.)
• Pitahaya or Dragon Fruit Irrigation and water quality Issues
• Pitahaya orchard establishment & economics considerations
• Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit Varieties, Pollen Collection and Pollination Demonstration
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for pitahayas and other specialty crops
• Pitahaya fertility management & fertilizer practices
• Nematode issues for pitahaya production
• Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit Tasting and cutting exchange – Please bring/donate fruit for the tasting and get feedback from other growers (10 pieces of fruit needed)

                 Register Online at: http://ucanr.edu/2017-pitahayaventura

Registration Questions: Contact Roland Hills - 858.822.7711 or Erin Spaniel - 858.822.7919

Program Information: Contact Ramiro Lobo - 858.243.4608 or Jose Fernandez - 760.996.4874

The latest cost of production study done on oranges came out recently.

http://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/uploads/cs_public/19/d4/19d4f1bb-408a-443e-a759-36fd53a2948f/oranges_vs_2015.pdf

It applies to the San Joaquin parts of the Valley for sure, but many of the assumptions are true for evergreen tree crops in general.  The cost of weed control, or fertilizing are not going to be different.  Pest and disease control are going to be very different if you are a navel orange grower in Bakersfield or a cherimoya grower in Santa Barbara.  The key to these studies are the different issues/categories a grower should be addressing and the studies provide a framework for that study.  Also it gives general costs for different inputs, such as urea and glyphosate to make a comparison to what you might be paying