On May 5, 2011 from 9 to 11 am, representatives from the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) will hold a meeting for strawberry growers at the Ventura County Cooperative Extension office.

There will be two simultaneous sessions. One will be in English and the other in Spanish. Both sessions will inform growers of the features and availability of the pilot crop insurance program for strawberries.

From the RMA:

“The program is based on the grower’s own historical crop revenues and protects growers against losses from low yield, low price, or any combination of these events. We will discuss how the program can work for you, requirements, sales closing dates, and how to purchase crop insurance.”

For more information or to RSVP contact Sandy Sanchez or Jessica Klaisner at: (530) 792-5870 or email: sandy.sanchez@rma.usda.gov or Jessica.klaisner@rma.usda.gov.

For those interested in attending, but unable to make the May 5 meeting in Ventura other locations are as follows:

May 4, 2011 from 2 to 4 pm in Santa Maria (English and Spanish)

May 10, 2011 from 2 to 4 pm in Monterey (English)

May 10, 2011 from 9 to 11 am in Watsonville (Spanish)