Peach production meeting held
Published 9:32 pm Tuesday, February 1, 2011
This year’s Peach Queens were on hand Tuesday for the Chilton Area Peach Production Meeting. Shown are Peach Queen Jessica Swindle, Junior Miss Kaitlin Ray, Young Miss Leah Easterling and Little Miss Gracie Owens.
The annual Chilton Area Peach Production Meeting was Tuesday night at the Alabama Power Conference Center in Clanton.
Various presentations concerning Chilton County’s No. 1 industry were given. The program, which ran from 5-8:30 p.m., included useful information for farmers.
“Producers always learn something from it,” said Gay West of the Chilton County Extension Office. “They gain information they can go back and use in the field.”
Sponsors of the event included the Chilton County Farmers Federation, the Clanton Lions Club, Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, and Garrison Farm and Home Center.
“We couldn’t make it without the peach farmers. We wouldn’t have a Peach Festival,” said Tom Brown, Peach Festival chairman for the Lions Club.
During the meeting, updates were given about work at the Chilton Research and Extension Center and the Chilton Food Innovation Center.
Desmond Layne also gave a talk about recognizing stress factors in orchards as well as new peach varieties for farmers to consider.
Presenters include Gary Gray, Elina Coneva, Matthew Price, Gay West, Christy Mendoza, Bill Goff, Bobby Boozer and Jim Pitts.
The Peach Queens were also present and were recognized during dinner, which was catered by Southern Sweets.
