2026 Wild Blueberry Spring Conference Registration Open

2026 Wild Blueberry Spring Conference

Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026
Snow Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026
Conference Time: 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Location: Moore Community Center, 125 State Street, Ellsworth, Maine 04605
Format: In-person with breakout rooms, lunch, etc./Virtual: Available

Join us for the 8th Annual Wild Blueberry Spring Conference!

There will be coffee and breakfast items in the morning, followed by soups and sandwiches for lunch made by Angie’s Comfort Kitchen, and coffee and snacks in the afternoon. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.

If you choose to attend virtually, the Zoom link will be emailed the day before the event.

Pesticide Credits will be available for in-person full-day attendance.

Pay what you can: $10, $20, $50, $100. Suggested donation of $30. All proceeds go directly towards the Extension Wild Blueberry Programming.

Agenda

This year’s agenda is focused on profitability and collaboration in the morning, followed by research talks in the afternoon.

8:20: Welcome, Dr. Lily Calderwood (UMaine)
8:30-9:00: State of the Industry, Eric Venturini (Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine)
9:00-9:30: Fresh Pack Profitability, Ron Howard (Brodis Blueberries), Aaron Hoshide (Financial Consultant)
9:30-10:00: Forced Air Cooling, Ron Howard, Dr. Lily Calderwood, and Chris Callahan (UVM)
10:00-10:15: Break
10:15-10:45: Organic Profitability, Cary Nash (Nash Farms Inc.) and TOPP Update (MOFGA)
10:45-11:30: Grower Meeting: Building the Future, Ron Howard (everyone welcome)
11:30-12:00: Lessons from the Lobster Industry, Curtis Brown (Bold Coast Seafood)
12:00 -1:00: Lunch

There will be two rooms for concurrent afternoon research talks.

Session A
1:00-1:30: Irrigation and Drought Relief Program, Lori Wilson (Engineering Consultant), Ron Howard, and Tom Gordon (DACF)
1:30-2:00: Weed Mapping and Drone Use, Patrice Sison (UMaine)
2:00-2:45: Insect Pest Management, Dr. Phil Fanning (UMaine)
2:45- 3:00: Break
3:00-3:45: Disease Pest Management, Dr. Seanna Annis (UMaine)

Session B
1:00-1:30: Winter Hardiness in Wild Blueberry, Dr. Harrison Wright (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
1:30-2:00: Nitrogen and Calcium Fertilizer Results, Dr. Lily Calderwood
2:00-2:30: Mulching Wild Blueberry Fields, Dr. Lily Calderwood
2:45- 3:00: Break
3:00-3:45: Harvester Efficiency, Dr. Lily Calderwood and Engineering Partners (UMaine)