Maine Vegetable and Fruit School

Vegetable garden with greenhouses in the background at Highmoor Farm, photo by Chris Howard
Garden at Highmoor Farm; photo by Chris Howard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

March 17, 2026
8:30 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

University of Southern Maine – Lewiston Campus (Room 170)
51 Westminster Street
Lewiston, Maine 04240
(Directions, Google Maps)

This day-long school is sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Association.  Lunch will be provided so pre-registration is encouraged and appreciated. Walk-ins are welcome but lunch will not be guaranteed. Online registration will close on March 12th. Please contact Highmoor Farm at 207.933.2100 for questions.

In case of bad weather, we will follow the University of Southern Maine weather hotline announcement at 207.780.4800.

For parking info, download a pdf of the USM Lewiston campus map.

Credits:

  • Pesticide applicator recertification credits = 2.0

Cost: $50

Register Online

Agenda

8:30 a.m. — Registration

9:00 a.m. — Focus on Pest Management

9:00 a.m. — Strawberries, Dr. David Handley, UMaine Cooperative Extension

9:30 a.m. — Cucumber, Summer Squash, Dr. Mark Hutton and Dr. David Handley, UMaine Cooperative Extension

10:00 a.m. — Garlic and Onions, Dr. Peyton Ginakes, UMaine Cooperative Extension

10:30 a.m. — What’s New? Vegetable Varieties: Snap Beans, Tomatoes, Corn, Donald Sedor, Harris Seeds; Amy Dolley, Johnny’s Selected Seeds

11:15 a.m. — Table Grapes: Potential for New England, Dr. David Handley, UMaine Cooperative Extension

12:00 p.m. — Lunch — catered by Lisa’s White Flour Catering (assorted wraps, pickles and olives, chips, and cookies) – vegetarian/vegan options available

1:00 p.m. — Managing Phytophthora Blight, Dr. Susan Scheufele, UMass Cooperative Extension

1:30 p.m. — Tips for Tunnel Tomatoes, Dr. Susan Scheufele, UMass Cooperative Extension

2:00 p.m. — Post-Harvest Handling to Improve Storage Life, Andy Chamberlin, UVM Extension

2:30 p.m. — Break

2:45 p.m. — A Visit to Farm: Innovation to Improve Success, Charlie Gray, Newbury, VT

3:30 p.m. — Wrap-up and Evaluations

If you need reasonable accommodation, please contact Stephanie Wright at stephanie.wright@maine.edu or call 207.933.2100 by March 9, 2025.  If requests are received after this date, we may not have sufficient time to make necessary arrangements; however, all requests will be considered.

The University of Maine System (the System) is an equal opportunity institution committed to fostering a nondiscriminatory environment and complying with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Consistent with State and Federal law, the System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran or military status in any aspect of its education, programs and activities, and employment. The System provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you are encouraged to contact the System Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services at 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, Orono, ME 04469-5713, by calling 207.581.1226, or via TTY at 711 (Maine Relay System). For more information about Title IX or to file a complaint, please contact the UMS Title IX Coordinator at www.maine.edu/title-ix/.