North American Fruit Explorers 2023 Virtual Conference: Session video recordings can be found below.
They will be available here for NAFEX members and conference participants until November 2024. After that they will be moved to the NAFEX YouTube channel.
Bonus materials, such as selected speaker presentations and how-to files, can be downloaded free from our Conference Google Drive HERE.
The content provided here is intended for educational use by NAFEX members only and may not be distributed or reproduced in any way without the express permission of the North American Fruit Explorers.
Please note: The opinions expressed within the conference sessions are solely those of the individual speakers and participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of the North American Fruit Explorers organization.
THURSDAY, NOV. 9
(Two Sessions)
SESSION 1
2 pm PST / 5 pm EST
Integrating Tree Vegetables and Perennial Staple Crops into the Orchard
Learn how to expand your edible orchard beyond fruit and nuts by integrating other trees and plant species that can serve as vegetables, medicine, fuel, fodder, and help build healthy soil. Author and farmer Eric Toensmeier will share his permaculture-based approach to the creation of perennial farming systems and solutions for orchards and gardens of all sizes.
Speaker:
Eric Toensmeier, author of The Carbon FarmingSolution, Perennial Vegetables, Paradise Lot and co-author of Edible Forest Gardens (Massachusetts)
Watch the recorded session HERE.
SESSION 2
4 pm PST / 7 pm EST
Apples Around the World
The apple is the most widely cultivated fruit across temperate regions of the globe. Discover the many types of Malus species around the world as Dr. Gayle Volk shares the USDA’s Malus germplasm collection and discusses how genetic level testing has improved the collection and USDA’s international exchange program. Derek Mills of Hocking Hills Orchard will share how his collection of over 1,800 varieties helps him connect with other apple lovers and play an important citizen role in Malus exploration and preservation.
Speakers:
Gayle Volk, USDA (Colorado)
Derek Mills, Hocking Hills Orchard (Ohio)
Watch the recorded session HERE.
FRIDAY (morning), NOV. 10
(Two Sessions)
SESSION 1
9 am PST / Noon EST
The Business of Growing Fruit – Part 1
Join us for the first of two exciting sessions about the business of growing fruit. In this session, we’ll learn about establishing a successful U-pick operation from Kathy Dice and Tom Wahl of Red Fern Farm; how to create a CSA (community supported agriculture) distribution system with legendary apple grower John Bunker; and how to create value-added products or collaborate with businesses who are end-users of fruit with Megan and Anthony Gossett of Ferm Fresh kombucha.
Speakers:
Tom Wall & Kathy Dice, Redfern Farm (Iowa)
John Bunker, Out on a Limb Apples CSA (Maine)
Meg & Anthony Gossett, Ferm Fresh Kombucha (IN)
Watch the recorded session HERE.
SESSION 2
11 am PST / 2 pm EST
The Business of Growing Fruit – Part 2
In our second session on the business of growing fruit, we’ll get an inside look at the challenges and rewards of starting a nursery business with Michael McConkey of Edible Landscaping; how to sell fruit trees and shrubs at a regional level via farmers markets and events with Larry Stephenson of Southern Cultured Orchard and Nursery; and how to make a business of teaching and educating fruit growers with Susan Poizner of Orchardpeople.com.
Speakers:
Michael McConkey, Edible Landscaping (Virginia)
Larry Stephenson, Southern Cultured Orchards (Miss.)
Susan Poizner, OrchardPeople.com (Toronto)
Watch the recorded session HERE.
FRIDAY (afternoon), NOV. 10
(Two Sessions)
SESSION 3
2 pm PST / 5 pm EST
Restoration Agriculture and Low-Input Orchards
Looking to have a low input orchard? This is the talk for you. Mark Shepard, author of Restoration Agriculture: Real-World Permaculture for Farmers will be talk about his developed “Sheer, Total, Utter, Neglect” (STUN) method for breeding and selecting cultivars that are adapted to his microclimate and biome. This method can be used to select for flavor, disease resistance and vigorous growth, among other traits.
Speaker:
Mark Shepard, Author, Restoration Agriculture: Real-World Permaculture for Farmers (Wisconsin)
Watch the recorded session HERE.
SESSION 4
4 pm PST / 7 pm EST
All About Hybrid Persimmon
Join persimmon grower Timothy Lane for an overview of recent persimmon hybridizing efforts in Ukraine and the United States. Many of these cultivars have bigger fruit, better flavor and increased cold hardiness than some of their popular predecessors, Rosseyanka and Nikita’s Gift. Timothy will share a detailed account of hybrid persimmon fruit, foliage, cold-hardiness and care.
Speaker:
Timothy Lane, Ockoo MicroFarm (Massachusetts)
Watch the recorded session HERE.
SATURDAY, NOV. 11
(Two Sessions)
SESSION 1
9 am PST / Noon EST
NAFEX 2023 Annual Meeting / Member Show & Tell
Join us as we take a brief look back at 2023, look ahead to 2024, and review our Board of Directors candidates. Bring your stories about fruit growing for the always-fun member Show and Tell. The Show and Tell will emphasize discovering or breeding fruit but all stories are welcome – as are new members.
Kris Klueg Heeter, NAFEX President
Watch the recorded session HERE.
SESSION 2
11am PST / 2 pm EST
Closing Session and Keynote:
Healthy Fruit from Healthy Soil: Understanding the Soil Food Web
Dr. Elaine Ingham, the soil microbiologist who coined the term “Soil Food Web,” will discuss growing healthy fruiting plants from the ground up, using regenerative growing practices to restore the ecological functions of soil and improve nutrient levels and yields in fruit production. The Soil Food Web is the community of organisms living all or part of their lives in the soil. It describes the complex living system in the soil and how it interacts with the environment, plants, and animals. Dr. Elaine will help fruit growers understand how artificial fertilizers affect soil and plant health and how soil biology determines a plant’s ability to unlock and utilize nutrients. If you want to learn more about how to improve your soil to grow better fruit, you won’t want to miss this talk.path forward for broader grassroots fruit breeding.
Speaker:
Dr. Elaine Ingham, Dr. Elaine’s Soil Food Web School (Oregon)
Watch the recorded session HERE.
NAFEX 2023 Virtual Conference was sponsored by: One Green World, Copenhaven Farms, Fedco Seeds, Orchard People, Southern Cultured Orchards and Nursery, and Out on a Limb Apples CSA
Questions? Please email us at admin@nafexmembers.org.