PENNSYLVANIA VEGETABLE GROWERS ASSO

NEWSLETTER - THE ASSOCIATION PUBLISHES ITS OWN NEWSLETTER TO KEEP MEMBERS INFORMED ABOUT TRENDS AND NEWS AFFECTING THE STATE'S VEGETABLE, POTATO AND BERRY INDUSTRIES PLUS EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES AND NEWS ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION ITSELF. REGULAR EDITIONS ARE MAILED TO ABOUT 994 PERSONS AND SPECIAL EDITIONS ARE MAILED TO OVER 3,617 PERSONS. CONVENTION - THE ASSOCIATION SPONSORS THIS EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE AND INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW TO HELP EDUCATE MEMBERS ABOUT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE VEGETABLE, POTATO AND BERRY INDUSTRIES. ABOUT 900 TO 1,000 PERSONS NORMALLY REGISTER WITH THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE CONVENTION. RESEARCH GRANTS - THE ASSOCIATION ANNUALLY FUNDS SEVERAL VEGETABLE AND SMALL FRUIT RESEARCH PROJECTS, EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH THE PENNSYLVANIA VEGETABLE MARKETING AND RESEARCH PROGRAM. IN 2022, THE ASSOCIATION HELPED FUND 11 VEGETABLE RESEARCH PROJECTS AND 2 SMALL FRUIT RESEARCH PROJECTS. TWILIGHT AND GROWER EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS, TOURS - THE ASSOCIATION SPONSORS THESE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS ORGANIZED BY LOCAL PENN STATE EXTENSION EDUCATORS AT FARMS AROUND THE STATE TO HELP EDUCATE MEMBERS. LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES - THE ASSOCIATION SEEKS TO KEEP ITS MEMBERS INFORMED ABOUT LEGISLATIVE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE VEGETABLE, POTATO AND BERRY INDUSTRIES AS WELL AS TO INFORM GOVERMENT OFFICIALS HOW LEGISLATION AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES AFFECT GROWERS. PROMOTION - THE ASSOCIATION HELPS FUND SPECIAL PROMOTION EFFORTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO RAISE THE PUBLIC AND PRODUCE BUYERS AWARENESS OF THE STATE'S VEGETABLE INDUSTRY. DONATIONS - THE ASSOCIATION REGULARLY GIVES DONATIONS TO VARIOUS CAUSES OR EVENTS TO HELP PROMOTE THE VEGETABLE, POTATO AND BERRY INDUSTRIES OR THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IN GENERAL. MAJOR DONATIONS WERE GIVEN TO A GROUP THAT TRAINS TEACHERS HOW TO HELP THEIR STUDENTS UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY TO OUR SOCIETY AND TO HELP SUPPORT A MOBILE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION LABORATORY. THE ASSOCIATION HELPED SPONSOR A HUNGER GARDEN AT THE STATE CAPITOL. WEBSITE - THE PROGRAM MAINTAINS A WEBSITE TO PROVIDE BOTH MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION AND THE VEGETABLE, POTATO AND BERRY INDUSTRIES IN GENERAL. SIMPLY SWEET ONION COMMITTEE - THIS PROGRAM WAS INSTITUTED TO HOLD AND ADMINISTER THE TRADEMARK FOR THE "PENNSYLVANIA SIMPLY SWEET ONION" ON BEHALF OF PENNSYLVANIA GROWERS. THE LICENSE FEES AND ASSESSMENTS COLLECTED FROM THE ONION GROWERS HELP FUND RESEARCH AND PROMOTION OF THE "SIMPLY SWEET" BRAND ONIONS.