Cucurbit educational meeting slated December 13

The event will take place Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Chickasha at the Grady County Fairgrounds.

While many people believe that wheat and soybeans are among the only crops crown in Oklahoma, cucurbit crops are also very important to many farmers in the state, said Jim Shrefler, area horticulture specialist for the Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service. This program is primarily an annual event where growers can go to learn what is happening in the world of cucurbit vegetables.

Cucurbits include fruits and vegetables for which modern varieties, such as seedless watermelon, are mainstays in the human diet. However, cucurbit vegetables were also important in the diets of early Native Americans. Fred Schneider, Master Gardener in Cleveland County, has studied the gardening and crops of Native Americans. He will share his experiences in a talk titled “Adventures with Native American Cucurbits.”

“Cucurbits offer gardeners and farmers a wide variety of production and marketing opportunities on both large and small scales,” Shrefler said. “Traditional wholesaling and retailing, such as local produce stands, are important outlets for Oklahoma grown cucurbit vegetables. However, there are also opportunities for farmers to sell these crops at the increasingly popular farmers markets and in the newly established Oklahoma Farm to School Program. These various marketing options represent opportunities for growers to generate income from the crops best suited to their farm operation and, at the same time, contribute delicious and nutritious food to the public.”

The upcoming program will have a focus on the Oklahoma Farm to School Program. Chris Kirby, Farm to School Program Administrator, Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, will provide an update of progress made with Farm to School and other options for marketing cucurbit vegetables. Some of the pros and cons of growing cucurbits in the Farm to School setting will be addressed by Warren Roberts, horticulturist, of the Wes Watkins Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Lane.

Understanding the value of your product in terms of its nutritional and other health related attributes is important for being an informed marketer. Penelope Perkins-Veazie will discuss some of the health attributes of cucurbit vegetables. Her research program at the USDA Agricultural Research Service Laboratories at Lane has contributed greatly to understanding of the value of cucurbits in the human diet.

Having a product that is safe to the consumer is of great concern to producers. William McGlynn, horticultural process specialist with OSU’s Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Product Center, will discuss how food safety begins in the field with the use of proper growing and handling practices.

Sue Gray, Tulsa County Extension specialist, will be on hand to talk about the 2007 specialty melon trials. These are crops which a grower can learn to produce to develop a unique product that is highly sought after at farmers markets.

In addition to production and health information, vegetable growers need to keep informed of how to protect their crops from a myriad of pests and diseases. Benny Bruton, USDA Agricultural Research Service, will provide an update on research underway in Oklahoma to test microbial products for controlling Fusarium wilt, a major disease of cucurbits and other vegetable crops.

In addition, George Driever, OCES IPM specialist, will discuss some additional diseases of cucurbit vegetables and discuss measures that growers can take to keep these diseases in check.

As vegetable producers protect their crops from insects, disease and weeds, pesticides are often one means of dealing with some of these problems. Jim Criswell, entomology professor at OSU, will discuss the importance of the information on the pesticide label. Knowing how to interpret these labels is critical for keeping pests controlled while, at the same time, using pesticides in a proper and safe manner.

Finally, Lynn Brandenberger, vegetable crops specialist at OSU, will introduce a new information resource for food crop growers in Oklahoma. Titled ‘Oklahoman’s Guide to Growing Fruits, Nuts and Vegetables,’ this newly published booklet covers the basics of growing cucurbits and other crops.

Shrefler said this publication is sure to become a handy reference for many growers.

“This event should be valuable to anyone who grows or markets pumpkins, melons, cucumbers and other cucurbits,” he said. “It is intended for all growers ranging from those who sell at farmers markets to produce stand operators to shippers.”

For more information about the upcoming meeting, or to receive a meeting flier, contact Shrefler at 580-889-7343 or email at jim.shrefler@okstate.edu.

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Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating: The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.
 
Trisha Gedon
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
Oklahoma State University
136 Printing Services Building
Stillwater, OK  74078
405-744-3725
trisha.gedon@okstate.edu