NAFEX Annual Meeting 2006

Well, it's been half a month since I posted anything here. I'm still working (albeit very slowly and sporadically) on a genetics post or two, but between a class to teach and research and family obligations, it may be a while.

Anyway, I just thought I'd point out that the annual meeting of the North American Fruit Explorers has just been announced, and it looks like a pretty good one. You can check it out here.

It's in Lexington, KY, at the end of August, and there's a pretty good lineup of speakers, including my M.S. advisor, Dr. John Clark from the University of Arkansas. John's always fun to see speak, and he's giving both a regular talk and a humorous one on cultivar release (those of you not involved with such things may wonder how that might be remotely entertaining, but trust me, it often is, and if anyone could make it so, it's John). There is also an assortment of other experts, particularly on the minor fruits or obscure species, like Kirk Pomper, who has done a lot of work on pawpaws and other fruits at Kentucky State, and John Postman, from the USDA repository in Corvallis, who will be speaking on germplasm exploration in the Caucasus Mountains of west central Asia.

Anyway, if you're interested in more details, the full schedule's on the website. Registration is only $50 which is a downright bargain compared to professional meetings with similar lineups. I don't know if I'll make it, due to other commitments and the fact it's a 12+ hour drive, but it's certainly worth considering.