You are cordially invited to the 15th Annual Hawaii MIDPAC Horticultural Conference, Agricultural Marketplace & Farm Tour to be held July 7th & 8th, 2010 in Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawai'i.

Travel to Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii to discover where you can find a wide variety of Hawaii-grown foliage and flowers, exotic fruits and vegetables.  Meet with the growers of these diversified tropical products. Visit our nurseries.  Find out why you should “buy Hawaiian.”  Learn how to care for our tropical plants & flowers, fruits and vegetables.

We’re celebrating our 15th anniversary with an exciting new event – the HENA Agricultural Marketplace & Farm Tour.  This will be held on Wednesday, July 7th at the University of Hawaii at Hilo Agricultural Farm.  HENA members will showcase their products, from Hawaii foliage plants to flowers, exotic fruits to vegetables.  You’ll be able to “talk story” with the growers, arrange visits to their nurseries and farms, enjoy a popular Hawaiian lunch, and tour the University agricultural farm.  We’ll also have a demonstration on the Hawaiian cinder soil sterilization process, which is a part of the new Master Permit Nursery Certification Program.

Inside you will find our Schedule of Events and registration information.  Please register quickly, as seating is limited.  The Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, our host hotel, has given us special discounted rates for your stay in Hilo.  The registration form with their contact information is also included.  Special discounted rates are guaranteed until June 5th.  Contact the hotel directly for room rates after June 5th.   This event is sponsored by the Hawaii Export Nursery Association (HENA), and is cosponsored by the Hawaii County Department of Research & Development, the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources (CTAHR) and CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service.

Please fill out and fax or mail all forms as soon as possible, before June 30th, to confirm your reservations as well as your accommodations.  Late registrations will be accepted until July 5th.  We, in Hawaii, look forward to seeing you in July!  Feel free to contact us via phone, fax or email if you need additional information or have questions.  The Hawaii MIDPAC Horticultural Expo is handicap accessible; feel free to contact us if you have special needs.  We’re here to make your stay on the Big Island a memorable one.

With Warmest Aloha,

Judy Schilling
Administrator