From: "Nels Peterson" <npeterso@ndsuext.nodak.edu> Organization: North Dakota State University Fellow hot food lovers, The 1999 Upper Midwest Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference will be February 4, 5, & 6, 1999 at the St. Cloud Civic Center, St Cloud Minnesota. Sessions include: Pumpkins, Squash and Gourds New Grower Orientation Strawberry Production Irrigation Management Biological Controls Extending the Season Rhubarb Marketing and Production Alternative Crops Direct Marketing Sweet Corn Tomato and Peppers I realize this is for commercial growers, and not a lot on chiles, but there is a lot of good information for any gardener. It is a chance to make some contacts with commercial suppliers - for those people that are interested in producing commercially or those that are considering processing and packaging a product. Besides that - commercial supplies are usually priced less than at retail outlets. This conference is sponsored by the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association in cooperation with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the North Dakota State University Extension Service. I will be helping Dave Kraenzel with the NDSU Extension Service with the new grower orientation and will make a presentation on challenges of Pepper and Toamto Production in Northeast North Dakota. If you have a chance to attend look us up. We'll be talkin' peppers! Nels in ND