Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office is pleased to announce the following Commercial Horticulture Programs for April, 2015. These programs are being offered by Aparna Gazula, Commercial Horticulture Agent, at the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office (2800 NE 39 Avenue, Gainesville) unless otherwise indicated.

Building Your Own Farm’s Food Safety Manual – April 14, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the UF/IFAS Straughn Extension Professional Development Center (2142 Shealy Drive, Gainesville)

This is a one-day workshop to help growers develop their own food safety manuals. At the end of the workshop, farms will have a ready to print copy of the main components of a food safety manual and farm plan.

The workshop will be done on computers (one laptop will be provided for in-house use per farm if necessary) using a web-based food safety manual development program. The workshop will be limited to 20 farms on a first come, first served basis. Each farm may bring an additional person for computer assistance.

The registration fee is $35.00 for the first person representing a farm (primary participant), and $15.00 for an additional attendee (secondary participant). The registration fee includes refreshments and lunch for the day. All educational materials in the Food Safety Tool Kit are provided. Registration is confirmed when a registration form and payment is received.

Registration is available on-line (with additional fee), or contact the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County office. Registration forms with payment should be made out to “ACES” and sent to: 2800 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609.

Microgreens Workshop – April 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Frequently called "vegetable confetti,” microgreens are young, tender greens that are used to enhance the color, texture, or flavor of salads, or to garnish a wide variety of main dishes. Harvested at the first true leaf stage and sold with the stem, cotyledons (seed leaves), and first true leaves attached, they are among a variety of novel salad greens available on the market that are typically distinguished categorically by their size and age. Participants will learn about producing microgreens for home use, commercial and local markets.

There is no registration fee.

Beekeeping Program – April 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Plant Science Field Classrooms (located on UF campus behind 1301 Fifield Hall, Gainesville)

This program covers hive disease and pest management. There will be demonstrations with live bees (protective clothing is required).

No registration fee.

Green Industries Best Management Practices – April 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This workshop is designed to provide training in Best Management Practices for anyone working in the lawn, landscape, pest control, or municipal grounds areas. This is a required training class for all commercial and institutional fertilizer applicators in Alachua County according to the Alachua County Fertilizer Standards and Management Practices Code.

A “Commercial Fertilizer Applicator” means any person who applies fertilizer on turf and/or landscape plants in Alachua County in exchange for money, goods, services or other valuable consideration.

An “Institutional Fertilizer Applicator” means any person, other than a non-commercial or commercial applicator (unless such definitions also apply under the circumstances), that applies fertilizer for the purpose of maintaining turf and/or landscape plants. Institutional applicators shall include, but shall not be limited to, owners and managers of public lands, schools, parks, religious institutions, utilities, industrial or business sites and any residential properties maintained in condominium and/or common ownership.

Best Management Practices are focused on reducing non-point source pollution resulting from fertilization or pesticide application. In some areas, you need to be certified in the BMPs to be able to bid on jobs or have commercial customers. It will be mandatory throughout the state in the near future. Stay a step ahead of the new requirements.

• Earn CEUs for pesticide license holders. For CEUs, get form signed before you leave.
• (2) CORE, (2) Ornamental & Turf, Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance categories.

Registration is $25.00, and includes materials and lunch.

View/download the program brochure (PDF).

For more information about these programs, please call 352-955-2402. Visit the Extension Office calendar for additional programs offered by the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office.

An Equal Opportunity Institution. Extension Service, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Nick T. Place, Dean. Single copies of Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county Extension offices. Information about alternate formats is available from IFAS Communications, University of Florida, PO Box 110810, Gainesville, FL 32611-0810.