Workshop to Discuss Organic Cherry Production

"An annual review of the latest research for cherry farming will this year include an introductory workshop on organic production.

Organic fruits and vegetables, once the exclusive providence of small-scale, independent farmers, increasingly are in demand and drawing more attention from large-scale, conventional growers.

Consumers are buying more organic produce, noted Bill Thompson, an organic farmer and independent consultant who will participate in the Jan. 16 workshop in Lodi.

"It's been an increase of 20 percent per year across multiple crops," he said Monday. As a result, "There's a push or a movement, with the processors, to move into organic. So they need growers that are certified organic."

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