DATE: January 17, 2008

CONTACT: Jody Martin, (843) 661-4800, ext. 115
jamrtn@clemson.edu

WRITER: Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343, ext. 241
tnlollis@clemson.edu

Pee Dee REC will host RAIN IV Conference

FLORENCE – South Carolina grape growers looking for ways to carve out a market niche will get a bunch of advice from a Welch’s executive during the fourth annual RAIN Conference Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at Clemson University’s Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence.

Joe Falcone is first vice president of the National Grape Cooperative Association Inc. Welch’s is the association’s food processing and marketing arm. He will speak to conference attendees during a panel presentation the afternoon of Feb. 1.

National Grape is a grower-owned cooperative with 1,350 members. Falcone grows 400 acres of grapes, 23 acres of apples and many other small fruits and vegetables in Silver Creek, N.Y.

“Joe is well-qualified to speak to the RAIN Conference about issues that face growers in South Carolina,” said Jody Martin, Clemson Extension agent in Florence County and coordinator for the S.C. Muscadine Initiative.

“RAIN is an acronym for Research, Agriculture, Industry and Nature,” said Martin.  “The theme for this year’s meeting will be ‘The Role of Agricultural Research and Marketing in South Carolina Commerce.”

Coastal Carolina, Clemson and Francis Marion universities are sponsors for the two-day conference. The Carolina Agri-Solutions Growers Association (CASGA) will host.

CASGA was organized in November of 2006 to help keep South Carolina agriculture sustainable and profitable, according to Greg Hyman, president of the organization. Goals include the development and marketing of enhanced, value-added products and services and facilitating the production of new and alternative fruits and vegetables that can help improve public health.

The conference opens the afternoon of Jan. 31 with a field day at the muscadine vineyard at the Pee Dee REC. Participants will get a look at trellis construction, pruning and other production practices. The first day closes with a collaborator dinner and special awards.

Sessions on the morning of Feb. 1 will cover success stories from research, niche marketing and agri-tourism.

Early registration is $25. Registration is $35 at the door. Make out a check or money order to Coastal Carolina University and designate it for RAIN Conference. Send it to Val Dunham, Room 110, Center for Marine and Wetland Studies, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC 29528.

For more information contact Dunham at (843) 283-6885 or Martin at (843) 661-4800, ext. 115.

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