Kona Business
and Professional
Women announces scholarships, grant
The Kona Business and Professional Women are accepting applications for their annual Grant for Success offered to a Kona woman returning back to the work field or trying to improve her status in the work field through continuing education.
The organization is also accepting applications for its annual $1,000 scholarships to be awarded to four Kona area high school seniors planning to attend college or university. High school seniors interested should see their school scholarship counselors for applications.
Deadline for applications for both scholarships is April 15 to Mary Reynolds, PO Box 1629, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745.
Contact Grant for Success Chairperson Mary Reynolds at (808) 334-0077 for more information.
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32nd annual fruit conference set
“Propagation! Send in the Clones” is the title of the 32nd Hawaii International Tropical Fruit Conference Nov. 4 to 6 at the Royal Kona Resort in Kailua-Kona. The 2022 conference returns to its annual in-person format with a full lineup of educational offerings, tours and a trade show.
Geared to farmers, educators, orchard managers and proponents of sustainable agriculture, the conference is presented by the statewide Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) and open to the public.
“This year’s conference offers a lineup of visiting researchers and agro experts, plus breakout sessions on a variety of fruit-related topics,” said Ken Love, HTFG executive director. “As our last two conferences were virtual, we look forward to networking, learning and having some fun.”
Research updates will be provided by Marisa Wall, director of the Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center while state Sen. Mike Gabbard, committee chair on agriculture and environment, will offer a legislative update.
The featured presenter is John Preece, supervisory research leader at the USDA Agricultural Research Service National Clonal Germplasm Repository, who will share his expertise on propagation techniques for tropical fruit trees.
Banana industry guru Gabe Sachter-Smith will discuss propagation techniques for enhanced banana production. Other conference topics cover shipping malama and finger limes to the U.S. Mainland, controlling avocado lace bugs and fruit flies, passion fruit, understanding the USDA permitting system, increased fruit production via the Mango Loa Project and fertigation — the process of directly applying fertilizer through an irrigation system.
Interactive activities include a fruit tasting, fruit-themed dinner with Chef George Gomes, regional executive chef at Hawaiian Hotels and Resorts, and guided visits at the South Kona Green Market and new HTFG Containment Greenhouse and Nursery with demonstrations by Preece, Love and Brian Lievens.
Registration forms and fee schedule are available at www.htfg.org or by contacting Love at kenlove@hawaiiantel.net or Mark Suiso at mark.suiso@gmail.com.
