Pitahaya Festival & Field Day

Tentative Agenda:

6:30 am – Registration/Continental Breakfast

Welcome & Overview of UC-SCREC – UC South Coast REC Staff

Trams Depart for Field Tour: Session 1

Stop # 1: Presentations in Conference Room/Breezeway (CR)

Stop # 2: Tour & Discussion at Pitahaya Research Plots (FT)

Swap Tour Stops

Repeat Field Tour Stops: Session 2

End Field Tour

LUNCH: Pitahaya Fruit & Ice Cream Tasting (Breezeway) – Got fruit? Bring at least 10 pieces of fruit for all participants to taste!!

Pitahaya Cutting Exchange – Self Service based on cutting availability. Got cuttings? Bring as many as you can to share with other participants!

2019 Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit Festival/Field Day

Topics to be Discussed:

• Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit Variety performance at SCREC – Ramiro Lobo, UCCE San Diego (FT)
• Pollen Collection, Pollination & Fruit Harvesting Demonstration – Ramiro Lobo & Tony Pacheco, UCCE San Diego (FT)
• Pitahaya Trellis Systems and Pruning Techniques – Ramiro Lobo, UCCE San Diego (FT)
• Pitahaya Irrigation & Systems Design Considerations – Ramiro Lobo, UCCE San Diego (FT)
• Growing Pitahaya from Seed: The Palora Experience – Donovan Vasta, Cal Poly Pomona (CR)
• Pitahaya Grafting: How to Expedite Speed Fruit Production from Seedling – Paco Frausto, Grower/Researcher (CR)
• Weed Management Strategies Without Glyphosate, Spraying Equipment and Ergonomic Tools – Cheryl Wilen, UCCE IPM Area Advisor and Jan Gonzales, UCCE San Diego County (FT)
• Nematode Issues in Pitahaya Production – Ole Becker, UC Riverside Nematology Specialist (FT)
• Growing Pitahayas in your Backyard – Ed Valdivia and Others, Group discussion during Lunch/Pitahaya & Ice Cream Tasting (CR)
• Establishing New Pitahaya Orchids and Pitahaya Production in Israel- Eyal Givon, Grower in Moorpark

For questions regarding registration and substitutions please contact Erin Spaniel at 858-822-7919. For general program information please contact Ramiro Lobo at 858-243-4608.