Webb City Farmers Market’s Strawberry Workshop

A free workshop at the Webb City Farmers Market’s Fruit Education Site will be held 10 am to noon, Thursday, September 12, at the Lee Farm, 15392 Ibex Road, Neosho, Missouri  64850.  This is the final workshop of the market’s three-year project and will focus on walk-in cold storage, high tunnel strawberries, and safe storage of chemicals on the farm. No registration is required. Cold storage is an essential component of a successful fruit operation.  This workshop will explore the storage unit on-site.  It is a 20-foot standard container adapted with insulation, electricity, a Coolbot, and a temperature monitoring system.  The professional who adapted the container will be on site to explain the steps.

Participants will also learn about soil preparation and planting strawberries in a high tunnel.

Safe storage of chemicals is vital for the health and safety of the farmer and farm family, the animals and crops, and the health of the farm itself.  Participants will learn about requirements and view a chemical storage cabinet.

Educators Patrick Byers with MU Extension, Lesa Queen with Lincoln University Cooperative Extension, and Angela Brattin with Brattin Farms will lead the workshop and answer questions and provide on-site tours on high tunnel strawberries, elderberries, blueberries, and blackberries.  Farmer Lykou Lee will share his experience growing the fruit crops at the site and provide Hmong translation.

The Fruit Education Site is sponsored by the Webb City Farmers Market, University of Missouri Extension, and Lincoln University Cooperative Extension and is underwritten by funding from the Missouri Department of Agriculture using a Specialty Crops Block Grant.

For questions, contact Angela Brattin at 417 439-3704.