The New York Nut Growers Association will hold its spring meeting at the Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, 423 Griffing Avenue, Riverhead, NY, on Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 9:30 until 3:00.

Here is a list of our morning presenters and their topics: Dr. Dennis Fulbright, the President of the Northern Nut Growers Association, professor at Michigan State University, and internationally known expert on chestnut, will discuss the potential for chestnut in North America; Roger Blackwell, a chestnut farmer and the President of Chestnut Growers, Inc., will describe the Michigan chestnut cooperative and the business of marketing chestnuts; Lee Reich, a noted horticultural author and lecturer, will focus on pruning techniques for nut trees; Mina Vescera, a Nursery and Landscape Specialist from the Suffolk County CCE, will give an overview of the nursery and landscape business on Long Island; and Carl Albers, an NYNGA member who is a nut tree hobbyist and tree farmer from the Finger lakes region of NYS, will give a presentation on growing nut trees and tree farming.

In the afternoon we will visit the nut tree farm of Peter Haarmann in near-by Aquebogue. He will give a brief history and tour of his farm and demonstrate the process of layering hazelnut bushes. Lee Reich will lead a workshop on proper pruning techniques. Nut trees and seednuts will be given to all participants.

The meeting is free of charge and open to the public, but because of limited space, you must register in advance. To register, contact Jerry Henkin, NYNGA Vice President at sproutnut@aol.com, tel. (914) 423 – 7458.

Hotel accommodations have been arranged at the CCE discount rate ($121.67, including tax) at the Hilton Garden Inn, Riverhead, 2038 Old Country Road, Riverhead, NY 11901, tel. (631) 727 – 2733. Jerry is getting the names of people who would be willing to share a room. The hotel has reserved a block of rooms for the NYNGA, which they will hold until April 15 at this rate. After that time, they cannot guarantee the rooms, so please book early. Mention that you are coming to our meeting.

As a courtesy, the hotel has extended the days that you may reserve a room at this rate from Thursday through Sunday nights. Here’s a chance to combine our meeting with a vacation on Long Island. Suffolk County offers a Tanager Discount Outlet (across the street from the hotel), an aquarium, golf courses, a vodka distillery, numerous vineyards, marine nature centers, and “Gold Coast Mansions”.

For directions to the hotel, see http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/new-york/hilton-garden-inn-riverhead-ISPRHGI/maps-directions/index.html

Travel directions to Riverhead: If you are coming from points north and west, travel as far east as you can to reach the Hutchinson River Parkway or I-95 South. These routes will lead you over the Whitestone Bridge or the Throggs Neck Bridge into Queens. These two bridges will lead you into the Cross Island Parkway, South. Whatever you do, you want to avoid the George Washington Bridge and the Cross Bronx Expressway. (Please be aware that commercial vehicles are not allowed on the Cross County Parkway in Westchester County, the Hutchinson River Parkway, or the Cross Island Parkway. There is a toll over the bridges; EZ Pass is accepted.)

Directions from the Cross Island Parkway, Southbound

1. Exit the Cross Island Parkway at exit 30E, the Long Island Expressway Eastbound (I-495), toward eastern Long Island. Travel 56 miles.

2. Exit the LIE at Exit 71, Rt. 24 and turn right on Edwards Avenue (Rt. 24 E). Travel 4 miles.

3. Make a U-turn onto Rt. 24 W and turn right onto CR-94. Travel only 0.1 mile.

4. CR-94 becomes Court St. Travel only 0.2 miles.

5. Turn left onto Griffing Avenue. The Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, 423 Griffing Avenue, is on the left.

One scenic way to avoid the traffic in the New York City area, and to give the driver a rest, is to travel part of the way by ferry, from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Port Jefferson, New York. Riverhead is about 25 miles east of Port Jefferson. See details of the ferry at http://www.88844ferry.com.

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