UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Backyard gardeners, gourmets and any person with an interest in vegetables can see, pick and eventually eat award-winning vegetable varieties at Penn State's All-America Selection Vegetable Tour, Aug. 27 at the Penn State Trial Gardens at the corner of Bigler Road and Park Avenue.
"The trial gardens are test plots that grow new vegetable varieties to see if they are reliable, vigorous, productive and show distinct improvements over other varieties that are currently in use," says Peter Ferretti, professor of vegetable crops in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
The event begins at 9 a.m. with registration and refreshments. At 10 a.m., Ferretti will lead a tour through the Trial Gardens vegetable plots, featuring such fruits and vegetables as eggplant, peppers, squash, watermelons, tomatoes, cabbage and many others. "We have many varieties of each type of vegetable," Ferretti says. "For instance, we have cherry, bush, plum and vine tomatoes that are red, orange, striped and yellow."
Visitors will get a chance to photograph and sample some raw vegetables during the garden tour. At noon, participants will reconvene at the Cadillac Room of the Autoport Restaurant for a buffet luncheon, where samples of the most promising vegetable varieties will be prepared in various dishes.
At 1 p.m., Ferretti will talk about each of the vegetable varieties, offering the cultural history of each vegetable as well as food preparation ideas. J. Lynne Brown, associate professor of food science, then will discuss the nutritional aspects of vegetables. She also will address food safety issues associated with vegetable preparation.
A round table discussion on various vegetable topics is scheduled from 2:30 to 3 p.m.
Visitors are encouraged to attend an optional 3:15 p.m. tour of the food preparation facilities and serving areas of Cafe Laura in Mateer Building. The tour, presented by Peter Bordi, assistant professor of hotel, restaurant and institutional management, will conclude at 4:30 p.m.
A $25 registration fee includes materials and food, including the Autoport lunch. Registration slots are limited, so early registration is recommended. For more information, or to request registration materials, call Peter Ferretti at 814-863-2313 or the Conferences and Short Course Office at 814-865-8301. A block of rooms at the Autoport Motel are being held. To reserve a room ($55 for a single and $75 for a double), call 814-237-7666 or (800) 932-7678.
Registrations will be accepted by mail or fax through Aug. 20. The fax number for the Conferences and Short Course Office is 814-865-7050. Checks should be made payable to Penn State. Completed registration forms and payment should be mailed to AAS Vegetable Tour, The Pennsylvania State University, 306 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, Pa., 16802-2601.
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EDITORS: For more information, contact Peter Ferretti at 814-863-2313.
Contacts: John Wall jtw3@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-865-1068 fax