This week, some Pine Island team members attended the Cranberry Growers Twilight Meeting, run by Ray Samulis, the Burlington County agent for the Rutgers University Agricultural Extension Service. In contrast to the American Cranberry Grower Association’s Winter Meeting, the focus here is less research-oriented and uses a more hands-on approach to addressing timely topics of importance to cranberry growers.

This was new Bog Renovation Manager Steve Manning’s first twilight meeting, and he found it especially useful for “putting names to faces. It’s good to meet everybody and get to know the other growers face-to-face,” he says.

Supervisor Matt Giberson also attended: “We work with Peter and Cesar and everyone [from Rutgers] all the time, but it’s good to be able to sit down with other growers and find out if they’re having some of the same problems with pests, or fairy ring, or whatever else,” he says. “It helps us troubleshoot our own applications.”

Being able to chat with other growers is a consistent theme among attendees. PIICM Manager Cristina Tassone says, “The best part of any meeting with all the growers is the chance to sit down and talk to everyone about what they’re seeing on their own operations. I’m always able to learn something.”

Last but definitely not least, it was wonderful to get a closer look at Integrity Propagation, the fine operation run by Abbott Lee. Abbott, Barbara, and Maryann were fantastic hosts, making everyone feel welcome and serving a delicious meal on the site of the best nursery in the state. We’re grateful to have such welcoming neighbors, and as always, it was a pleasure to see them!