Extension Specialty Crop Resources

Specialty crops of all varieties add food, fun, and decorations to our everyday life, from pumpkins for Halloween to our favorite Farmers Markets veggies. Illinois Extension offers many resources for today's specialty crop growers, including exceptional webinars, tip sheets, and how-to videos.

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Register for the 2023 Conference
This program will feature four separate tracks to address vegetable, small fruit, tree fruit and flower production; bringing you an informative, practical, and up-to-date research-based information to address the challenges of growing fruit and vegetables
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Register for Southwestern Illinois Tree Fruit School
Meet this year's uncertainties with practical research-tested best practices from industry experts at the 2023 Tree Fruit School.

While our site is still under development, here are some quick links for easy access.

2021 Southern Illinois Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Presentations on the latest research covering diseases, pests, and management of a variety of crops including peaches, apples, pumpkins, sweet corn, cucurbits, tomatoes and peppers.  

Grape production video series. Over 20 short videos covering all aspects of grape production and management.

Contact us

Commercial specialty crop growers, contact Elizabeth Wahle at wahle@illinois.edu or 217.300.9541.

Home and small farm growers, contact your local Extension office or reach out to an educator from our Horticulture or Local Foods and Small Farms teams.

Check out Illinois Extension’s complete offerings

State Extension