The Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association has scheduled its annual conference for Feb. 28 to March 1 as both an in-person gathering at the Denver Renaissance Central Park Hotel and virtual event available online.

The conference will open with a panel presentation on new state legislation which, among other things, removes the exemption of agricultural labor from state and local minimum wages and authorizes agricultural employees to organize and join labor unions.

“Panelists from the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment will unpack the many provisions of this bill to help growers better understand how to comply with the new regulations,” said Bruce Talbott, a Palisade grower who serves as president of the CFVGA.

Other presentations at the conference will cover branding and marketing Colorado products, food safety practices, labor solutions and the latest research on production practices. The event also will include on-site and virtual exhibitors, networking sessions and an awards luncheon.

The CFVGA represents a total of more than 250 growers and representatives from allied industries. For more information about the association and upcoming conference, visit https://coloradoproduce.org.