August Meeting - Darryl McCullough - Growing Avocados in Southwest Florida

August Meeting - Darryl McCullough - Growing Avocados in Southwest Florida

Meeting Date/Time: Monday, August 10th, 2026, 7pm

Location: Harlee Building/County Fairgrounds, 1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221

Our August Speaker

From the Program Committee:

Our speaker for the August meeting will be MRFC member and treasurer Darryl McCullough. Darryl retired from academia in 2012 and moved to a 2-acre property in north Sarasota County, where he grows avocados, mangos, jaboticabas, and other fruits. He became treasurer of the MRFC in 2013, and is also volunteer treasurer of the local non-profit organization Sunshine Community Harvest, which supports local food producers and businesses, charity harvesting, and community composting.

The presentation, Growing Avocados in Southwest Florida, will include some advantages and disadvantages of growing avocados; avocado ecotypes; buying, planting and caring for avocado trees; pests and diseases; variety selection; and some of Darryl’s favorite varieties.

July Meeting - Caitlin Sollazzo - Pesticide Best Practices

July Meeting - Caitlin Sollazzo - Pesticide Best Practices: Application, Timing, and Safety

Meeting Date/Time: Monday, July 13th, 2026, 7pm

Location: Harlee Building/County Fairgrounds, 1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221

Our July speaker will be Caitlin Sollazzo, the Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent with UF/IFAS Extension in Manatee County. She grew up locally and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology and Nematology and a Doctor of Plant Medicine (DPM) from the University of Florida. In her role, she supports nursery and ornamental producers with a focus on sustainable practices, integrated pest management, and plant health.

Caitlin’s topic will be Pesticide Best Practices: Application, Timing, and Safety. She will provide an overview of pesticide types, how and when to apply them effectively, common missteps, and how to protect pollinators and beneficial insects.

This is the third in a series of three talks on plant pests, diseases, and management strategies for the home grower, but for this presentation it is not necessary to have attended either of the first two talks last September and January.