UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Backyard gardeners, gourmets and any person with an interest in vegetables can find out how to produce, cook and serve great produce at Penn State's All-America Selection Vegetable Tour, Aug. 24, at the Penn State Trial Gardens. The gardens are located at the corner of Bigler Road and Park Avenue, on the University Park campus.

"The trial gardens are test plots where we 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 vegetable plots, highlighting such fruits and vegetables as fall peas, peppers, squash, melons, pumpkins, tomatoes, cabbage and ornamental (and edible) chard. "We have many varieties of each vegetable," Ferretti says. "For instance, we have cherry, bush, plum and vine tomatoes that are red, orange and yellow."

Visitors will get a chance to photograph and sample vegetables during the tour. At noon, participants will reconvene at the nearby Beaver Picnic Pavilion for a catered buffet luncheon, where samples of the most promising vegetable varieties will be served in various side dishes.

At 1 p.m., Ferretti will offer gardening and production advice for each variety as well as food preparation ideas. Alison Harmon, senior extension associate in food science, will discuss their nutritional aspects. Luke Laborde, assistant professor of food science, will address food safety issues associated with vegetable handling and preparation.

A round table discussion on various vegetable topics is scheduled from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

A $25 registration fee includes materials and the catered 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 Courses Office at 814-865-8301. A block of rooms at the Autoport Motel is being held. To reserve a room ($57 for a single and $67 for a double), call (800) 932-7678.

Registrations will be accepted by mail or fax through Aug. 17. The fax number for the Conferences and Short Courses 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: To contact Peter Ferretti, please call 814-863-2313.

Contacts: John Wall jtw3@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-865-1068 fax