Wednesday, Feb. 24: A full-day tour, visiting locations in the Watsonville area, the heart of the California caneberry industry, including lunch at Gizdich Farms.  In the evening, we'll have an Opening Reception at the hotel. The tour will return in time for participants to attend the reception.

Thursday, Feb. 25 will feature a full day of talks and breakout sessions. NARBA's annual meeting will take place during lunch. Dinner will be on your own, with many dining options to choose from in Monterey.

Friday, Feb. 26 will have more presentations and breakout sessions, wrapping these up at noon. The afternoon will offer two tours:  The Berry ScienceTour will include visits to Driscoll's Tissue Culture Lab and the UC Pomology Field Station, where strawberry cultivar trials are held.  The California Ag Tour will explore other parts of California's agriculture, such as the production of lettuce and broccoli production in Salinas, artichokes, and wineries.

Hotel: The host hotel is the Beach Resort Monterey. A full-service hotel in the Best Western chain, it is located right on the beach, about two miles north of downtown Monterey (you can actually walk to town on the beach or on a parallel bike path). Our special conference rate is $125/night (single/double occupancy) for non-oceanside rooms and $155/night for oceanside. Rooms will be available at the hotel at these rates for several days before and after the conference, if you would like to extend your stay. All rooms have access to the wrap-around balconies shown in the photo above. To make your reservations, call 831-394-3321 (or toll-free 800-242-8627). Be sure to mention "Raspberry & Blackberry Conference." Reservations MUST be made by February 2.

Transportation: Though California seems a long way away to an Easterner, flights can be surprisingly inexpensive. Check flights not just to Monterey but also to San Jose or San Francisco, where you can either catch a shuttle or rent a car. The Monterey Airport is just a short cab ride from the hotel.

The local area: Monterey is a great destination at any time of year. The average high temperature in February in Monterey is 58.1 degrees F; average low is 41.7 degrees F. There is a good possibility of some rain, but you can definitely count on no snow. The scenic and historic town was the first capital of California; there are several good museums downtown. Sights to see include the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, and the fun, touristy Fishermans Wharf on the downtown waterfront, where you can also sign up for whale watching and other excursions. Point Lobos State Reserve, just a few miles south, is a great place for a day of easy hiking to see a variety of coastal environments and wildlife, including sea lions, sea otters (if you are lucky), and tide pools. Also nearby are Big Sur, Carmel Valley, lots of wineries and golf courses, and the Salinas Valley (where much of the nation’s lettuce is raised). San Francisco is about two hours north. Plenty for everyone! For more information, visit Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau or call 877-MONTEREY.