MARYLAND
STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Established in 1898
"The Society has shifted with the times, has been alert to the complexities facing the fruit industry, and has been effective voice for all in advancing and protecting the vital interests of this industry." - Arthur H. Thompson, The First Ninety Years History of the Maryland State Horticultural Society
Fruit and Vegetable Growers Striving for the Best
NEWS
2026 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention
Opens January 27 at the Hershey Lodge
The 2026 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention will be held at the
Hershey Lodge January 27-29, 2026.
Multiple concurrent educational sessions will be featured all three days
along with a large industry trade show. A farm market bus tour and several pre-convention workshops
will be offered on January 26, 2026.
The schedule for the Pre-Convention Workshops and Convention can be found here.
The convention has been jointly sponsored by the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association, the Maryland State Horticultural Society, and the New Jersey State Horticultural Society since 1978. In 2014, the Virginia State Horticultural Society joined the convention.
Extension personnel from Penn State, University of Maryland, Rutgers, and Virginia Tech assist with organizing the three days of educational sessions.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER
The membership year runs from January 1st to December 31st. Membership dues are collected during the registration process for the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention. For those seeking membership after the convention click here... for more information.
TREE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP)
Tree Assistance Program (TAP) is to provide financial assistance to qualifying orchardists to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes, and vines that were damaged by natural disasters. To learn more about this program and eligibility, click here for more info >>
PUBLICATIONS
Click on the links below:
Horticultural Technology Newsletter
Spotted Wing Drosophila Monitoring and Management
University of Maryland Fact Sheet 1023, November 2015
SOURCES FOR MD GROWN FRUIT
Click on the links below:
Maryland Apples
Maryland's Best
National Peach Council
University of Maryland Extension: Grapes and Fruit
University of Maryland: Aronia
Mid-Atlantic Aronia Growers Association
FRUIT MEETINGS
Bay Area Fruit School (link to presentations & videos)
Western Maryland Regional Fruit Meeting (presentations)
The MSHS offers the
ARTHUR H. THOMPSON TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP AWARD and the HARRY G. BLACK DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Go to the Awards page for more information.
Membership
Being a Member is Important!
The MSHS provides grants and awards the ARTHUR H. THOMPSON TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP AWARD as well as the Harry G Black . Your membership helps provide opportunities to conduct research that matters to you.
2025 - 2026
MSHS Executive Board Officers
Hallie Butler-Van Horn, President
Brad Miller, 1st VP
Daniel Heyser, 2nd Vice President
Bob Black, Treasurer
Haley Sater, Secretary
Board members are
Paul Jackson
Stephen Milburn
Trevor Hoff
Emily Moore
2019 Summer Tour visiting Arterra Photo Credit:Christopher Black