PREFACE

With this background, we have organized the Second International Symposium on Specialty and Exotic Vegetable Crops. The scope of this symposium was expanded to include not only new vegetable crops, but also those crops that are grown on a small scale to satisfy special market demands. The program, therefore, included presentations on both new and specialty vegetable crops.

The format of the Symposium provided for a plenary session, six scientific sessions, a poster session, an invited speaker session, two one-half day tours, and several social events.

The plenary session featured presentations by G. W. H. Welles of Naaldwijk, Netherlands for J. Y. Peron, chairman of the ISHS New Crops Working Group on 'Increase and Preservation of Vegetable Crop Diversity: The Necessity of International and Multidisciplinary Cooperation'; the 'ISHS Section of Vegetables' by chairman A. M. Portas, of Lisbon, Portugal, and 'International Scientific Cooperation Under Fast Changing Conditions for Agriculture and Horticulture' by H. H. van der Borg, Secretary-General of ISHS, Wageningen, Netherlands.

The 92 scientists from 17 countries that attended the symposium heard 42 oral and nine poster presentations. The oral presentations were divided into scientific sessions on World Production and Education, New Crops, Nutrition and Fertilization, and Postharvest Handling and Marketing. A special session on Commercialization of New Crops was presented by leaders in the U.S. produce industry. Karen Caplan of Frieda's Inc., Los Angeles, CA; David Marguleas of Sunworld, Coachella, CA; Leo Zanoni of Asgrow Seed Co., Kalamazoo, MI; and Bill Schaefer, J.R. Brooks & Sons, Inc., Homestead, FL reviewed their company's practices for successful marketing of specialty vegetables.

Production, postharvest handling, and marketing of specialty vegetables in south Florida was illustrated in half-day tours to eastern Palm Beach County and southern Dade County. Each tour ended with a meal - one was typically American and the other included tropical specialty vegetables.

Special meals featured tropical vegetables such as yuca, malanga, plantain, and calabaza prepared in various ways for the enjoyment of the participants. Henry A. Robitaille of The Land, EPCOT delivered a thought-provoking illustrated talk on 'Communicating Agriculture in the 21st Century' at the Symposium banquet.

At the business meeting of the New Vegetable Crop Working Group chaired by Prof. J. Y. Peron of Angers, France it was decided to hold the next symposium in 1996 at a yet to be decided location in China.

The success of this Symposium was due to the efforts of many individuals and groups. In particular, the Local Arrangements Committee, the Conference Coordinator, the Sponsors, and the Cooperating Societies merit special thanks. Mrs. Tracey Revels and Mrs. Debbie Smelser were responsible for typing the Program and Abstract book and for arranging this volume; their contributions are gratefully acknowledged.

Donald N. Maynard
Editor