From UF/IFAS and Staff Reports
In Summary:
The UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center will open its Apopka facilities to the public for a free field day on September 16. The program will include guided tours, demonstrations, Extension presentations, and a student research showcase. Attendees can also learn about academic programs and career opportunities connected to Florida’s agricultural and green industries.
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Community members, industry professionals, and students can get a firsthand look at agricultural research underway in Apopka during a free field day hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
The Landscape, Nursery and Controlled Plant Production Field Day will take place from 9 am to 3 pm. Wednesday, September 16, at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, 2725 S. Binion Road.
Related: UF/IFAS Extension Orange County announces September classes and workshops.
The event will include guided tours, faculty demonstrations, Extension presentations, and hands-on learning opportunities. A student showcase will also highlight research being conducted at the center.
Presentations and demonstrations will cover ornamental and landscape horticulture, nursery production, controlled-environment agriculture and space biology. Visitors can tour research facilities and speak with UF/IFAS scientists, faculty members, and Extension specialists.
“MREC is committed to supporting Florida’s stakeholders, including FNGLA members and the controlled-environment agriculture industry,” said Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski, professor and associate dean for UF/IFAS research. “We provide research-based solutions in plant production, pest management, community education and workforce development.”
The center also provides plant diagnostic services for commercial growers and the public through the Master Gardener Volunteer Program.
Attendees will have an opportunity to meet new faculty members and Extension research support associates. Information will also be available about undergraduate degree programs in plant science and geomatics.
“This is a great opportunity to meet our new faculty and Extension RSAs and hear about our undergraduate degree programs in Plant Science and Geomatics,” Pelz-Stelinski said.
The event is intended to demonstrate how research conducted in Apopka is being used to address challenges facing growers, landscaping professionals and controlled-environment agricultural operations throughout Florida.
Participants can ask questions, explore student research opportunities and learn about careers connected to Florida’s green industries. The program will also highlight the center’s broader work in education, community outreach and workforce development.
Admission is free, but attendees must register through Eventbrite. Members of the media planning to cover the event are also asked to register.
Key Points:
- The field day will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16.
- The event will take place at 2725 S. Binion Road in Apopka.
- Admission is free, but advance registration through Eventbrite is required.
- Activities will include facility tours, demonstrations, Extension presentations and student research exhibits.
- Research topics will include horticulture, nursery production, controlled-environment agriculture, and space biology.
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What: The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC) will host its Landscape, Nursery, and Controlled Plant Production Field Day to give visitors an opportunity to explore the research underway.
Where: UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, 2725 S Binion Rd., Apopka, FL, 32703
When: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Cost: Free to attend; please visit the Eventbrite link to register.
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human, and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries and all Florida residents.
For more information, go to ifas.ufl.edu.
