UACES Facebook Watermelons, Carrots and Figs – Oh My!
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Watermelons, Carrots and Figs – Oh My!

Grow Your Own Groceries series offers expertise in growing, preparing produce

June 30 , 2025

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Fast Facts:

(418 words)
(Newsrooms: photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCjEP2)

LITTLE ROCK — The Cooperative Extension Service’s Grow Your Own Groceries Series has three new online sessions – each focused on how to grow and prepare a healthy, nutritious food.

Each hour-long presentation is offered through Zoom and begins at noon. Upcoming sessions include the following:

  • July 15 — Watermelons
  • Aug. 21 — Carrots
  • Sept. 11 — Figs
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GROW IT — Watch the Grow-Your-Own-Groceries series on July 15 to learn about watermelons. (UADA photo)

Registration for the free sessions is available online at https://uaex.uada.edu/grow-groceries.

“We haven’t covered watermelons since 2021, and we’ve never offered virtual programs on carrots or figs,” said Faulkner County extension horticulture agent Krista Quinn, who hosts the series. “We always ask attendees what topics they’d like to see us cover in the future, and these three topics were ones that attendees asked that we cover this year.”

In each session, experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture discuss variety selection, growing methods, soil health and how to deal with common pests or problems. Extension Family and Consumer Science agents and specialists also share information on how to store and prepare homegrown produce and demonstrate healthy recipes.

“I’m excited about all three of our upcoming programs because we have very knowledgeable and experienced presenters lined up,” Quinn said. 

Matt Bertucci, assistant professor of horticulture for the Division of Agriculture, has been studying watermelon production in Arkansas for several years. He will lead the watermelon session in July.

Ryan Neal, county extension agent for horticulture in Benton County, will lead the August session on how to successfully grow carrots in both fall and spring. 

Andrea Klokow, a Benton County master gardener, will lead the fig program in September. Klokow has been heading a fig variety trial as part of a Benton County Master Gardener community service project. The trial will help determine which varieties perform best in Arkansas and how to best care for fig plants. 

The Grow Your Own series started in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic was as an innovative way for extension to share research-based information with home gardeners. Since then, experts have offered 72 sessions, each averaging around 480 registrants, Quinn said.

To learn more about the series, visit https://uaex.uada.edu/grow-groceries. To learn about other extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook at arkansas.extension and on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. 

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system. 

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.  

Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution. 

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Media Contact: Tracy Courage
Director of Communications-Extension
U of A System Division of Agriculture
501-658-2044

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