Networking Opportunity

Florida Industrial Hemp Conference to Offer Education, Guidance, Community

- HEATHER MACHOVINA

THE INDUSTRIAL HEMP INDUSTRY is forging ahead in the Sunshine State as we approach the Second Annual Florida Industrial Hemp Conference and Exhibition in May. While this is the second attempt at putting on this conference since hemp growing became legal in the state, it’s actually the first time it’s being held, as last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic. The focus of this conference is to bring people from all aspects of the hemp industry in Florida together to further the development of this budding industry.

Conference Director Gene Jones, who also runs the Florida Medical Cannabis Conference and Exhibition, realized the necessity for this hemp conference as soon as the hemp bill was passed in Florida. Hemp is not a magic bullet and a nexus was needed for Florida growers. Getting the industry together to talk about hemp growing, cultivation, harvesting and processing specifically for Florida became imperative as everyone is essentially starting from scratch here in the state.

“It became apparent that in order to foster this industry, we need to bring people together that have expertise in the arena, as well as entrepreneurs and farmers that have an interest in developing business for the state of Florida and to promote that growth,” Jones says.