You see a bowl of fresh peppers and you sometimes wonder how this was grown and harvested. You are curious about the planting medium or the work that happened before picking day. At this year’s Hortison exhibition, we want to bring that conversation closer to you.

From 8–12 November 2026, Harvest Value Chain will be exhibiting at the University of Ilorin. At stands 16 and 17, we will demonstrate our habanero grow bag setup, including the planting medium, alongside fresh habanero peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes.

If you have seen photographs from our farm and wanted to understand more about the growing process, this is an opportunity to meet us, look closely and ask your questions.

A closer look at our habanero grow bag

When you see a pepper plant growing in a bag, the first question might be simple: “Why grow it this way?” Then come the practical questions. What goes inside the bag? How is the setup prepared? What does caring for the plant involve? What would someone need to understand before trying a similar approach?

Our habanero demonstration will give visitors something concrete to discuss. Rather than relying on a photograph, you will be able to see the grow bag and its planting medium as we explain the setup we use. We want the conversation to be useful whether you already grow vegetables, are studying agriculture or are simply curious about how food is produced.

Looking beyond the bag to what is inside

The bag is the most visible part of the setup, but it is only part of the process. The planting medium is the material in which the plant’s roots grow. We will include it in our demonstration so visitors can ask about what we use and how it fits into our growing approach.

For someone considering a grow bag setup, this is an important place to begin the conversation. Seeing the container alone does not explain how the whole arrangement works.

At the stand, you can ask us to talk through the medium, the setup and the care involved. Our aim is to make our own practice easier to understand, including the considerations that a photograph cannot show.

From the growing setup to fresh produce

Alongside the demonstration, we will display fresh habanero peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes from our farm. These are familiar foods. You may buy them for your household, cook with them in a food business or grow them yourself. Bringing them to the exhibition gives us a starting point for conversations with people who encounter the same produce in different ways.

A grower may want to discuss the production process. A food business owner may be interested in the produce itself. A student may want to understand how what they learn in class relates to a working farm.

We look forward to hearing those different perspectives. They help us understand what visitors want to know and where a more detailed explanation would be useful.

Meet the people behind the work

The event will also give you the opportunity to meet some staffs and HVC’s cooperative members who will also be exhibiting at the Hortison.

We will share more information about the cooperative’s display as the details are confirmed. We are also planning an interview with a cooperative member, giving them space to speak about their work and experience in their own words.

There is a difference between seeing a product on a display table and hearing from the person behind it. Their decisions, daily work and challenges can make the conversation much more meaningful.

During the exhibition, we hope to create room for those exchanges alongside the farming demonstration.

Come with the question you have been meaning to ask

You do not need to arrive with technical knowledge or a business proposal. Curiosity is enough.

Perhaps you have been wondering how our habanero setup is arranged. Perhaps you have tried growing vegetables and want to compare experiences. You may be a student looking for a practical example to connect with your studies.

Some questions to bring along include:

• What planting medium does HVC use in its habanero grow bags?
• How is the grow bag setup prepared?
• What does routine care involve?
• What challenges has the team encountered?
• What should someone find out before trying a similar setup?

These questions are starting points. We would also like to hear about your experience and the questions that matter to you.

Why we are bringing this demonstration to Hortison

Sharing our work means making it possible for people to examine it and ask how it works.

An exhibition creates an opportunity for that exchange. We can explain our approach, hear a visitor’s question and understand what needs further explanation. Visitors can see the materials for themselves and speak directly with the team.

For HVC, Infinite Possibilities includes making room for practical learning and connections between people. At Hortison, that begins with a grow bag, its planting medium, fresh produce and an open conversation.

Visit HVC at stands 16 and 17

We would be pleased to meet you at the Hortison exhibition, University of Ilorin, from 8–12 November 2026. Our confirmed stands are 16 and 17. The exact exhibition location within the university will be shared through our social media channels once confirmed.

Until then, tell us: what would you most like us to explain about our habanero grow bag setup? Leave your question in the comments so we can keep it in mind as we prepare.