By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The premier show for Michigan fruit and vegetable growers and farm marketers is Dec. 8-10 at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids.
The Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo offers more than 50 sessions and workshops during its three-day run, as well as a trade show featuring more than 300 exhibitors in four acres of exhibit space.
This year’s conference will provide fresh fruit and vegetable growers, shippers, packers, processors and retailers with timely information about specialty crops production, marketing strategies, organic production and marketing, wine-making, pesticide issues and worker safety, plus dozens more topics.
Steve Ford, son of former President Gerald Ford, will be the speaker during the Expo Banquet on Dec. 9. An actor and speaker, Ford will share his perspectives on life as a president’s son. The banquet program also includes recognition of people who have made outstanding contributions to Michigan’s fruit and vegetable industries as well as recognition of industry scholarship recipients and the winner of this year’s cider contest.
Several workshops focus on tips for farm marketers.
The “Farmers Market 1” workshop on Dec. 10 will explore food safety on the farm through various certification programs for good agricultural practices (GAPs). Panelists will include a GAP auditor, a GAP educator, a blueberry farmer who has been USDA GAP-certified and a farmer who direct markets produce and is working to bring her farm into GAP compliance. Another session during this workshop will explore safe food sampling at farmer’s markets, including hygiene, temperature control, food protection, warewashing and facility equipment. A panel of speakers will discuss sampling fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and processed foods at farmers’ markets.
An organic program on Dec. 10 will explore topics such as organic opportunities and markets, gearing up to grow organically, organic tree fruit pest management and marketing and organic vegetable production.
During the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo education program on Dec. 8, participants can attend a variety of sessions on marketing, diseases and insects, recycling plants, profit analysis, energy and more.
In “Greenhouse I: Production and Research,” Erik Runkle from the MSU Horticulture Department will explore strategies for petunia production. Several MSU research updates also will be presented.
Other educational seminars offered during the three-day event will include information on producing a variety of fruits and vegetables from stone fruits, grapes and apples, to asparagus, tomatoes and vine crops.
The conference trade show will feature a large farm equipment display, chemical and seed company representatives, nursery professionals, insurance providers and a wide variety of products for retail farm markets including specialty foods, jams and jellies, supplies, animated characters and much more.
An industry outlook luncheon is planned for noon on Dec. 8. The event is intended to bring together grower leaders and others with an interest in Michigan agriculture. Michigan is second only to California in the diversity of its agriculture, and this unique characteristic offers many opportunities for the future. Guest speaker will be U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.), who is currently serving his ninth term in the U.S. Congress and has announced his intention to run for governor. Hoekstra represents Michigan’s second congressional district, which ranks first in the state in value of agricultural production and includes large acreages of many specialty crops. He will share his perspective on the importance of agriculture to Michigan’s economic future.
Other special events during the conference will include a Michigan Farm Marketing and Agritourism Assoc. gathering at 5 p.m. Dec. 8; crowning of the Michigan Apple Queen at 8 p.m. Dec. 8; a 7 a.m. prayer breakfast on Dec. 9; a Grape Industries luncheon at 11:15 a.m. Dec. 8; and the Michigan State Horticultural Society and the Michigan Vegetable Council annual meetings at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 8.
Registration is required and may be done online at www.glexpo.com |
