By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Events for greenhouse growers, as well as farm market enthusiasts are planned in conjunction with the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids.

For the second year, the 16th annual Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo is being held concurrently with the state’s premiere show for fruit and vegetable growers.

Greenhouse education sessions will cover a variety of topics including soil media and pH, sanitation, insect and disease control, best performing plants in 2010 and plan suggestions for 2011, and social networking and retail pricing.

One registration fee provides admission to the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo and the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo, except for an OFA crop management workshop on Dec. 9, which requires a separate registration fee.

Prior to the opening of the expo, a farm market bus tour on Dec. 6 will offer participants opportunities to visit seven of western Michigan’s top farm market and agritourism locations. Participants will be able to network with other farm marketers, learn new marketing tips, and see how different operations set up to maximize holiday season sales. While traveling on the buses between stops, there will be interactive discussions to share information and ideas with others.

The cost of the tour is $149 per person, which includes transportation to the farm market stops, lunch and snacks. Visit www.bustour.greatamericanpublish.com for more information about the tour, including descriptions of each of the host farm markets that will be visited.

New this year, a second bus tour will take participants to visit four West Michigan greenhouses that feature energy-efficient, mechanized operations that grow high-quality plants for the marketplace. Tour sites include Dewinter’s Western Sky Range in Grandville, Bosgraaf Greenhouse in Hudsonville, Micandy Gardens in Hudsonville and Henry Mast Greenhouses in Byron Center. The cost of the tour is $79 per person, which includes transportation to the farm market stops, lunch and refreshments. Space is limited and registration is available online at www.glexpo.com

Call Thomas Dudek at Ottawa County MSU extension at 616-994-4580 for more information about the tour.

The expo is co-sponsored by the Michigan State Horticultural Society and the Michigan Vegetable Council in cooperation with MSU Extension.
Registration is required and may be done online at www.glexpo.com or by calling 734-677-0503.