After shifting to a fully virtual format in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO and Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo is planning a fully in-person event, with every aspect of the event that attendees and exhibitors have come to know and love - from the trade show floor to the signature Farm Market sessions. 

Masks are encouraged, especially in our educational classrooms.  There will be masks available in the registration area and outside classrooms.  The Expo will also have hand sanitizing stations around the event.  Due to an update, the Expo’s statement on Covid in the onsite printed program has changed.  Visit cdc.gov for the latest information from the CDC on Covid recommendations for masks, vaccines, and boosters.

Registration Type

Fruit

Vegetable

Fruit/Vegetable

Greenhouse

Early Bird Rates 

(available through 11/15/21)

$85

$85

$95

$85

Onsite Rates 

(after 11/15/21)

$105

$105

$115

$105

Wednesday, December 8, 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Imperial Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel

Speaker: Nathanael Szobody

Nathanael is the son-in-law of Bob Gregory, a fruit grower in Nortwest Michigan. Nathanael moved to Chad, Africa with his parents in 1999. During his high-school years he learned the local language and took an interest in the traditional agriculture. Today, he lives in Chad as a church worker along with his wife, Carrie, and their six children. They are translating scripture into a tribal language, they have started an elementary school and are teaching children how to care for their land in the long term.

Tickets are $22 and should be purchased through pre-registration.

Wednesday, December 8, 6:30 PM

Ambassador Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel

The Banquet will deature a serving of Michigan foods and wines. The program features recognition of people for outstanding service to our fruit and vegetable inductries. This years recipients of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Scholarships will be recognized as well. The winning entries in this years Cider Contest will be announced. 

Tickets are $40. Advanced purchase through pre-registration is recommended. 

The annual Farm Market Bus Tour is back for 2021! The full-day bus tour will be held the day before the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO. Participants will visit new markets in different areas of West Michigan. The tour is sponsored by Fruit Growers News and Vegetable Growers News.

The Farm Market Bus Tour is a great opportunity to network with other farm marketers, while learning how some innovative farmers get their products onto the tables of consumers using creative and unique marketing strategies. There will be interactive discussions while traveling on the buses to share information, which will be moderated by Michigan State University Extension educators. 

The Bus Tour is SOLD OUT for 2021.

Visit fruitgrowersnews.com/bustour or vegetablegrowersnews.com/bustour for more information on the tour, including descriptions of each of the host farm markets that will be visited. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to see and learn about new possibilities for your market. 

If so, we have a change coming your way!  In 2021 we will no longer be using bubble sheets for submitting information.  At the end of a session you will use your personal mobile device to submit information for pesticide credits.  If a personal mobile device does not work for you, please visit the pesticide credit booth in the Grand Gallery.  At the booth you can log your information on a computer or on a paper form (Take the presented education session code with you to the pesticide credit booth).

An instructional email will be sent as we approach the event dates.