Midwest Pickle Association: Pickle & Pepper Research Committee for MSU (return to top)

Tuesday, December 4, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Gallery Overlook Room G-H, DeVos Place Convention Center (upper level)

Members of the Midwest Pickle Association and the Pickle & Pepper Research Committee for MSU are invited to attend this special reporting and business program. The program schedule will be as follows:

• Cucumber research reporting session and working lunch (11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.)
• Brine cutting demonstration (2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.)
• Pickle & Pepper Research Committee meeting (3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
• Midwest Pickle Association business meeting (3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.)

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MSHS Annual Meeting (return to top)

Tuesday, December 4, 4:30 p.m.
Grand Gallery Room C, DeVos Place Convention Center

The annual meeting of the Michigan State Horticultural Society (MSHS) will include director elections and reports on activities. All members are welcome to attend.

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Meet the Buyers Reception (return to top)

Tuesday, December 4, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Imperial Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel

Fruit and vegetable growers will have an opportunity to connect with potential new markets at this event. The reception provides an opportunity for growers to meet with retail and wholesale buyers such as Meijer, Kroger, Whole Foods, etc. This event is hosted by Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS), the MSU Product Center and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, with support from a number of industry sponsors. Last year’s event brought together more than 400 farmers and 15 buying institutions.

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Michigan AgriTourism Association Gathering (return to top)

Tuesday, December 4, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Gallery Overlook Room G-H, DeVos Place Convention Center (upper level)

Held just prior to the popular Farm Marketing Roundtable, this gathering is for all Michigan farm market and agri-tourism operators who wish to learn more about the Michigan Agri-Tourism Association. This will be an enjoyable social time and an opportunity for informal discussion about the work of this organization. The association will hold a brief annual meeting during the gathering.

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Prayer Breakfast (return to top)

Wednesday, December 7, 7:00 a.m.
Pantlind Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel



Wednesday, December 5, 7:00 a.m. Pantlind Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel This event provides a time for Christian fellowship and an opportunity to pray for our industry and country. Bill Butterworth, who will also be the featured speaker at the EXPO Banquet, will provide the message. Bill has spoken before numerous church congregations and Christian groups, using his wit and warmth to bring a message of love, laughter and hope. Bill served as Director of Counseling Ministries with Chuck Swindoll’s radio ministry, Insight for Living, for six years. He regularly contributes to publications such as Home Life, Moody Monthly, and Focus on the Family’s Single Parent Families magazines. Bill holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Florida Bible College and Masters’ degrees from both Dallas Theological Seminary and Florida Atlantic University. He served on the faculty at Florida Bible College for eight years.

Tickets are $15 and should be purchased through pre-registration or on Tuesday at registration.

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Michigan Apple Growers Luncheon (return to top)

Wednesday, December 5, Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Ambassador Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel

This is a free luncheon program open to all Michigan apple growers. The luncheon is co-sponsored by the Michigan Apple Committee and a number of industry sponsors. A featured speaker will address an issue of importance to apple growers. This year's program will also feature the crowning of the 2013 Michigan Apple Queen by reigning Michigan Apple Queen, Marissa Tidey of Decatur. There will also be updates from the Michigan Apple Committee and USApple during the program.

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MVC Annual Meeting (return to top)

Wednesday, December 5, 11:15 A.m.
Grand Gallery Room C, DeVos Place Convention Center

The annual meeting of the Michigan Vegetable Council (MVC) will include director elections and reports on activities. All members are welcome to attend.

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EXPO Banquet (return to top)

Wednesday, December 5, 6:30 p.m.
Ambassador Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel



Bill Butterworth will be the featured speaker at the EXPO Banquet. Bill is an award-winning communicator whose talks, columns and books provide education and encouragement to his many audiences. His extraordinary ability to blend humor, story-telling, wisdom and practicality has made him one of the most sought after speakers throughout North America. Many consider him the #1 humorist/expert on life and work issues. He also speaks on team building as evidenced by speaking to 26 National Football League teams and more than a dozen Major League Baseball teams, as well as many major corporate clients. For his outstanding speaking talents, Bill has been awarded the Hal Holbrook Award by the International Platform Society whose past and present members include Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Bob Hope and Elizabeth Dole.

The banquet program will also include recognition of people who have made outstanding contributions to Michigan’s fruit and vegetable industries. In addition, industry scholarship recipients will be recognized and the winner of this year’s cider contest will be announced.

Tickets are $35 and advance purchase through pre-registration is recommended. A limited number of tickets will be available at registration until noon on Wednesday.

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Cider Contest (return to top)

Wednesday, December 7, 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Gallery Overlook (upper level) G-H

The cider contest will judge the best cider produced by Michigan cider makers (only Michigan cider producers are eligible for the contest). Here are some important details for the contest:

• To enter, cider producers must submit two 1-gallon cider jugs at the Exhibitor Registration desk in the Grand Gallery concourse in DeVos Place on Tuesday, December 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or on Wednesday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to noon. No entries will be accepted after noon on Wednesday.
• Cider samples must be thawed by 1 p.m. on Wednesday (this is the responsibility of each cider producer, not the contest coordinator).
• Cider contest judging will be on Wednesday afternoon. Judging will be held in one of the upper level Grand Gallery meeting rooms and will be open for viewing starting at 1:30 p.m.
• Winners will be announced at the EXPO Banquet on Wednesday evening. First place receives a plaque and a traveling trophy. Second and third places receive a plaque.
• Samples of the winning ciders will be available to taste in the Grand Gallery of DeVos Place on Thursday morning.
• Entry forms are available in advance by contacting Bob Tritten, MSU Extension (810-732-2177; tritten@msu.edu). Forms can also be downloaded from the Great Lakes EXPO’s website here.

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Greenhouse Bus Tour (return to top)

Thursday, December 6
Departing from the Amway Grand Plaza at 8:30 a.m.

Four of west Michigan’s leading greenhouse firms will be visited on the Greenhouse Bus Tour. This is a special event at the 2012 Michigan Greenhouse Growers EXPO. The tour will take place on Thursday, December 6. It will be an all-day tour departing the convention site at 8:30 a.m. and returning around 3:00 p.m.

Consider joining other greenhouse industry growers on this tour to see retail, wholesale and propagation operations that are energy-efficient, mechanized operations that grow high quality plants for the market place. Greenhouses to be visited include: Romence Gardens, Grand Rapids, MI; Pell Greenhouses, Hudsonville, MI; Walters Gardens Inc.; Zeeland, MI and Meadow Ridge Greenhouses, Zeeland , MI.

The cost of the tour is $79.00 per person. This includes transportation to the greenhouse stops, lunch and refreshments. A minimum of 20 participants will be needed for this event to occur. The networking opportunities at this event will be significant.

Registration is limited! Register online Click here for more information on the tour. If you need additional information about the tour, call Thomas Dudek, MSU Extension-Ottawa County at 616-994-4542. This will be a great opportunity to see and learn about new possibilities for your greenhouse.