Fruit conference slated for G.R.
TRAVERSE CITY -- The 53rd annual conference of the International Fruit Tree Association will be held Feb. 27 through March 3 in Grand Rapids.
The event will be held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and will include seminars and speakers on fruit tree farming including cherries, apples and pears.
It will offer information on a wide variety of subjects including harvesting, rootstock development, disease and pest control, orchard management and an overview of the fruit industry in Michigan.
More than two dozen speakers are scheduled, and presenters will include Nikki Rothwell of the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station in Leelanau County.
A post-conference tour of agricultural operations in the Traverse City area also is planned for March 4-6.
More information on the conference is available from the association's Web site at www.ifruittree.org or by calling (636) 449-5083.
Local food is subject of forum
TRAVERSE CITY -- A roundtable discussion aimed at linking area farmers with local food buyers will be held Feb. 3.
"Planning the Market for Local Foods" is part of the Get Farming! program through the Michigan Land Use Institute. It will be held from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. at the Michigan Works conference room at 1209 Garfield Ave. in Traverse City.
Registration for the free program is available by calling the MLUI at (231) 941-6584.
Teachers holding annual conference
BELLAIRE -- Twenty horticultural teachers from around Michigan are conducting their annual winter conference this weekend at Shanty Creek Resort.
Members of the Michigan Horticultural Teacher Association will be discussing various agricultural topics at the conference, including organic controls for pests in school greenhouses, new trends in floral design and using new technology in the classroom.
Participants also are scheduled for a tour at the Out of the Woods Farm in Antrim County. The maple syrup-making farm is owned by Joe and Bobbi Woods of Rapid City.
-- Compiled by Bill O'Brien
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