The 2015 Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo, in coordination with the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo, will feature numerous sessions for greenhouse floriculture and vegetable growers. The Greenhouse Growers Expo will be held Dec. 8-9, 2015, at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Highlights of this year’s conference will include information on production practices, how to become more profitable and reduce inputs, and how to grow niche crops.
- Grower experiences with insect biocontrol for spring crops – a panel presentation
- Greenhouse disease control update
- Greenhouse insect control update and the latest neonicotinoid research results
- Growing leafy greens and herbs in hydroponic systems
- Keys to successful containerized herb production
Owners or general managers of greenhouse businesses will be interested in sessions on how to boost their profits, cut their input costs and learn how to manage their businesses. Owners or managers will be interested in:
- How I grew my business: Recent adaptations we’ve made to stay competitive and profitable – a panel presentation
- Conventional lamps or LEDs? Factors you should consider
- Boomers or bust? Drawing GenX and GenY to the garden center
- Marketing strategies for novices, intermediates and experts
- Best performing annuals from the 2015 Michigan Garden Plant Tour
- How to reduce your fertilizer use
- MSU floriculture research update
- Transitioning your business
- Are using good bugs a cost-effective strategy for controlling insect pests of spring crops?
- Labor sessions: Review of seasonal labor supply for Michigan specialty crops, H2A and MIOSHA consultation
- Family business workshop: The Top Ten Mistakes that Break up a Family Business (Dec. 10)
In addition to the two talks on containerized herbs and leafy greens, greenhouse vegetable growers will be interested in the following sessions in the vegetable and general interests track:
- Prepare now, sweat less later: Key elements of greenhouse sanitation
- Cucumber production
- Pollination in the greenhouse
- Leafy greens production
- Food safety: FSMA final rules, environmental sampling in packhouses, sanitizer options for dunk tanks
- Food safety workshop (three-hour, hands-on workshop on Dec. 10, additional $25)
For an overview of the educational sessions at the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo, visit the 2015 Greenhouse Growers Expo website. Visit the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo website for additional information, including the large trade show and how to register.
