August 2024 Business & Management, Events, Grower News

Gearing up for Great Lakes EXPO 2024 By Madi Schafer

With over 5,000 attendees, 800-plus booth opportunities and over 400 vendors, the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO and Michigan Greenhouse Growers EXPO make it easy to meet the decision makers on the show floor. The event takes place Dec. 10-12 at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

What’s more, there are over 70 education sessions and workshops offered over the three-day period, including programming on fruit, vegetables, greenhouses, farm marketing and more. The specialty crop researchers at Michigan State University and other universities speak in various sessions, plus pesticide credits for applicators are available for attending many of the sessions. Additionally, there will be growers sharing how they do it on their farms. 

GREAT LAKES EXPO 2023 RECAP 

The Peterson Farm Bros made their Great Lakes EXPO debut, generating the show’s largest crowd in years. Consisting of Greg, Nathan and Kendal Peterson, their YouTube channel has amassed over 50 million views. At the Great Lakes EXPO, the Peterson Farm Bros shared their story, performing some of their greatest hits and discussed the lessons they’ve learned over the last eleven years. 

“Fancy Lady Cowgirl,” Courtenay DeHoff also appeared at the 2023 Great Lakes EXPO, giving attendees her insight and direction into personal branding. DeHoff explained how to better expand businesses through the power of social media, websites and more. 

Emerging Tech Innovation sessions were new to EXPO in 2023 — and will return in 2024. These sessions featured technologies that hold promise for addressing challenges to the specialty crop industry related to crop inputs, precision monitoring, irrigation, harvesting, sorting, waste reduction, labor, downstream processing and farm-level decision-making. 

Great Lakes EXPO brought more labor-saving technology in 2023 with an aisle exclusively dedicated to innovation and agriculture technology. Presenters taught growers the process of bringing innovation to the industry and how they can benefit from the testing or early-stage use of these technologies. Some companies in attendance were GUSS, Stout, MSUResearch Foundation, Carbon Robotics, FarmDroid, Monarch Tractor, Farm-NG and more. 

The Valent Trade Show stage was also quite popular in 2023. With 45-minute sessions featuring the Peterson Farm Bros, AgBiome, 40 Under 40 Awards, Head Honchos and more, attendees gained insights into the world of agriculture. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024 

This year’s Great Lakes EXPO will be Dec. 10-12, at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Registration for the show opened earlier than ever — Aug. 1! 

Great Lakes EXPO is reimagining the EXPO banquet this year into a complimentary event for all attendees, offering light refreshments, hard cider and an evening of networking, awards and celebration. 

Attendees can expect more speaker sessions this year, including a session about starting a mushroom operation. These sessions will be built in to a day-long event on Wednesday, Dec. 11. 

The Innovation Aisle returns this year and continues its focus on labor-saving technologies. After filling the aisle in 2023, the EXPO expects to host a wide variety of companies to appeal to all specialty crop growers interested in incorporating technology on their farm. 

Produce and worker safety sessions have moved to Thursday, Dec. 12, and will incorporate pesticide certification testing. The safety classes will feature standard and advanced levels and will be in both English and Spanish. 

Another change at this year’s EXPO will be during lunch. The EXPO is bringing two food trucks into the trade show. Instead of the usual hot lunch buffet in the Grand Gallery, enjoy a variety of food options from local businesses! The DeVos concession stands will still be open for a quick bite.

Learn more about this year’s show and more at glexpo.com.