Join Us for RidgeFest 2024: "Crisp Ideas for a New Age"

This year, RidgeFest is thrilled to welcome tree fruit growers and industry professionals to the scenic Roossinck Orchards in Fremont, MI, for an invigorating summer tour. Scheduled to commence this August, RidgeFest serves as a pivotal gathering for our community to address the pressing challenges and dynamic innovations shaping our industry.

As the apple industry faces rising input costs, increased market pressures, and declining consumption rates, RidgeFest 2024 aims to foster collaborative discussions and introduce forward-thinking marketing strategies to rejuvenate interest and demand. This annual event not only underscores the rich heritage and resilience of Michigan’s apple-growing community but also focuses on actionable solutions that can drive our industry towards a more prosperous future.

We invite you to share your experiences, learn from industry experts, and explore the opportunities that lie ahead. Together, let’s cultivate fresh ideas and robust strategies to ensure the apple market thrives for generations to come.

Join us for the 12th annual RidgeFest, Cultivating a Better Future: Farm Labor Tour. This year the Pomesters group will be returning to the “Ridge” featuring farms in the small town of Conklin. We have many great speakers and stops along the way. The tour will begin at Umlor Orchards and end with a gathering at Rustic Rouge. We hope to see you there!

Agenda

11:30 AM | Start lunches and begin seating at Umlor Orchards

Noon - 1:00 PM | Welcome Remarks from Dan Zemaitis & Special Guest Congressman Moolenaar

1:00 - 1:30 PM | Load up wagons/ begin the tour

1:30-2:15 PM | 1st stop at Centennial Farms w/ Guest Speaker Katie Vargas

2:30-3:00 PM | 2nd stop at Ridgeview Orchards

3:00-3:45 PM | Special Guest Senator Debbie Stabenow

4:00-4:30 PM | 3rd stop at B & L Orchards

5:00-8 PM | Social Reception at Rustic Rouge

Addresses:

Umlor Orchards: 428 Wilson St Conklin, MI 49403

Ridgeview Orchards: 567 Wilson St Conklin, MI 49403

B & L Orchards: 20th Avenue Conklin, MI 49403 *Orchard is across from 18782 20th

Rustic Rouge: 17063 16th Ave, Coopersville, MI 49404

Schedule of Events

10:30am- Buses Depart Schwallier’s Country Basket for Clarksville

11:45am- Arrival at CRC: registration, lunch, & visit with sponsors

12:30- Begin CRC Educational Tour

4pm- End tour of CRC

5pm- Social & New Technology Showcase, Red Barn Market

7pm- Buses depart to return to Schwallier’s

Clarksville Research Center | 9302 Portland Rd, Clarksville, MI 48815 | 12:30-4:00PM

1) 11:45-12:30 | Lunch, registration & visit with sponsors

2) 12:40-1:00 | Dr. Greg Lang: Cherry systems trials

3) 1:10-1:30 | Dr. Steve van Nocker: Red-juiced and cider apple varieties

4)1:30-2:00 | Dr. Julianna Wilson: Apple replant trial

5) 2:10-3:10 | Dr. Todd Einhorn: Precision crop load management, ABA & auxins for bitterpit, pollinator exclusion for thinning, and more!

6) 3:15-3:30 | Dr. Anna Wallis: Apple thinning with ACC & Metamitron, Alternative trellis materials

7) 3:40-4:00 | Dr. Courtney Hollender: Tree Architecture and Germplasm collection

Red Barn Market | 3550 Alden Nash Ave NE, Lowell, MI 49331 | 5:00-7:00PM

Food and beverages provided, along with a technology showcase.

Rasch Family Orchards Hershey Farm

495 Kenowa Ave Casnovia, MI

-Honeycrisp plan of attack for 2022

-New Varieties

LTI Research

15455 Fruit Ridge Ave Kent City, MI

-Managing large trimming crews on different varieties. Keeping labor costs in mind.

-Honeycrisp/Gala/Fuji Discussions

-Side-by-side demo of different pruning tactics

Precise Manufacturing

188 N Main St Casnovia, MI

-Check out equipment

-After party warm-up social

Join us for the 10 year anniversary of RidgeFest. The Michigan Pomesters group invites you to tour around the Alpine region of the Ridge in West Michigan. We have five stops planned with many exciting topics to cover. End the day at Dunneback and Girls Farm Market with dinner + drinks and an exclusive performance by Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys.

Agenda—————————————————————————————

1st Stop | Noon-1:30pm Thome Orchards

Hosts: Harold, Steve, and Mitch Thome

2137 7 Mile Road NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321

Lunch, registration and equipment.

2nd Stop | 2:00pm-3:30pm Bernard J. Thome Orchards

Hosts: Bernard & Brian Thome

6467 Baumhoff Ave NW Comstock Park, MI 49321

Computer vision technology for use in apples.

3rd Stop | 3:30pm-4:30pm Rob Steffens Orchards

Hosts: Rob Steffens

6690 Walker Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Sprayer Demo

---Travel Tour through Alt Brothers Farms----

4th Stop | 5:00pm

Return back to Thome Orchards

2137 7 Mile Road NW Comstock Park

5th Stop | 5:30pm Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm Market

Hosts: Suanne, Stephanie, & Sarah

Drinks, food, and entertainment by Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys