Feb 4, 2016

Michigan Vegetable Council recognizes award winners

The VanSingel family has farmed in the Grant area since the early 1900s when the brothers’ grandfather operated a small dairy farm, which also grew onions and some other vegetables. Their father, Peter, transitioned the farm from dairy to vegetables after he started farming in the late 1930s. He grew onions and later added carrots, which were sold

to the Campbell Soup Co. The area around Grant, with its rich organic soil, is a natural for growing onions, carrots and other vegetables. Over the years, the farm expanded to about 1,500 total acres, including 1,200 acres of vegetables vegetables (400 acres of onions, 400 acres of carrots and other crops).

Stan and Cal are primarily involved in the farm operations, while Keith runs VanSingel Farms Produce Marketing LLC, which packs and markets the farm’s produce, as well as produce from some other neighboring farms. Most of their produce is sold directly to retail chain stores, with the balance moved through brokers.

The VanSingels have been active in industry and community organizations and their churches. Stan currently serves on the Michigan Carrot Committee. He has served as a board member of the National Onion Association and is a past president of the Michigan Muck Farmers Association. He has also served as Grant Township supervisor.

Matt McCallum

Matt McCallum was honored by the MVC with its Master Farmer Associate Award. McCallum also received a Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan State Horticultural Society (MSHS).

McCallum is owner of Great American Media Services of Sparta, publisher of 14 publications, including Fruit Growers News, Vegetable Growers News, Produce Processing, Spudman, Greenhouse Produce News and Lawn & Garden Retailer.

McCallum grew up working summers on the family farm. He graduated from Chelsea High School in 1983 and joined the Army following graduation.

After graduation Matt married his wife, Julie. They purchased 50 percent of McCallum’s Orchard from Chuck McCallum, his uncle. They went into partnership at McCallum’s Orchard with Matt’s father, Marvin.

In 1991, Matt met Barry Brand who owned the Great Lakes Fruit Growers News and the Great Lakes Vegetable Growers News. Matt and Julie moved to Sparta and purchased the magazines from Brand in 1993.

Matt has been on the board of directors of the MVC for nearly 20 years. He has also served as chairman of the MVC Scholarship Committee the past three years.

Fred Poston

Fred L. Poston, retiring dean of Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) and special advisor to the president, was honored by MVC and the Michigan State Horticultural Society with a special award for his service to the industry.

Poston has been dean of the CANR and special advisor to the president. Prior to his appointment, Poston served as vice president for finance and operations and treasurer for MSU and as president of the Michigan State University Foundation.

Previously, Poston was vice provost and dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, where he guided the $74.2 million Revitalization of Michigan Animal Agriculture project to completion, created the $6.2 million Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs – a program
to revitalize Michigan’s plant agriculture industries), and developed the Partnership for Co-System Research and Management with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

He also oversaw the construction of seven new facilities and raised more than $47 million for the college.

Poston is remaining in his current position until a successor is named.