Greenhouse Production, Technology and Labor-saving tour part of GLEXPO

Join Michigan State University Extension Educator Heidi Lindberg for a Greenhouse Production, Technology and Labor-saving Tour featuring four leading greenhouse producers in west Michigan. Learn about how the crops are propagated, grown, and finished for wholesale distribution.

The tour, to be held on Dec. 12 as part of the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo as part of the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will highlight technology and labor-saving methods and strategies to reduce the cost of production while maintaining plant quality. Some of the technology and labor-saving strategies that will be featured include: hydroponic raft systems, high-intensity LED lighting, shade and energy curtains, root zone heating, robotic transplanters, robotic vegetative cutting stickers, and LEAN techniques including the progressive sticking of vegetative cuttings and supermarket-style shipping techniques.

The cost of this tour is $99 per person and includes lunch and snacks. Participants should dress warmly in layers and wear close-toed, water-repellant shoes or boots and be prepared for a significant amount of time standing. Space is limited to the first 54 registrants. Register beginning Oct. 1 at GLEXPO.com.

Visit www.canr.msu.edu/floriculture/expo for more information, including descriptions of each tour stop.

Photo: Revolution Farms is a stop on the greenhouse production tour.