Expand your knowledge of vegetable production at the 2025 Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo
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EmailThis year’s schedule is packed with educational opportunities for vegetable growers.
The Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo (also known as the Great Lakes Expo or GLEXPO) is one of the leading fruit, vegetable and farm market events in the Midwest. This annual event features educational sessions on important industry topics, a large trade show for networking and discovery, and other specialized workshops and meetings. This convention has been held annually since 2001 and has been a consistent favorite among growers and other ag professionals across the country.
Each year the event features a robust agenda of vegetable programming organized by Michigan State University Extension. The educational presentations cover a wide range of crops, offering something for everybody when it comes to learning about new developments in the vegetable industry. Many of the sessions are also worth Michigan and Ohio restricted use pesticide credits and certified crop adviser credits in various categories.
The event this year will be held at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from Dec. 9-11, 2025.
The following is further information on the vegetable sessions offered at the 2025 Great Lakes Expo. These are highlights for vegetable producers and by no means constitute the complete program. Many other educational sessions centered on fruit, greenhouse production, farm marketing and other areas of specialty crop production will be offered as well. To view the full agenda and find more information, please visit the GLEXPO website.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Asparagus 1: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Asparagus Varieties to Pick and Choose
Ben Werling - Michigan State University Extension
Progress Using Indicator Plants and Weather Data to Predict Asparagus Emergence
Dan Brainard - Michigan State University
Pickles and Vine Crops (pumpkins, etc.) 1: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Watermelon Production: From Selecting Cultivars to Improving Cultivar Practices
Wenjing Guan - Purdue University
Roller Crimping Cereal Rye in Pumpkin Cropping System
Madelyn Celovsky - Michigan State University Extension
Brassicas 1: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Adaptive Disease Management Strategies for Alternaria and Clubroot in Brassica Production
Douglas Higgins - Virginia Tech
Field Performance of Copper Alternatives for the Management of Cabbage Black Rot
Gary Vallad - University of Florida, IFAS
Pickles and Vine Crops (pumpkins, etc.) 2: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Demystifying Phytophthora Crown and Fruit Rot Management Strategies for Cucurbits
Doug Higgins - Virginia Tech
Downy Mildew Updates
Mary Hausbeck - Michigan State University
Asparagus 2: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Irrigation and Calcium interactions
Zachary Hayden - Michigan State University
Working Towards an Automated Asparagus Harvester
Yuzhen Lu - Michigan State University
Naseeb Singh - Michigan State University
Brassicas 2: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Current Cabbage Herbicide Options and Research Updates
Lynn Sosnoskie - Cornell University
Overcoming Nutrient Management Challenges in Organic Broccoli Production
Stephen Stresow - Michigan State University
Root Crops: 2-4 p.m.
Managing Carrot Root and Foliar Diseases
Mary Hausbeck - Michigan State University
Beeting Weeds by Exploring New Chemistries, Lasers and Smart Sprayers for Table Beets and Carrots
Lynn Sosnoskie - Cornell AgriTech
Controlling Herbicide Resistant Weeds in Carrots – What’s Happening in Wisconsin?
Jed Colquhoun - University of Wisconsin
Understanding Heavy Metal Accumulation in Carrots
Zachary Hayden - Michigan State University
Soil Health and Cover Cropping: 2-4 p.m.
Cover Cropping and Prairie Strip Effects on Soil Health Metrics
Lisa Hargest - Michigan State University
Rachel Drobnak - Michigan State University
A Mixed Systems Approach: Balancing Soil Fertility Management with Long-Term Soil Health
Petrus Langenhoven - Purdue University
Nathan Shoaf - Purdue University
Getting the Most Out of Cover Crops
Madelyn Celovsky - Michigan State University
Know Before You Grow: Cover Crops and Disease Risk
Mary Hausbeck - Michigan State University
Ethan Tippett - Michigan State University
Sweet Corn: 2-4 p.m.
Supersweet Sweet Corn Cold Soil Germination Trial Results
Dan Fillius - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Know Before You Grow: Understanding Fungicide Seed Treatments for Sweet Corn
Douglas Higgins - Virginia Tech
Current Corn Earworm Management Recommendations and Ongoing Updates
Kelly Hamby - University of Maryland
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Commercial Vegetable Production on a Solar Farm 1: 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Developing Partnerships and Process Required to Create a Functional Agrivoltaics Operation
Ajay Nair - Iowa State University
Celery: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Update on Celery Meltdown Research
Mary Hausbeck - Michigan State University
Gator Tales from the Glades: Race 2 & 4 Fusarium and Foliar Disease Management in Florida Celery
Katia Viana Xavier - University of Florida, IFAS
Mushrooms 1: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
In-depth Outdoor Growing of Shitake, Chestnut, and Olive Oysterling Mushrooms
Rich Leep - Leep Mushrooms
Reading the Woods for Target Mushrooms
Aaron Grenchik - Great Lakes Treats
Jill Grenchik - Great Lakes Treats
Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant 1: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Tomato Breeding Future Directions
Reza Shekasteband - North Carolina State University
High Tech Tomatoes on a Farm Market Budget
Ben Kaeb - Heidi's Farm Market
Mushrooms 2: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Indoor Production of Specialty Mushrooms at Commercial Scale
Natasha Worden-Bilinski - Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc.
Q&A Panel Session with all Presenters
Rich Leep - Leep Mushrooms
Aaron Grenchik - Great Lakes Treats
Jill Grenchik - Great Lakes Treats
Natasha Worden-Bilinski - Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc.
Garlic: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Garlic Growing Experience in Indiana
Ryan Paarlberg - Dutch Valley Growers
Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant 2: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Integrating your Tomato/Pepper Disease Management Programs
Gary Vallad - University of Florida
Commercial Vegetable Production on a Solar Farm 2: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Commercial Vegetable Production in a Solar Project
Ajay Nair - Iowa State University
Potato: 2-4 p.m.
Weed Management in Potato Systems
Erin Burns - Michigan State University
Potato Seed Spacing and Depth - Agronomic and Economic Analysis
Steve Whittington - Michigan State University Extension
Potato Variety Talk
Chris Long - Michigan State University
An On-Farm Soil Health Assessment: Exploring Soil Health in Michigan Potato Systems
Katie Gattoni - Michigan State University
Onion: 2-4 p.m.
Stemphylium Update
Mary Hausbeck - Michigan State University
Onion Herbicide Update
Jordan Hoekstra - Vriesland Growers Cooperative, Inc.
Dan Brainard - Michigan State University
Weeds in Muck Onion Rotations: Biology and Mechanical Control
Dan Brainard - Michigan State University
Experience with Smart Sprayers and Laser Weeders in Wisconsin Onions
Jed Colquhoun - University of Wisconsin
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Managing Pests, Diseases and Soil Health Using Organic Practices: 9-11:30 a.m.
Pest and Disease Management in Organic Vegetable Hoophouses
Dan Filius - Iowa State University
From Field to High Tunnel: Finding the Sweet Spot with Compost and Cover Crops in Sweet Pepper Production
Petrus Langenhoven - Purdue University
Nathan Shoaf - Purdue University
Plan to attend GLEXPO this year to learn and connect with fellow vegetable growers, university and Extension staff, and other ag service providers from all around the country. You never know what new ideas or opportunities you will find at the annual Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, & Farm Market Expo.
