Expand your knowledge of vegetable production at the 2026 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. 8-10, 2026.
The following is further information on the vegetable sessions offered at the 2026 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 8, 2026
Pickles/Vine Crops 1: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Challenges of Growing Pumpkins in Michigan
Bill Miller - Papa's Pumpkin Patch
Current and Emerging Trends in the Pickle Industry
John Cox - Pickle Packers International
Pickles/Vine Crops 2: 10:30-11:a.m.
What Happened to Downy Mildew on Cukes This Year?
Mary Hausbeck - Michigan State University
Successful Control of Powdery Mildew on Pumpkins and Squash
Mary Hausbeck - Michigan State University
Root Crops: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Experiences with Optical Sprayers in Ontario Carrots
Cesar Cappa - Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
Investigating Electrical Weeding and Herbicides for Weed Control in Carrots
Joshua Miranda - Michigan State University
Natural Pest Management for Small and Urban Farms: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Natural Pest Management for Small and Urban Farms
Brittney Rooney - Beaverland Farms
David Gonthier- University of Kentucky
Potato: 2-4 p.m.
Michigan State University Extension Potato Research Update
Steve Whittington - Michigan State University
Potato Disease Management for Market Growers
Jaime Willbur - Michigan State University
Soil Health in Potato Systems
Katie Gattoni - Michigan State University
Soil Health and Cover Cropping: 2-4 p.m.
Common Soil Health and Fertility Issues in High Tunnel Production
Bruce Hoskins - University of Maine
High Tunnels: Get Higher with Cover Crops
Judson Reid - Cornell University
Soil Health Testing: Options & Applications
Christine Charles - Michigan State University
Nutrient Management with Cover Crops
Zack Hayden - Michigan State University
Sweet Corn: 2-4 p.m.
Managing Seedcorn Maggot and Corn Earworm in Sweet Corn
Brian Nault - Cornell University
Surprises from Studying Sweet Corn Production over the Last Quarter Century
Martin Williams - University of Illinois
Multi-Location Surveillance of Tar Spot Development in Late-Planted Sweet Corn
Andres Sanabria-Velazquez - Ohio State University
Asparagus: 2-4 p.m.
How Much Did Adjuvants Add? Combining Adjuvants and Residual Herbicides for Weed Control in Asparagus
Joshua Miranda - Michigan State University
Travel Log from the 2026 International Asparagus Symposium in South Korea
Justin Adams - Michigan State University
Ben Werling - Michigan State University
Update on "Emerging" Asparagus Research
Dan Brainard - Michigan State University
A Look Back and a Look Ahead at Our Understanding of the Asparagus Replant Problem
Zachary Hayden - Michigan State University
Ben Werling - Michigan State University
Tarping and No-Till for Organic Vegetables: 2-4 p.m.
Comparing Reduced Tillage Methods for Organic Vegetables
James DeDecker - Michigan State University
Matt Van Grinsven - Northern Michigan University
Tarping Systems at Green Things Farm
Nate Lada - Green Things Farm Collective
Farmer Panel on Reducing Tillage and Tarping
Laura Brosius - Full Plate Farm
David Coveyou - Coveyou Scenic Farm
Heather Anderson - Green Wagon Farm
Nate Lada - Green Things Farm Collective
Wednesday, December 9, 2026
Legumes: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Can Edamame Transcend a Niche Crop Status to Mainstream?
Martin Williams - University of Illinois
Intro to Growing Peas and Green Beans
Chris Falak - Gerber Products Company/Falak Farms
Garlic: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Garlic Growing Insights with Great Lakes Garlic Farm
Kevin Gregory - Great Lakes Garlic Farm
Tiffany Gregory - Great Lakes Garlic Farm
Brassicas: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Managing Cabbage Maggot with Insecticides in Transplanted Cabbage in New York
Christy Hoepting - Cornell Cooperative Extension
Managing Alternaria Leaf Spot and Head Rot in Broccoli with Conventional and Organic Fungicides in New York
Christy Hoepting - Cornell Cooperative Extension
Celery: 10:30 -11:30 a.m.
Update on Celery Fusarium Research
Mary Hausbeck - Michigan State University
Soumya Moonjely - Michigan State University
Investigating Herbicide Resistance and Crabgrass Control, and Weed Seedbank Management, in Celery
Dan Brainard - Michigan State University
Akane Takenaka - Michigan State University
Onions: 2-4 p.m.
Stemphylium Update
Mary Hausbeck - Michigan State University
Matthew John - Michigan State University
What Still Works - and What's New - in Onion Thrips Management
Brian Nault - Cornell AgriTech
A NY Perspective on Weed Control in Onions Grown on Muck Soils
Christy Hoepting - Cornell Cooperative Extension
Experiences with Optical Sprayers in Ontario Onions
Cesar Cappa - Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
Tomatoes/Peppers/Eggplants: 2-4 p.m.
Let's Stop Wasting Each Others Time; Get Tested Now
Jud Reid - Cornell
Tomato Production at Granor Farm
Joseph Garrett - Granor Farm
Mites, Aphids, Thrips Control Measures in the Greenhouse and Field
Ben Phillips - Michigan State University
Sprays, Splashes, and Bacteria: Improving Management of Xanthomonas in Vegetable Crops
Andres Sanabria-Velasquez - Ohio State University
Thursday, December 10, 2026
Farm Market Mushroom Production Workshop 101: 9-11 a.m.
Mushroom Production 101 for Farm Markets
Justin Sean - Great Lakes Mushroom Company
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.
