Check out the tree fruit sessions at the 2025 Great Lakes Expo
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EmailHear about cutting-edge research updates, new variety information and a deep dive into plant growth regulators.
Learn about integrated pest management, drones, cider and more at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo on Dec. 9-11, 2025, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This year’s Expo has an exciting array of tree fruit focused sessions. You can review all 70-plus sessions here.
Tuesday, December 9 sessions
8:30-9:30 a.m. – Hard cider
Learn about cider varieties and what's new in the cider world.
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook C
Topic: How to Best Grow and Make Cider from Different Apple Varieties
Speakers:
- Mark Vansteenkiste – Twin Pines Orchards
- Mike Vansteenkiste – Twin Pines Orchards
- Paula Englin – Michigan Cider Association
- Nikki Rothwell – Michigan State University
10:30-11:30 a.m. – Sweet cider
The sweet cider session will feature a Q&A on unpasteurized cider regulations as well as a lecture on cider preservation.
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook C
10:30-10:50 a.m. – Unpasteurized Cider Regulations
A brief overview of state regulations on unpasteurized cider with some answers to frequently asked questions.
Speaker: Kevin Halfmann – MDARD
10:50-11:30 a.m. – Cider Preservation
Many cider producers freeze cider and offer it year-round or process fruit for several months after the fall. In this talk, Wade Syers, PhD, will discuss the food safety considerations of preserving cider.
Speaker: Wade Syers – Michigan State University Extension
2-4 p.m. – Apple I
Location: Ballroom D
2-2:30 p.m. – Apple Vulnerability to Winter Freeze and Spring Frost Events
Speaker: Todd Einhorn – Michigan State University
2:30-3 p.m. – Apple Pest Management Adaptations in a Changing Climate
Speaker: Jackie Perkins – Michigan State University
3- 3:30 p.m. – Evercrisp, But Not Ever Lasting: Are There Strategies to Help Us Preserve Evercrisp Quality?
Speaker: Randy Beaudry – Michigan State University
3:30-4 p.m. – Robotic Apple Harvesting: Is it a Fiction or the Future
Speaker: Renfu Lu – Michigan State University/USDA ARS
4 p.m. – Apple variety showcase
The showcase will feature apple varieties harvested from various growing regions in Michigan as well as new varieties from nurseries and breeding programs across the country.
Wednesday, December 10
8:30-9:30 a.m. – Peach/Plum 1
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook GH
8:30-9:10 a.m. – Chemical Thinning of Peaches and Nectarines with Accede
Speaker: Jozsef Racsko – Valent U.S.A.
9:10-9:30 a.m. – What's New for Peach and Plum Varieties for Wholesale and Farm Markets?
Speakers:
- Nettie Baugher – Adams County Nursery
- Rasch Family Orchards
8:30-9:30 a.m. – Tart cherry
This session will provide information and updates regarding the Cherry Marketing Institute. The U.S. tart cherry industry is at a pivotal turning point. In this session, Amy Cohn, president of the Tart Cherry Industry, and Katya Murray, senior vice president at Curious Plot, will unveil the FY26 Strategy and Plans-designed to revitalize and sustain the industry economically and culturally for generations to come.
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook EF
Topic: The U.S. Tart Cherry Industry is at a Pivotal Turning Point
Speakers:
- Amy Cohn – Cherry Marketing Institute
- Katya Murray – Curious Plot
10:30-11:30 a.m. – Peach/Plum 2
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook GH
10:30-11 a.m. – Peach Variety and Rootstock Updates from the MSU Research Program
Speaker: Emily Lavely – Michigan State University Extension
11-11:30 a.m. – Peach Cost of Production Update
Speaker: Chris Bardenhagen – Michigan State University Extension
10:30-11:30 a.m. – Sweet cherry
Location: Grand Gallery Overlook EF
10:30-11 a.m. – Learn More About Brown Rot Sensitivity and Coloring Up Sweet Cherries Brown Rot Management
Speaker: George Sundin – Michigan State University
11-11:30 a.m. – S – ABA (ProTone) to Improve Cherry Fruit Quality
Speaker: Jozsef Racsko – Valent
2-4 p.m. – Apple II
Location: Ballroom D
2-2:30 p.m. – Trends and Management Updates on Key Apple Pests
Speaker: Julianna Wilson – Michigan State University
2:30-3 p.m. – Fire Blight and Bitter Rot Updates
Speaker: George Sundin – Michigan State University
3-3:30 p.m. – Lateral Branch Induction Strategies for Apple
Speaker: Tom Kon – North Carolina State University
3:30-4 p.m. – Best Practices and Research Updates for ReTain Use
Speaker: Poliana Francescatto – Valent Biosciences
1:30-4 p.m. – Michigan Apple Cider Contest
The Michigan Apple Cider Contest is back for its 27th edition. Please consider entering! Download the entry form. Cider contest judging will be on Wednesday afternoon. Judging will be held in one of the main-level Grand Gallery meeting rooms.
Michigan State University Extension is happy to continue this tradition and is looking forward to honoring the excellence of commercial cider production in Michigan. The Michigan State Horticultural Society and the Michigan Apple Committee are again proudly sponsoring the contest, which is being run by Michigan State University Extension’s southeast Michigan fruit educator.
Entering the contest is easy, just bring 2 gallons of thawed cider to the Exhibitors Registration booth at the Expo registration area on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Wednesday morning from 8 a.m. to noon. Judging will take place Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 10, and will be open for viewing starting at 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 11
9 a.m.-12 p.m. – From Blossom to Bin: Using PGRs and Chemical Thinners to Optimize Fruit Quality
Join speakers from across North America to discuss best practices for plant growth regulators (PGRs) and chemical thinning in tree fruit. This session will include information about thinning approaches and PGR use for fruit set, fruitlet thinning, harvest management and fruit quality. Invited speakers include Todd Einhorn, PhD, from Michigan State University, Tom Kon, PhD, from North Carolina State University, Poliana Francescatto, PhD, from Valent Biosciences, John Cline, PhD, from the University of Guelph and Randy Beaudry, PhD, from Michigan State University. This session will provide information to help growers understand the underlying mechanisms of PGRs and chemical thinners and practical solutions to manage fruit growth and optimize fruit quality.
Location: Ballroom A
9:9:30 a.m. – A Primer on Plant Growth Regulator Action and Use for Tree Fruit Orchards
Speakers: Todd Einhorn – Michigan State University
Description: Classes of plant growth regulators and hormones used in the management of tree fruit growth and development will be presented. Modes of action, plant response, current and potential uses, and efficacy of commercial products will be discussed.
9:30-10 a.m. –Thinning Apples Early
Speakers: Tom Kon – North Carolina State University
Description: Since the mid-1980s, there has been considerable research to develop new chemistries, decision-making aids and new technologies to reduce crop load early in the season. Integrating early thinning strategies into apple crop load management programs will be discussed with emphasis on pruning, blossom thinning and petal fall.
10-10:30 a.m. – Thinning Strategies and Traditional Thinning Time and Experience With Metamitron (Brevis) and Accede
Speakers: John Cline – University of Guelph
Description: Thinning strategies for apples during the fruitlet stage between late petal fall and 25 millimeters are important to reduce the crop load early in the season and enhance flower initiation for the following production year. This presentation will focus on fruitlet thinning with metamitron (Brevis) and ACC (Accede) during the traditional thinning time with particular reference to results in Ontario.
10:30-11 a.m. – Later Thinning Strategies and Use of Accede for Stone Fruit and Apple
Speakers: Poliana Francescatto – Valent Biosciences
Description: Accede is a plant-growth regulator that uses the naturally occurring compound ACC to generate ethylene and promote thinning in apples, peaches and nectarines. Strategies and new opportunities for using ACC will be discussed with consideration for grower experiences around the world using this thinning tool at bloom, petal fall and later in the traditional thinning window when fruitlets are larger.
11-11:30 a.m. – Using PGRs to Preserve the Quality of Harvested Stone and Pome Fruit
Speakers: Randy Beaudry – Michigan State University
Description: Several PGRs are known to have a marked influence on the quality and storability of apple and stone fruit following harvest. Retain and Harvista are well known for their ability to suppress ripening by, respectively, inhibiting ethylene production and ethylene action, but they can also influence sensitivity to chilling injury and CO2 injury. Other PGRs such as Jasmonates and ABA can also influence storability and fruit quality too, but through mechanisms that are not yet clear. Options for PGR use and the benefits to the stored fruit will be discussed.
