The Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center will host an open house featuring an equipment show and educational sessions on grape and tree fruit production in Michigan on Aug. 25.
The center, located in Traverse City, is part of the Michigan State University AgBioResearch system, which has on-campus facilities and 14 outlying field stations across Michigan that support the work of more than 300 scientists in six colleges at MSU: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Communication Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Natural Science, Social Science and Veterinary Medicine.
The equipment show, hosted by the Leelanau Horticultural Society, will spotlight local and regional equipment and supply vendors. It runs from 1 to 7 p.m.
Educational sessions will run concurrently beginning at 3 p.m. Participants will learn about tree fruit and wine grape production aboard a wagon tour of the facility. The sessions are free and open to the public.
Activities will conclude with a social hour beginning at 5:15 p.m. followed by dinner, featuring local foods, at 6 p.m. Tickets for the dinner and social hour are $15 and are available by calling the Leelanau County MSU Extension office at (231) 256-9888.
The open house is sponsored by MSU AgBioResearch, MSU Extension, the Leelanau Horticultural Society and the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Foundation.
The NWMHRC, located at 6686 S. Center Highway, is a 100-acre premier research site for integrated pest management; horticultural production and handling; value-added processing; and marketing and farm financial management practices for wine grapes, apples, plums, sweet and tart cherries and hops. For more information on the center, visit nwmihort.agbioresearch.msu.edu or call (231) 946-1510.
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