Oct 8, 2021

Climatology, tree fruits and small fruits at 2021 Great Lakes EXPO

For many in the industry, this year’s Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO is the first chance to gather as a whole once again. The Michigan-based show is chock-full of meetings, education sessions and chances to connect with other growers, vendors and Extension agents from around the country.

Noteworthy sessions fruit growers should add to their calendar include the climate session with a pair of panels and three experts — Julianna Wilson and Anna Wallis of Michigan State University Extension and climatologist Jeff Andresen. Additionally, the blueberry session on Wednesday and the grape session on Tuesday will both be held with Gary Pavlis of Rutgers University.  

Wilson’s face will be a familiar one to attendees. Wilson is an entomologist and tree fruit integrator at MSU; Wallis is an apple Extension specialist for MSU in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, region who also conducts research.

Climate change is a major issue for fruit growers, especially in the past few years. Growers heavily felt the impacts this year with the late frost, early heatwave, drought in spring and heavy midsummer rains and had unpredictable yields as a result. In “Managing Fruit Production in a Changing Climate,” the session coordinated by Wilson and Wallis, growers will hear about the science behind the weather from Andresen. 

After the segment about climatology research that directly impacts fruit growers and pollinators, a panel of scientists will answer questions about how changes in weather patterns hold up to models, how to select drought-resistant cultivars, insect and disease monitoring and some of the pressures that growers are experiencing from wholesalers with regards to their carbon footprint.

The grower panel rounding out this session will cover the consumer perception of changes the industry is making in how they grow food. It will cover rotation schedules and the importance of polyculture in long-term success. To hear from these groups on this important topic, stay for Thursday morning at this year’s EXPO.

At Rutgers University, Pavlis researches small fruits, primarily blueberries and grapes, starting with blueberries 37 years ago as the first blueberry Extension agent for the university.

In his blueberry session, Pavlis will cover nutrition, efficiency and yield. He’ll explain which assumptions growers make about blueberries need adjustment and how they can make those adjustments to see quick net improvements in their operations, including bringing new bushes into full production in 5-6 years as opposed to the usual 8-10 years.

Pavlis is also a self-described “wine nerd” and has supported the wine grape industry in New Jersey as a secondary interest and expertise area throughout his career. He will be sharing more details about the grape session he will lead on Tuesday as we get closer to December — stay tuned.

For growers on the fence about returning to an in-person EXPO, Pavlis encourages attendance to foster learning and improvements in techniques. “Farming has to constantly be on cutting edge from an informational standpoint or you’re going the way of the Dodo bird,” Pavlis said. He suggests growers attend as many sessions as possible to soak in new knowledge, get refreshers on existing techniques, take copious notes and have fruitful conversations with other growers and Extension agents alike.

To learn more about the 2021 Great Lakes EXPO, visit glexpo.com.