Feb 6, 2025

Great Lakes EXPO bus tour showcases farmers market fruit marketing ideas

The Great Lakes EXPO Farm Market Bus Tour offered participants a firsthand look at farmers market fruit marketing in action across the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. On December 9, 146 attendees filled three buses to visit six farm market and vineyard operations along the Fruit Ridge, each demonstrating creativity, community engagement and product diversity.

Exploring Michigan’s Fruit Ridge markets

The tour included visits to:

• Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm Market
• Millie’s Farm Market
• New City Neighbors
• Schwallier’s Country Basket
• Stoney Ridge Vineyard & Winery

Each stop highlighted the ways growers are expanding their businesses through agritourism, on-farm retail and direct-to-consumer sales. The event gave participants an opportunity to exchange ideas on displays, branding and farmers market fruit marketing strategies that attract and retain customers.

Sharing strategies and inspiration

Many of the attendees operate farm markets themselves, making the tour an ideal platform for peer learning. Participants discussed signage, packaging, customer experience and diversification — all vital components of effective farmers market fruit marketing. From value-added products to local partnerships, growers learned how to enhance profitability while strengthening community ties.

The bus tour, sponsored by Great American Media Services (publisher of Fruit Growers News and Vegetable Growers News), Michigan State University Extension, and the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO.

The following are photos from the visit: