40 Under 40, Class of 2018

Ben LaCross

Company

Leelanau Fruit Company

Job Title

Farm Operations Manager

Accomplishments

LaCross and his family grow tart and sweet cherries in Leelanau County, Michigan and operate processing plants in Suttons Bay and Buckley, Michigan.

LaCross has been deeply involved with farm policy, specifically advocating for specialty crops at the federal level. A past chair of the American Farm Bureau Federations Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee, he currently serves on the Michigan Farm Bureau board of directors. Governor Rick Snyder appointed LaCross to serve on his 21st Century Infrastructure Commission.

Ben and his wife, Kelsey, have 3 children: Keaton, 11; Lauren, 8; and Cameron, 5.





Current Issue

Fruit Growers News November 2024 cover image

Michigan Ridgefest: Industry consumption push drives Ridgefest apple updates

Water quality management in orchards: Maintaining grove water

Grove insights: IFTA summer tour

Plum factors:  Successful varieties offer growers opportunities

2024 Great Lakes EXPO: Juice processing, berry fertilization and new crop nutrition techniques to be highlighted

40U40 honorees

2025 Fruit & Nut Buyers’ Guide

Anaerobic soil disinfestation: Researchers study natural method to help strawberry growers

Washington tree fruit growers react to H-2A ruling

Organic Grower: Blue Bird Fruit 

Fresh Views: Team approaches to disease management

Farm Market & Agritourism: Market channel assessment

Ag Labor Review: Candid discussions regarding ag labor dilemmas

 

 

see all current issue »

Be sure to check out our other specialty agriculture brands

produceprocessingsm Organic Grower