West Michigan Bus Tour 2025

Michigan State University Extension and the Benzie-Manistee Horticultural Society present

West Michigan Bus Tour 2025

Thursday, April 3, 2025

7:00 Bus departs from NWMHRC

7:30 Bus pick-up at Meijer’s, 3955 US 31, Traverse City, MI 49684

8:15 Bus pick-up at Ellen’s Corner, 6052 W. M-115, Mesick, MI 49668

Travel to Hart, MI

9:30-10:30 Van Agtmael Orchards, 2171 N 144th Ave. Hart, MI 49420

Mike VanAgtmael

• Top worked high-density Honeycrisp
• Pruning demonstration
• Phil Schwallier, MSU Extension Emeritus

10:30-11:10 Travel to Walkerville, MI

11:15-12:00 Crystal Orchards, LLC. 3410 E. Van Buren Walkerville, MI

Scott Swindeman

• High-density Honeycrisp (5th leaf Royal Red G.969, 4th leaf Firestorm G.969, 3rd leaf Firestorm G.969)
• High-density RaveÒ planting: 5th leaf G.41
• Vivid Machines: how Vivid X Vision system can be used for fruit estimates/bins counts

12:00-12:45 River Ridge, 5009 E. Harrison Road Walkerville, MI 49459

Justin Finkler

• High-density sweet cherry planting (Coral Champagne Gi.12, Tamara Gi.12, Black Pearl K.6, Skeena Gi.12, Sweetheart K.6)
• Pruning demonstration for high-density sweet cherry
• Dr. Greg Lang, Professor Emeritus, MSU

12:45-1:45 Travel to Grant, MI

• Box lunch on the bus

1:45-2:45 River Ridge Cider Co., 14046 Mason Drive, Grant, MI 49327

• Tour of cider plant/fresh sweet cherry packing line
• Divide into two groups, tour, and switch

2:45-3:00 Travel to Honeycrisp planting

3:00-4:00 Three-year old Honeycrisp planting, 16530 Hall Road Casnovia, MI 49318

Justin Finkler

• Royal Red Honeycrisp: Pajam 2, Bud 10, G.41, G.11, G.969
• WiseConn irrigation system

4:00 Bus departs for northern Michigan

Host or Publisher Benzie Manistee Horticultural Society