November 2000

MBG Marketing and Hortifrut Combine
to Form Global Berry Farms

A new fresh marketing venture between major berry industry companies, Hortifrut, S.A. of Santiago, Chile and MBG Marketing of Grand Junction, Mich., was announced in October. Together, the two companies have formed Global Berry Farms.

Farm Manager Learns Fast
and Finds New Career

Three years ago Jeff Carlson was unemployed and looking for work after a move back to his home area of Hart, Mich.

Great Lakes Vegetable Convention
January 9-11

The 34th annual Great Lakes Vegetable Growers Convention and Farm Market Show will be held Jan. 9-11, 2001, at the Grand Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. These dates are a week earlier than the convention dates have been in recent years.

North American Farmers’ Direct
Marketing Conference in Arizona
The North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) will hold its 16th annual Farmers’ Direct Marketing conference and trade show, “Diversity in the Desert,” Jan. 15 –22, 2001. The conference will be held just outside Phoenix in Mesa, Ariz. at the Sheraton-Mesa Hotel and the Community and Conference Center.

Perry Named Interim Chair
of MSU Hort Department
Ron Perry, who is currently Michigan State University Extension specialist in tree fruit, has added another job to his list of responsibilities – interim Department of Horticulture chairman.

Red Cedar Valley brings the
berries to the customers

Even though Jim Lewerer offers both ready pick and u-pick strawberries from his Red Cedar Valley Farms, his preference is clear. He specializes in ready-pick berries, but with a difference – his staff takes the berries to the customer at six satellite sales locations.