The Michigan Spring Peach Meeting will be held March 5 at Michigan State University’s Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center near Benton Harbor.

According to Dr. Bill Shane, who organizes the annual event, the whole-day meeting is devoted to educational sessions and discussions on growing, packing, and marketing high quality peaches and nectarines.

The meeting, which starts at 9 a.m. after registration starting at 8, will focus on fresh market peaches including new peach varieties, insect management strategies, disease control, marketing strategies, rootstocks, farm marketing, and mechanical peach thinning.  

Special guests include peach specialist Dr. Greg Reighard of Clemson University, award-winning peach grower Robert Fralinger of Bridgeton, New Jersey, National Peach Council Director Kay Rentzel, Michigan State University entomologist Dr. John Wise and plant pathologist Dr. George Sundin.  

Chalmers Carr III, president and CEO to Titan Farms in Ridge Spring, South Carolina, will attend via remote presentation and talk about his farm’s experience with the Cinch fruit thinner.

Deadline for early registration is February 25.  Registration is $30 per person or $25 for current Michigan Peach Sponsor members, with catered lunch included. Registrations mailed after February 25 or at the door are $5 more. 

For additional meeting information, contact Shane at (269) 944-1477 ext. 205, or (269) 208-1652 cell.

The meeting is sponsored by the Michigan Peach Sponsors, Michigan State University Extension, and the Michigan Society for Horticultural Science.

For a registration form and more information, go to the Michigan Peach Sponsor Web site www.michiganpeach.org.