Events
Past Events
We know that you can't possibly make it to all events that could provide new information, teach you new skills, or prove valuable otherwise in your fruit-growing journey. That's why we have collected event recaps, impressions of other growers, some of the presented information. Check these out, and be inspired to join us next time!
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Upcoming OFGA Events
Last update: June 16, 2026
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​Michigan Organic Apple Tour
July 7-8 • Michigan
Free - attendees are responsible for travel costs, meals, and lodging.
Open to OFGA Members only. Want to become a member? Join here!
Pre-registration required.
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Tuesday July 7, afternoon: Third Leaf Farm, Greenville MI. Kyle Rasch at Third Leaf Farm grows approximately 100 acres of high density organic apples and has been very active in experimenting with groundcover management, sap testing & nutrient management, disease and insect control, varieties for organic management, and other subjects.
Wednesday July 8, morning: Earth First Farms, Berrien Center Michigan. Tom Rosenfeld and staff have grown organic apples here since 2006. Their apple orchard includes 50 acres of primarily older, semi-dwarf trees. They market fresh apples through U-pick, a community-supported agriculture program and value-added products.
There will be no fee for OFGA members to attend this tour but you will be responsible for travel costs, meals, and any overnight lodging. Attendees can work among themselves to arrange car-pooling. OFGA will try to coordinate a place for us to eat supper and socialize on the first evening of the trip.
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Wisconsin Organic Apple Field Day
July 13, 1:00-4:00 PM • Blue Roof Orchard, 19638 Cottage Inn Road, Belmont WI 53510
Free for OFGA members, and $20 for non-members. Want to become a member? Join here!
Pre-registration required.
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Chris & Juli McGuire have grown organic apples at Blue Roof Orchard since 2012. They currently raise almost four acres of dwarf organic apple trees primarily for fresh eating. Their primary market is an apple community-supported agriculture (CSA) program feeding eaters in the Madison area and southwest Wisconsin. At the field day, learn about their production and marketing methods, with a particular focus on:
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Identification and organic management of apple fungal diseases - discussion led by Leslie Holland, UW-Madison Fruit Pathologist
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Transition from mulch to a sod groundcover under dwarf trees
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Installation of Drapenet netting to protect against hailstorms
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Upcoming Non-OFGA Events
Last update: June 16, 2026
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Organic Cranberry Field Day at James Lake Farms
June 25, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM • James Lake Farms, 1075 S Big Lake Loop Rd, Three Lakes, WI
Free (including lunch)!
Pre-registration required.
Visit two cranberry marshes operated by John Stauer of James Lake Farms that will showcase cranberry bed marsh construction and layout, water movement and usage, management of land on a cranberry marsh and organic fertility and pest control. John will speak about how he transitioned an existing marsh to organic as well as the pollinator habitat he has added to benefit organic cranberry production.
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Regional Elderberry Education Workshop Day
June 27, 2026 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM • True Vine Specialty Farms, 33644 Breezy Shores Road, Ottertail, MN 56571
$25 for full day
Pre-registration required.
Join True Vine Specialty Farms to learn how to grow elderberries, harvest and process the fruit, create value-added products, and turn elderberries into a profitable venture. This full-day workshop includes morning grower educational sessions, lunch, a farm tour, and an afternoon food safety & cottage food production educational session.
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Dan and the Giant Peach: Growing High Tunnel Peaches in Northern Minnesota
August 19, 1:00 - 3:00 PM • Stone Creek Farm, 20382 310th Street, Shafer, MN 55074
Free!
Pre-registration required.
Dan Sheild of Stone Creek Farm in Taylors Falls, Minnesota, has been pushing the boundaries of what's possible in a northern climate by successfully cultivating peaches in high tunnels, a method he developed through experimentation in his backyard. He now has a 35-acre farm with three high tunnels containing around 60 cultivars of peach trees, producing a variety of high-quality peaches, apricots, nectarines and plums. During this field day, Dan will share how he developed his methods and the ins and outs of growing fruit trees in high tunnels. We'll hear about choosing root stocks, high tunnel modifications and varieties that best tolerate Minnesota's cold winters.
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Plum Ridge Fruit Farm’s Favorite Pear Varieties: Results of an Ongoing Variety Trial and More
September 12, 10:00 AM -1:00 PM • Plum Ridge Fruit Farm 2918 Middle Sattre Road, Decorah IA 52101
Free!
Pre-registration required.
Long time OFGA members Perry-O and David Sliwa have been growing pears since the mid-1990s near Decorah, Iowa. They started at Meadow Farm, then moved in 2016 to Plum Ridge Fruit Farm. Join the Sliwas at this Practical Farmers of Iowa field day to see pear tree variety trials and take part in discussion about selecting pear varieties. You'll learn about fire blight-resistant pears and classic varieties, a pear germplasm repository and collector favorites. The Sliwas will also discuss how they manage their orchard floor, focusing on enhancing the soil food web and emphasizing the role of mycorrhizal fungi.
Perry-O and David also have a small vineyard. We'll cap off the field day with OFGA Board member Madeline Wimmer, who will talk about vine training systems and grape varieties, alongside general vineyard management.
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Past Events
We know that you can't possibly make it to all events that could provide new information, teach you new skills, or prove valuable otherwise in your fruit-growing journey. That's why we have collected event recaps, impressions of other growers, some of the presented information. Check these out, and be inspired to join us next time!
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