December 7 - Farm Market Bus Tour

Country Dairy - Country Dairy is a four-generation, family-owned working dairy farm and milk processing facility. Tour attendees will enjoy a lesson at Moo School, a wagon ride tour of the operation, the milking and bottling process, and cheese and ice cream making. WE will then enjoy lunch at the on-site restaurant. Tour The Farm Store full of Country Dairy products and gift items for new ideas to enhance any farm market. Here you will be able to learn about the history of Country Dairy, dairy farming, and the dairy industry and how they have incorporated agri-tourism into their marketing plan. Click here to learn more.


The Fox Barn Market & Winery – Enjoy touring a location that has combined farm market and winery aspects. Mix in some interesting and unique displays with the charm of being in an old barn for some great marketing ideas. During the tour, attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a wine-tasting of unique fruit wines, made from fruit harvested at their location. Learn about how they started by selling peaches at an outdoor stand and progressed to the current operation in just 5 years. Click here to learn more about this location.


Heritage Farms Market - Heritages Farms was originally a 160-acre dairy operation, which led to a small fruit stand almost 40 years ago and has since expanded to a full-fledged fruit and vegetable operation for both the wholesale and retail markets. Enjoy Heritage Farms Market in full swing as you learn about their holiday gift baskets and how they have capitalized on this after-the-harvest opportunity in addition to their market and baked goods. Crops include apples, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins, sweet corn, and more. Click here to learn more!


Lewis Farm Market & Petting Farm – Nestled in the middle of 700-acres of beautiful fruit trees, Lewis Farm Market & Petting Farm is a family-owned market specializing in apples, peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, pears, and locally grown strawberries and farm fresh vegetables. Tour attendees will experience the petting farm filled with a variety if farm and exotic animals. Learn about the other great activities that have been added throughout the past few years, including a giant jumping pillow, Boo Train rides, playground, pedal tractor track, corn maze and a variety of u-pick experiences. The gift house and bakery are always full of fun treats and surprises and is continuously being expanded! Visit their web site to learn more!


The Starting Block - The Starting Block is West Michigan's Non-Profit Regional Kitchen Incubator and Entrepreneurial Center. It is a home for individuals who want to take a special recipe to market or create a food or natural resource business. At The Starting Block, small business owners can learn more about the technical aspects of food production and receive assistance in product development, ingredient sourcing, packaging and labeling, marketing strategies and more. Click here to visit their web site.


Steffens Orchard Market - Steffens Orchards have both u-pick and pre-pick apples and sweet cherries, in addition to their farm market, which is full of unique food gifts and other market items. Learn about how they have enhanced their market with u-pick apples and pumpkins, a build-your-own-scare crow at the Scarecrow Factory, orchard tours on the orchard shuttle, Moonwalk for children and other great value-added opportunities. Visit their web site for more information.


Country Basket - As a fall market, Country Basket has infused their product line with anything and everything apple, pumpkin and autumn. They offer u-pick and pre-pick apples, a delectable assortment of baked treats, along with all of the unique canned goods and homemade donuts. In the past few years, they have enhanced their operation with a petting farm, straw barn, cat house, maze, slide, corn box, hay rides and more. Visit their web site web site to learn more.