Fruit, Vegetable, Farm expo in GR

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - More than 4,000 farmers, greenhouse operators and marketers from around the world are in Grand Rapids this week.

They are in town for the annual Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo, which is taking place at DeVos Place Tuesday through Thursday.

The event, hosted by Experience Grand Rapids, includes a trade show with nearly 400 exhibitors covering four acres of convention space, according to a news release.

It is not open to the public. Registered participants will attend education seminars including organic fruit production, social media for greenhouses, cheese making 101, hard cider production, crop forecasts and much more.

The expo helps advance the farm-to-fork movement in West Michigan, and promotes collaboration among farmers and restaurateurs.

This is one of Grand Rapids' largest conventions, which means potentially millions of dollars pumped into the local economy. The visitors stay in downtown hotels, eat at downtown restaurants and often shop at local stores.

Experience Grand Rapids is making a big push to get your organization to host its conventions and expos in the city. You are asked to nominate future conventions and meetings at http://www.BringittoGR.com.