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NASGA announces summer tour in Ohio

May 28, 2008, Columbus, OH –
Travelers from throughout North America will soon be visiting the
fertile valleys of Ohio’s farm country for a strawberry growers' tour.

May 28, 2008, Columbus, OH – Travelers from throughout North America will soon be visiting the fertile valleys of Ohio’s farm country.

The North American Strawberry Growers’ Association is holding its annual summer tour in Ohio from August 20 to 21, 2008.

Strawberry growers from throughout the U.S. and Canada will visit approximately 10 Ohio farms that specialize in strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and vegetables. As growers, the visitors hope to learn by sharing while observing and discussing the farming techniques found here in Ohio.

“Farm visits are an exceptional way for growers to expand their knowledge and abilities,” said Kevin Schooley, executive director for the association. “As the group travels and tours, they share ideas and methods for better growing, safe effective means of pest control, reducing fuel and labor expenses, managing the soil and the environment, and overall learning to produce better, sweeter berries as efficiently as possible.”

Among the farms to be visited are the Champaign Berry Farm, in Mutual, which has more than 27 acres of raspberries; the Blueberry Patch & Café, in Lexington, said to be the largest blueberry grower in the state;  Polter’s Berry Farm, in Fremont, with 13 acres of strawberries among other crops on the 2,000 acre farm; Holthouse Farms, in Willard, a grower of salad vegetables; Jacquemin Farms, in Dublin, which sells much of their produce in their own farm market; Robert Rothschild Farm, in Urbana, which features pick-your-own crops, as well as their own café; and Fulton Farms, in Troy, which grows strawberries and vegetables for retail and wholesale markets.

The headquarters hotel for the North American Strawberry Growers Association tour will be the Drury Inn at the Convention Center in Columbus. Tours will then proceed by bus to the respective Ohio farms.

For further information, visit NASGA’s website or call executive director Kevin Schooley at (613) 258-4587.