Specialty Crop Tour for Young Growers - Organic Apple Field Day at Al-Mar Orchards

Jake Koan, a Penn State Extension intern and YGA member, hosted a field day with his family at Al-Mar Orchards in Flushing, MI. The Koans own the largest certified organic orchard in the Midwest, and offered a tour of their extensive high-density planting system, apple pressing operation, and packing line. Invited speakers included fruit researchers specializing in organic production methods. While at Penn State, Jake shared stories about the operation's most innovative methods (e.g., hard cider marketing & production, piglets for pest control)....fascinating!