The Midwest School for Beginning Apple Growers, a three-day workshop for people wanting to start an orchard business, will be offered March 4-6 on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

The course will prepare participants to grow and sell apples using a variety of management strategies and tools.

“We aim to help people better understand the business of farming, from
production to marketing and economics, so they can set realistic goals
and improve their chances of success,” says school coordinator John
Hendrickson, an outreach specialist with the UW-Madison Center for
Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS).

Now in its second year, this unique program combines the expertise of
seasoned growers and university faculty. Primary instructors will be
Bob Barthel of Barthel Fruit Farm in Mequon, Tom Griffith of Door
Creek Orchard in Cottage Grove and Jackie Hoch of Hoch Orchard and
Gardens in LaCrescent, Minn. Joining them will be UW–Madison fruit
specialists Patricia McManus and Rebecca Harbut.

The school will emphasize sustainable and organic production methods
including integrated pest management strategies, as well as risk
management and business planning. The course also offers participants
a great opportunity to network with others who share their interest in
making a business out of growing and selling apples.

The Midwest School for Beginning Apple Growers is sponsored by the UW-
Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and the Wisconsin
Apple Growers Association, and is open to the public. Registration for
the program costs $300. For more information, contact
John Hendrickson at (608) 265-3704 or jhendric@wisc.edu, or visit the
CIAS web site: www.cias.wisc.edu.