Join farmers from across the United States and Canada as we visit innovative and successful growers and marketers in our Annual Summer Tour.
Our headquarters hotel will be the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Chicago, so you may want to book a few extra days to see the lake front and other attractions in this beautiful city.
Day One Includes:
(more stops will be added)
 Johnson's Farm Produce, Hobart, Indiana
Johnson's grow a variety of crops, including strawberries, sweet corn, and pumpkins. They also have a full service garden center and farm market, and pride themselves on quality product and service. (www.johnsonsfarmproduce.com)
Rajzer Farm Market & Greenhouses, North Decatur, Michigan
Chris is a former extension agent, who has taken his knowledge and experience back to the farm. This family owned farm grows and markets asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, sweet corn, melons, and much more in seasonal fruits and vegetables. Flowers, perennials and hanging baskets are also grown and sold from their greenhouses.
Krohne Plant Farms, Hartford, Michigan
This farm specializes in strawberry and asparagus plants. Our tour will get a first hand look at how their nursery plants are grown and learn what varieties are the market leaders.
(www.krohneplantfarms.com)
Southwest Michigan Research & Extension Station, Benton Harbor, Michigan
The tour will explore several areas of research in fruit and vegetable production, including projects utilizing tunnels. (www.maes.msu.edu/swmrec/)
Day Two Includes:
(more stops will be added)
Tom's Farm Market and Greenhouses, Huntley, Illinois
 Tom Halat, a long time NASGA member, was very focused on strawberries, but his business has evolved to include a fabulous garden center, gift shop and farm market, and hosts many activities. (www.tomsfarmmarket.com)
Knutson Country Harvest, Newark, Illinois
Tour includes a vertical, hydroponic strawberry growing system. From the planting of a few apple and peach trees, this farm has evolved into a 33-acre farm that includes raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and much more. (about Knutsons Country Harvest)
Thompson Strawberry Farm, Bristol, Wisconsin
 Yes, this is the Thompson family that joins us for almost every meeting and tour, so now it's our chance to see their farm. Thompson's have grown strawberries for more than 70 years, and at one time grew 150 acres. Strawberries are still their main focus, but they also grow PYO pumpkins for the fall season, selling pumpkins by the carload. (www.thompsonstrawberryfarm.com)
Filtrexx Growing System
We also plan to see this new system in production. The system utilizes a growing sock, where you can utilize different soil or growing media within the sock. It is a modular system that can be installed on almost any surface.
The Gardens at Ball, West Chicago, Illinois
 Ball Horticultural Company, a family-owned business since it was founded in 1905, is the country's largest horticultural seed company.
It may also be the biggest flower producer you've never heard of. Ball is an internationally known breeder, producer and distributor of ornamental plants that is continually introducing new varieties to the gardening world. Thousands of annual and perennial varieties are showcased across 7.5 acres in display beds, an elevated viewing garden, a dramatic avenue of hanging baskets, a water garden, an area where container-grown annuals are arranged in attractive combinations, and many other areas.
Paths take the visitor through areas shaped to show off plants individually and in combinations, in new and innovative settings designed to inspire visitors and offer ideas for the home garden and commercial settings.
Tour Registration
The Full Tour price includes bus transportation, all tour stops, lunch/snacks/beverages both days, plus the Wednesday night dinner, and other amenities. The One Day Fee includes bus transportation, tour stops, lunch/snacks/beverages that day, and dinner on Tuesday only. Registration fees do not include hotel reservations or travel to and from the conference.
Full Tour: $225 per member, or $295 for non-members
Tuesday Only: $150 per member, or $190 for non-members
Wednesday Only: $130 per member, or $170 for non-members
Download the registration form now. Click here.
Reservations for the Hotel:
Be sure you indicate to the hotel that you are with North American Strawberry Growers Association in order to get the preferred rate of $79.00 per night. Parking is complimentary. There will also be a $10 per day, per room voucher provided to you, to be used for breakfast at the hotel restaurant, "Mirage."
Four Points Sheraton Hotel Chicago O'Hare (not downtown)
10249 W. Irving Park Road
Schiller Park, Illinois 60176
Hotel Phone: 847-671-6000, Hotel Fax: 847-671-7552
Summer Tour Sponsors:
Please thank our summer tour sponsors:
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