44TH ANNUAL IDFTA CONFERENCE
PRE-CONFERENCE BUS TOUR
Saturday, February 17, 2001

8:40 a.m. - Leave Amway Grand Plaza Hotel for a visit to the beautiful FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The 125-acre Gardens is home of the largest tropical conservatory in Michigan. Barrier-free pathways lead you through more than 200 exotic plant species, over 2,000 plants, waterfalls and streams. An arid garden, Victorian garden and seasonally changing display greenhouse are lovely year around. Outdoor gardens, nature trails through native wetlands, meadows and woods are included.
    You'll see Leonardo da Vinci's Horse-the largest equine Sculpture in the Western hemisphere and one of only two in the world. It is now the centerpiece of a collection of more than 100 works by world-renowned artists. Plus, enjoy great shopping at two specialty shops, or relax in the Cafe.

Leave at11:00 am for Hart, Michigan where a home-cooked lunch will be served by the Hart United Methodist Church Women. Earl Peterson, owner of Peterson Farms, will be our speaker. Mr. Peterson will talk about the history of Peterson farms and his views on the future of the fruit business in the country.  His forward thinking has created one of the most aggressive and successful processing plants in the country.

At 2:00 pm, the busses will leave for Peterson Farms in Shelby. Peterson Farms is a family owned business that is involved in the production, processing, shipping and trucking of fruit and vegetable products. They also process juice and juice concentrate. They are the 13th largest freezer plant in the US and employ as many as 220 people.

Our last stop of the day will be a bus tour to see "The Silver Lake Sand Dunes" at Silver Lake, Oceana County that attract thousands of visitors each year. The Silver Lake Sand Dunes are 1-1/2 miles wide by 3 miles long, totaling about 1,875 acres of rolling sand hills. They are considered to be one of the largest deposits of living dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan and some of the only remaining live sand dunes in the world. The primary stabilizer of the sand dunes is the Marram Grass, commonly called "dune grass". Within these dunes are found wetlands with tree growth of many kinds making homes for the fox, deer, raccoon, porcupine, the great blue heron and many other animals, The moving sand hills are home to a very unique ecosystem.

Destination & Accomodations
Conference Schedule
Pre-conference Bus Tour
Special Tour - Spouses, Companions, Etc.
IDFTA 2001 Winter Orchard Tour
Registration Form
Banquet Menu

44TH ANNUAL IDFTA CONFERENCE