The Northern Nut Growers Association and the Chestnut Growers of America Joint Conference in Lansing, MI

Northern Nut Growers Association & Chestnut Growers of America Joint 2025 Conference
August 3-6, 2025 | Lansing, Michigan

The Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA) and the Chestnut Growers of America (CGA) will hold their joint 2025 conference on August 3-6, 2025, in Lansing, Michigan. The conference features a packed agenda, including lightning talks, technical sessions, and field trips covering all aspects of growing, processing, and marketing nuts and native fruits. Attendees will include a diverse mix of commercial growers, scientific researchers, and hobbyists, offering valuable opportunities to learn from experts and peers alike. This conference is the perfect place to plant ideas, crack open new insights, and grow connections.  Questions?? Contact us at NNGACGA2025@gmail.com

Conference Schedule

Sunday, August 3 – Nash Nurseries

Location: Nash Nurseries, 4975 W Grand River Rd, Owosso, MI 48867 | www.nashnurseries.com

Kick off the conference with an afternoon and evening at Nash Nurseries. The event will include nursery and orchard tours, a welcome dinner, and an evening of engaging lightning talks and demonstrations.

Monday, August 4 & Tuesday, August 5  DoubleTree by Hilton, Lansing

Two full days of engaging technical sessions, panel discussions, and break-out groups on nut and fruit growing, research, and culture. The agenda includes:

• Conference continental breakfast, lunch and refreshment breaks

• The popular fundraising auction on Monday evening

• Tuesday night banquet (included in full registration)

Wednesday, August 6 – Field Tours (Charter Bus Provided)

Take advantage of a full day of touring, including a light breakfast and a box lunch.  Transportation is provided so attendees can network without the hassle of driving and the venues have very limited space for vehicle parking.  Tour stops include:

• Chestnut Growers Inc. (CGI) Processing & Shipping Facility – Clarksville, MI
  Tour the processing facility of Michigan’s chestnut co-op, handling over 250,000 lbs of chestnuts annually, including cleaning, sorting, processing, storage, packaging, and shipping.
  

• Beyer’s Orchard – Paw Paw, MI
  One of Michigan’s largest chestnut orchards, with 65 acres of grafted chestnut trees contributing to the CGI co-op. The Beyer’s began planting in 2012. As this orchard has been coming online with over 1,800 trees, the Beyer’s are harvesting 30,000 lbs of chestnuts.  This will be our boxed lunch stop.
  

• MSU Roger’s Reserve – Jackson, MI
  A research facility dedicated to advancing nut and unusual fruit production. The site features the region’s only mechanized fresh chestnut peeling/processing line, capable of peeling 2,000 lbs of chestnuts per hour, as well as a processing kitchen for chestnut flour, chestnut chips, hazelnuts, and pawpaws.

Conference Pricing

• Conference Sunday-Wednesday   Includes all events and meals from Sunday evening through Wednesday lunch. Monday dinner on your own:                       Before June 20, 2025    $375            After June 20, 2025  $425/person

• Conference Sunday-Tuesday  includes all events and meals from Sunday through Tuesday, including the banquet.  Wednesday field trip not included             Before June 20, 2025      $320        After June 20, 2025    $370/person

• Companion Registration (includes Sunday dinner, Mon & Tues breakfast and Tues Banquet) Wednesday field tour is not included :                                                                $225/companion       

• Sunday only (includes Sunday dinner, tours and lightning talks):                                               $40/person  $50 after June 20

• Monday-Tuesday only (includes breakfast, sessions, lunches and Tuesday night banquet) $295/person  $320 after June 20

• Wednesday Field Tour only (includes a light breakfast, lunch, bus transportation)                 $65/person  $75 after June 20

• Exhibitor Tables: $50/table (6’ skirted provided)  No meals or sessions included.  Exhibitors may purchase conference registrations listed above.

• Extra Banquet Tickets $55/person

Have fun in Lansing

Bring the whole family! The Greater Lansing area offers restaurants, breweries, museums, theaters, and Michigan State University attractions. Arrive on Saturday, August 2, and catch a Lansing Lugnuts baseball game next door to the Lansing Center.
On Monday & Tuesday companions who are not attending the Monday/Tuesday sessions might optionally visit some special Lansing attractions (admission and transportation not included in companion registration)

• MSU Horticulture Gardens | www.canr.msu.edu/hrt/our_gardens

• Impression 5 Science Center | www.impression5.org

• R.E. Olds Transportation Museum | www.reoldsmuseum.org

Discounts and Scholarships Available!

To use a discount code, click “Do you have a promo code?” at checkout. Use all CAPS for the code.

• NNGA, CGA, or Michigan Fruit & Nut Growers (MNFGA) members:

  • Use MEMBER code, all caps for a $20 discount

• Students  Please provide us with information on where you are enrolled and your field of study

  • Use STUDENT for a $125 conference discount 

  • Use STUDENTMEMBER for a $145 conference discount if you are a member of NNGA or CGA or MNFGA

• Scholarship Opportunities     We believe that the financial burden of attending our conference should not be a barrier for attending. So we have created a scholarship fund which both receives donations and offers scholarships to members.   These scholarships cover the full cost of registration and a modest contribution to meals and lodging. We ask that recipients of scholarships be willing to help out at the meeting with logistical tasks. It's a great chance to interact with people who make things happen.    lf you would like to take advantage of the scholarship please contact NNGACGA2025@gmail.com to receive additional information.

Sponsorship and Scholarship Support 

Support nut research and training by becoming a conference sponsor. Sponsors will be acknowledged in conference materials and NNGA & CGA publications. (if you would like more information please contact nngacga2025@gmail.com)

You may also support beginning farmers and students who would otherwise be unable to attend by donating to the NNGA Scholarship Fund

• Tree Sponsorship: $500

• Sapling Sponsorship: $200-$499

• Seedling Sponsorship: $100-$199

• NNGA Scholarship Fund  Any amount you wish to contribute to help a student or beginning farmer is welcome

Contributions can be made using the “Donation” button at the end of the ticket selection.    Please indicate the purpose of your donation on the last question of the registration form.  (yes, a bit awkward, but that is the way the software works!)  If you are willing to donate, but do not plan to attend the conference, please select the ticket type, Donation Only which will then allow you to complete the process. 

Monday Night Fundraising Auction

Join the Monday evening auction—a fun way to support nut research! Please bring a donation for the auction!  Books, artwork, homemade crafts, trees, tools, gift baskets, gift certificates, nut-related or not!  Nut-based goodies are always a crowd favorite! (outside food cannot be accepted at the session breaks in the hotel)

Refund Policy

A Full refund is available until July 5, 2025 and a Partial refund minus $50 processing fee from July 5 - July 16.  Refunds are not available after July 16 (exceptions for extenuating circumstances).

Conference Hotel

A group rate is available at:
DoubleTree by Hilton – Lansing
111 N Grand Ave, Lansing, MI 48933
Tel: 517-482-0188 | DoubleTree by Hilton Lansing

• Group rate: $129 + 13% tax/night  The group rate rooms are available only until July 3, 2025.  Rooms can be cancelled 72 hours before the arrival date without penalty.

• Use this link DoubleTree by Hilton Lansing or call 1-833-904-2206 to get the group rate. (other reservation links do not work!)            Then use 2025 Annual Meet 91R code when booking. Don’t wait—rooms are limited!

• Complimentary airport shuttle from Lansing Capital Region Airport (LAN) -www.flylansing.com

• Self Parking in Lansing: $15/day in all ramps, $35/day for valet parking

Crack open new knowledge, branch out your network, and let’s go nuts together August 3rd - 6th in Lansing, MI for the 2025 NNGA/CGA conference.  

Questions?? Contact us at NNGACGA2025@gmail.com