Thirty-two farm operations, including seven from Leelanau County, will be recognized Tuesday, July 10 at the Cherry Connection Industry Program hosted at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station in Bingham Township.

The farms have become certified through the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), which establishes management options to protect and enhance the environment.

County operations to be recognized include Leelanau Conservancy (Jenee Rowe), the DeYoung Farm, Elmwood Township; Bakker Farms (Alan and Lynn Bakker), Suttons Bay; Cherry Lane Farms (Jeff and Nita Send), Suttons Bay; James Bardenhagen Farms (James Bardenhagen), East Leland; Black Star Farms (John Ayers), Suttons Bay; Cherry Bay Orchards (Don and Bob Gregory) Suttons Bay; and the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station.

“We live in an area where there are more certified farms than anywhere in the state,” said Robert Dow of the Michigan State University extension office in Traverse City. “The cherry industry also has the highest percentage of MAEAP certification in the state.”

Other MAEAP honorees are Rocky Top Farms (Thomas and Ruth Cooper); Royal Farms Inc., (Patrick McGuire); Orchard View Farms (Paul and Keith Hubbell); Cherry Blossom LLC (Chris Hubbell and Kevin Bratschi); Engle Ridge Farm (Ken and Janet Engle); Northwind Farms (Glenn Paradis); Cole Farm LLC (Tristan and Stacy Cole); Vermeersch Farms (Fred and Kay Vermeersch) of Antrim County; Old Mission Fruit Co. (Bernie and Cheryl Kroupa); Dave Kroupa Farms (Dave and Joan Kroupa); Mark Santucci Farms (Mark Santucci); Manigold Farms (Rob Manigold); Bill Hoffman Farms (Bill Hoffman); and Richard Saylor — Grand Traverse County; N.J. Fox & Sons (Donald Fox), Shelby; Lewis Orchards (Scott and Brenda Lewis) and Caleb Coulter and Leroy Glover— New Era; Tubbs Orchards (Tim and Fred Tubbs); VanAgtmael & Sons, Inc. (Mike and Bob VanAgtmael) —Hart and Art List Orchards Inc. (Art Lister Jr.), Mason.

The Cherry Connection, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., will also honor Michigan State University entomologist Mark Whalon as “industry person of the year” and James V. Bardenhagen, emeritus MSU extension director in Leelanau as the “cherry promotion” award winner.