January 2023 - 4

PUBLISHER'S LETTER
Continuing the
mission
I
t's hard to believe that I purchased this
publication 30 years ago. It was named
the Great Lakes Vegetable Growers
News and started by my predecessor
Barry Brand in 1966. I met Barry on a
summer farm market bus tour put on
by Michigan State University Extension
while I was working as the business
editor at the Battle Creek Enquirer newspaper. At that time
my father, Marvin, and I owned McCallum's Orchard in Jeddo,
Michigan, about an hour north of Detroit and a few miles off
the shoreline of Lake Huron. We grew every fruit and vegetable
crop imagined on the 160-acre farm.
After working alongside Barry for years, I purchased the
business, which also publishes Fruit Growers News. It
was a dream come true for me, as it combined specialty
ag and journalism.
Like your operation, much has changed in the publishing
business in the past 30 years including technology and the
challenges we face. Our content is now shared in many ways,
including our print publication, digital magazine, social media,
website and email - allowing us to reach over 35,000 people
when, where and how you want to consume our content.
As you noticed when you pulled this magazine from your
mailbox, it is no longer a tabloid size. Like you, we are facing
many new challenges. Costs have increased dramatically with
paper, printing and postage. In fact, it's nearly impossible to
get paper, and many kinds of paper have been discontinued.
While the publication is no longer tabloid sized, our footprint
on the industry is larger than it ever has been. Through our
print and digital media, we are able to deliver content to you in
a more timely way and tailor it to your needs.
Our mission has not changed. It is to be the most-trusted
information resource for the vegetable industry by providing
tools to growers so they can profitably provide healthy food to
the world.
We look forward to continuing with our mission and helping
the vegetable industry thrive!
EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR
ASSISTANT EDITOR
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Chris Koger, 616-520-2156
ckoger@greatamericanpublish.com
Doug Ohlemeier, 616-520-2162
dohlemeier@greatamericanpublish.com
Kristen Kazarian, 616-520-2144
kkazarian@greatamericanpublish.com
ADVERTISING SALES
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
ACCOUNT SPECIALIST
CLIENT SUCCESS
REPRESENTATIVE
Greg Sebel, 616-520-2146
vgnads@vegetablegrowersnews.com
Kim Meyers, 616-520-2137
kmeyers@greatamericanpublish.com
Kristy McDermott, 616-520-2158
kmcdermott@greatamericanpublish.com
PRODUCTION
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE
DIRECTOR
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Eric Hadden, 616-520-2147
vgnproduction@vegetablegrowersnews.com
Amanda Mackey, 616-520-2157
amackey@greatamericanpublish.com
Allison McKenzie, 616-520-2142
amckenzie@greatamericanpublish.com
CIRCULATION
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Becky Stovall, 616-520-2138
circulation@vegetablegrowersnews.com
CORPORATE
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
COO & CHIEF
MARKETING OFFICER
PUBLISHER/CEO
Deb Carnes, 616-520-2169
dcarnes@greatamericanpublish.com
Kim Baker, 616-520-2135
kbaker@greatamericanpublish.com
Matt McCallum, 616-520-2133
mmccallum@greatamericanpublish.com
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Frank Gasperini
Kevin Hosey
Simon Huntley
Bob Jones
William Lamont
Carolyn O'Donnell
Chris Pawelski
Rick Snyder
Tim Waters
Ben Werling
USPS 015-789, ISSN 1049-8494
PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT SPARTA, MI AND ADDITIONAL OFFICES
Published monthly except, May/June, July/Aug, and Sept/Oct by
GREAT AMERICAN MEDIA SERVICES INC.
Office at 75 Applewood Dr., Suite A, Sparta, Michigan 49345.
POSTMASTER
Send address changes to:
Great American Publishing,
PO Box 318, Lincolnshire IL 60069
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
United States: $35.50 per 3 years,
$15.50 per year
Canada: $56 per year,
Foreign Countries: $100 per year
Digital Editions: $9.95 per year,
Back Issues: $6 each
The opinions and views expressed by authors, contributors and
advertisers in Vegetable Growers News do not necessarily reflect those
of the editors and publisher. Appearance in Vegetable Growers News
does not constitute endorsement by Great American Media Services
or Vegetable Growers News of the advertiser, its products, or services.
Great American Media Services and Vegetable Growers News accepts no
Matt McCallum, Publisher/CEO
responsibility of liability for the validity or accuracy of information supplied
by contributors, vendors, advertisers, or advertising agencies. Great
American Media Services and Vegetable Growers News do not make any
claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of information supplied
by contributors, vendors, advertisers or advertising agencies.
Copyright 2023
VEGETABLE GROWERS NEWS is a publication of
a division of Great American Publishing
4 | JANUARY 2023
January 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2023
