Applied Agricultural Research in West Michigan

Research-backed systems
for a more resilient Fruit Ridge.

FruitRidge Research is a Michigan-based nonprofit dedicated to applied research and education for fruit and specialty-crop systems. We work with growers, conservation partners, and educators to evaluate practices that support soil health, water stewardship, and long-term crop resilience.

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Location Fruit Ridge · West Michigan

Focus On-farm Research · Education

Status 501(c)(3) Filing In Progress

Early-Stage Pilot Farm

Blue Mitten Winery - 3 Acre Pilot Farm

Blueberry Farm Our first pilot deploys ground-based sensor pods and an edge AI system across this three-acre farm to establish a real-world data baseline for blueberry production in West Michigan. This site serves as a controlled, field-scale testbed for validating hardware, data pipelines, and decision-support models before broader rollout.

In-field sensing: Continuous measurement of microclimate and crop conditions using fixed sensor pods placed directly within production blocks.
Edge-processed insights: On-site data processing to reduce latency, improve reliability, and support practical, near-real-time decision models.
Scalable foundation: Methods, data structures, and models designed to scale from small plots to larger commercial operations across Michigan.

Mission & Approach

A local institute with a practical, field-first approach.

Our mission is to support fruit and specialty-crop growers across Michigan as they navigate changing weather patterns, shifting markets, and evolving expectations around environmental stewardship. Rooted in the Fruit Ridge and broader Great Lakes region, we develop, test, and share research, tools, and practices openly so they can be adapted by growers statewide and beyond

Mission

Advance Sustainable Production Systems

We conduct applied research that helps growers make informed decisions about irrigation, fertility and ecological practices. balancing yield, quality, and long-term land health.

How We Work

Collaborative, Transparent & Grounded

Projects are co-designed with growers and partners, monitored with clear metrics, and communicated through concise summaries, field days, and visual reports.

What We Value

Stewardship, Clarity & Trust

We emphasize ecological resilience, straightforward communication, and governance that reflects the interests of the landscapes and communities we serve.

Soil Health Water Quality Grower-Centered Open Education

What We Do

Early program areas.

FruitRidge Research is in its founding phase. These program areas describe the initial direction for our work as we develop partnerships and pursue support for multi-year projects.

On-Farm Trials & Monitoring

Carefully structured trials hosted on commercial farms and orchards in the Fruit Ridge and surrounding regions.

Fertigation strategies and water-use efficiency
Soil ecology, carbon cycling, and organic matter management
Plant health under variable climate conditions
Sensor system deployment & validation in production blocks

Translation & Education

Helping Farmers and Students understand how to install and deploy custom sensor systems, utilize their data and turn it into real decisions on real operations.

Concise, visual summaries of field results
Sensor installation workshops and discussion-based events with growers and students
Collaboration with educators and conservation staff

Research Focus

Initial research priorities.

As capacity grows, FruitRidge Research will refine and expand these priorities. Each area is intended to be grounded in measurable outcomes and well-documented methods that others can replicate or build on.

Soil & Water

Soil Function & Nutrient Movement

Exploring how timing, rate, and delivery of water and nutrients influence crop performance, soil structure, and downstream water quality.

Climate Resilience

Managing Variability & Extremes

Assessing practices that help growers respond to frost events, heat waves, intense rainfall, and drought conditions without sacrificing fruit quality or long-term plant health.

Production-Block Ecology

In-Field Conditions & Biological Signals

Studying how measured in-field environmental and biological conditions within production blocks influence crop health, system stability, and management outcomes using ground-based sensor pods and edge-processed data.

Stay connected as the institute develops.

Want to learn more about our work or explore collaboration opportunities? We'd love to hear from you.

Research-backed systems for a more resilient Fruit Ridge.