EAST LANSING, Mich. — A federal trial is expected to begin later this year in the case of a Michigan apple orchard owner who sued East Lansing after he was not allowed to participate at the city's farmers market because he doesn't allow gay couples to marry at his orchard.

Conservative Christian nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom is representing The Country Mill owner Steve Tennes.

Tennes had been selling at the market since 2010 but was denied a vendor's license in 2017.

City officials cited Tennes’ Facebook post explaining that his religious beliefs prevented the business from hosting same-sex weddings.

A pretrial conference is set for August, with the trial a month later.