King Orchards

4620 N M-88
Central Lake, MI 49622

King Orchards is a first generation family farm. Brothers John & Jim King, and their wives Betsy and Rose, have grown King Orchards over the past 26 years from a small fruit farm into two orchards and markets. The two orchards grow a total of 130 acres containing cherries, apples, peaches, pears, apricots, sweet corn, and vegetables. Although the orchard has grown leaps and bounds in the past 26 years, Betsy still drives 200 miles every Wednesday from September through November to bring the fall harvest to those first loyal customers.

Brothers John & Jim King oversee the orchard, accounting, labor and business management. Their wives, Betsy and Rose, manage the farm markets and bakery. Their children all work at the orchards when not in school. Jack King, 24, works on cherry harvest and maintenance crew. Juliette King, 23, also works cherry harvesting, bookkeeping, and fruit stand work. Frank King, 18, works the cherry harvest crew, as does Mike King, 16. Brande Schiller, 23, works in the fruit stand and bakery, and assists periodically with cherry product shipping. Megan King, 16, works in the fruit stand in the summer, and helps out in the office.

King Orchards has two of their own farm markets as well as a thriving mail order business. They also sell apples and cherries to wholesale distributors, and they sell their tart cherry products to various small grocers, farm markets, and health food stores.

What is your favorite part of being an organic farmer?
We love that farming provides us a family friendly lifestyle. We also love being outside, the pride that comes from growing quality fruit, and the feeling of self-determination farming offers.

What is your growing philosophy?
We use IPM (integrated pest management). As growers we are stewards of the land and active in our rural community.

What makes your farm special?
As a first-generation family farm we are open to new ideas and scientific methods of growing. For example, we think we grow some of the best honeycrisp apples in the world on our high-density staked plantings, which allow for large fruit and higher yield per acre. We are also located in an absolutely beautiful area of Northwestern Lower Michigan. Our proximity to Lake Michigan and the rolling drumlins create an incredible landscape, as well as the necessary inputs to grow delicious fruit.

Where do you see you business to be in the next year? 5 years 10 years?
We hope to have grown our tart cherry products market, that consumers become increasingly aware of the health benefits of tart cherries. We continue to plant new apple and cherry trees every year.

For more information about King Orchards, visit their website, call 231.544.6479 or email them.