Michigan Farm Fun, Author at Michigan Agritourism

Schultz Fruitridge Farm, Inc.

Third generation family owned and operated farm since 1951. Offering U-pick peaches, tart cherries, blueberries, grapes and apples in season. Seasonal fruits and vegetables available including asparagus, strawberries, sweet corn, pumpkins, and more. Jams, baking mixes, dressings, fruit salsa, meat, honey, maple syrup, hard ciders, and wine. Donuts in September-October.

What to explore
Farm Market, School Tours, U-Pick

Fresh from the farm
Apple Cider, Apples, Asparagus, Blueberries, Cherries, Grapes, Hard Cider, Honey, Jams & Jellies, Maple Syrup, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Pumpkins, Rhubarb, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, U-Pick Apples, U-Pick Blueberries, U-Pick Cherries, U-Pick Grapes, U-Pick Peaches

Hours
May-Oct: Mon-Sat, 9am-6pm, Sun, 10am-5pm. Closed on Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day. U-Pick is finished 1/2 hour before closing.

Directions
1.6 miles south of 1-94, Mattawan Exit 66.

Tour bus parking available: Yes

60139 CR 652
Mattawan, MI 49071
269-668-3724
info@schultzfruitridge.com

Schwallier’s Country Basket

U-pick apples and pumpkins, cider, hot fresh donuts, caramel apples, jams honey and pies. Farm animals, goat ramp and straw mountain. Wagon rides and cow train are available on weekends. Corn maze.

What to explore
Bakery, Children’s Play Area, Corn Maze, Farm Market, Petting Farm, Picnic Area, School Tours, U-Pick, Wagon Rides

Fresh from the farm
Apple Cider, Apples, Gift Items, Gourds And Decoratives, Honey, Jams & Jellies, Maple Syrup, Peaches, Pumpkins, U-Pick Apples, U-Pick Pumpkins

Hours
Aug 15-Oct 31: Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm, Sat-Sun, 9am-6pm

Directions
Five miles north of Alpine, I-96 Exit. Located NW of Grand Rapids on corner of M-37 (Alpine) and Nine Mile Rd. Four miles south of Sparta.

Tour bus parking available: Yes

Visit Schwallier’s Country Basket for fresh cider and donuts and so much more!

1185 Nine Mile Rd.
Sparta, MI 49345
616-785-9896
family@schwalliers.com
www.schwalliers.com

Secret Garden at Brys Estate

The Secret Garden at Brys Estate consists of over 6,000 lavender plants, a fresh flower garden, an herb garden and more! Guests can enjoy strolling the garden, picnic areas and browsing a variety of handmade lavender products in the farmhouse inspired garden shop with a wrap around porch.

What to explore
Farm Market, Gift Shop, Picnic Area, Tours, U-Pick

Fresh from the farm
Baked Goods, Fresh Cut Flowers, Gift Items, Herbs, Ice Cream, Lavender, Pumpkins, Shipping Gifts, U-Cut Flowers, U-Pick Herbs, U-Pick Lavender, U-Pick Pumpkins

Hours
Open daily, Memorial Day through October, 11am-6:30pm

Directions
From Traverse City, take M-37 North 10 miles, turn right at Blue Water Road.

Tour bus parking available: Yes

Enjoy the gorgeous lavender fields in bloom at Secret Garden at Brys Estate on the Old Mission Peninsula!

3309 Blue Water Rd.
Traverse City, MI 49686
231-223-4235
info@bryssecretgarden.com
www.bryssecretgarden.com

Shelby Farmers Market at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site

Outdoor market held at a lovely automotive history site, multiple local farmers who bring organic produce, eggs, honey, maple syrup, baked goods, meats, plus handcrafted items, as well as local artisans, businesses and musicians. Special activities for kids, and free historic tours at 11am every week.

What to explore
Farmers Market, Festivals and Events

Fresh from the farm
Apple Cider, Apples, Asparagus, Bedding Plants, Beef, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Cherries, Chicken, Corn, Cucumbers, Dairy, Eggplant, Eggs, Fresh Cut Flowers, Gift Items, Gourds And Decoratives, Grapes, Green Beans, Herbs, Honey, Jams & Jellies, Kale, Maple Syrup, Melons, Organic Offerings, Parsnips, Peaches, Pears, Peas, Peppers, Plums, Pork, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radishes, Raspberries, Rutabaga, Salad Greens, Spinach, Squash, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Trees & Shrubs, Turkey, Turnips

Hours
May 18, 2024-Oct 19,2024: Sat, 9am-2pm

Directions
Between 22 & 23 Mile Rds, and located on the front lawn of the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site, a beautiful 17-acre site.

Visit the Shelby Farmers Market from May through October! Photo by Rick Mayer

49965 Van Dyke Ave
Shelby Twp., MI 48317
586-739-4800
www.packardprovinggrounds.org

Short’s Brewing Company releases new beverages featuring local farm King Orchards fruit

Olivia Fellows
9&10 News

Short’s Brewing Company

ANTRIM COUNTY — Short’s Brewing Company is expanding its Pure Michigan product line to include two new releases featuring fruit grown in Northern Michigan.

The expansion includes Pure Michigan Hard Cider and Pure Michigan Cherry Kölsch.

The cider is the first to receive stamps of approval from both Pure Michigan and the Michigan Apple Committee. It is made with 100% Michigan apples from Peterson Farms in Hart and is currently available in stores under the Starcut Ciders brand.

The Pure Michigan Cherry Kölsch uses Balaton cherry concentrate from King Orchards in Central Lake.

It also includes grains and malt from Great Lakes Malting Company in Traverse City and hops from Top Hops in Goodrich. The beverage will be available in May on draft and in six packs.
“Initially, we started the partnership with Pure Michigan to promote Michigan’s hop-and-malt production, but since a lot of those farms are gone it has evolved to promote both Michigan agriculture and tourism,” Scott Newman-Bale, CEO for Short’s Brewing, said.

The partnership aims to inspire tourism and encourage travelers to consume Michigan-grown products while visiting the state. “As the largest and most valuable fruit crop in Michigan, we appreciate Short’s spotlighting the great flavor of Michigan-grown apples in their newest Starcut Ciders release,” Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, said. “The collaboration between Short’s Brewing, Pure Michigan and Michigan Apples is a meaningful acknowledgment of our great agricultural tradition in Michigan, our dedicated apple growers, our successful processing companies and Michigan’s vast agritourism industry.”

King Orchards sign. (Bill Froehlich)

Jack King of King Orchards said the collaboration reminds people where their food and their cherries come from.

“We hope it inspires folks to visit the farm this summer to pick fresh fruit straight from the trees,” King said.

In 2025 Short’s Brewing purchased more than 70,000 pounds of Michigan-grown malts and hops for the product line.

Several Pure Michigan brews will be on draft for the Short’s Brewing 22nd anniversary on April 25 in downtown Bellaire. The new releases are also available at the brewery locations in Elk Rapids and Bellaire.