Fruitful Endeavors

If you've ever been to a farmers market you've seen farmers and ranchers reaching out to consumers by bringing their products directly to them. At one farm in Michigan, reaching out also means bringing consumers to you.

The folks at Westview Orchards have a name for their type of business: "agri-tourism". It's a growing segment of agriculture as farmers look to diversify and find new streams of income.

Abby Jacobson, co-owner of Westview Orchards says, "Well about 10 years ago, we could see that the sales on our fruits and vegetables were kind of hitting a plateau if not decreasing. And people were asking to see farm animals, to actually pick apples, and to get out on the farm."

So Abby Jacobson and her sister, Katrina Schumacher decided to market their orchard crops directly. Katrina says, "At the heart of our business, we are still a farm. And what we have here is a farm that families can come and enjoy. You can hear the sounds. The families can pick apples, enjoy open space, pet the animals and get a taste of what farm life is like."

Westview Orchards is one of a growing number of farms operated by women. Thousands of school children visit each year. For most it's the first time ever outside the city. Abby adds, "This gives people the opportunity to go out and see well a pumpkin actually grows on a vine in a field and an apple actually grows on a tree. And you'd be surprised at how many people don't have that connection or that opportunity so it is an educational experience for them."

The women decided they needed more than just crops and livestock to grow the business. So a cider mill was added; a bakery, ice cream shop, corn maze and wagon rides. But those modern attractions aside, farming on this land comes with a lengthy legacy. Katrina explains, "Back in the early 1800's there was a young man who had ambitions to head his own orchards. He grew up in Ontario county of New York state. And after he served in the war of 1812 and lots of opportunities here in Michigan, he came to Michigan and was looking for land for orchards."

Today, generations later the family orchards are still producing. Abby says, "So I think its something that's in our blood so to speak. We were next generation and always thought that the farm would go on and that we would be the next generation to take over."

Throughout the orchards, there are reminders of an earlier era: hundred year- old apple trees planted by the sister's grandfather or the one-room schoolhouse where many family members learned to read and write. Katrina reminisces, "My grandfather and his 4 sibling attended that school and then my mom and her twin and older brother. This schoolhouse has a special place in my heart."

They may look back with pleasure on the past, but this farm has adapted modern improvements. Drip irrigation systems conserve water; grasses in the groves reduce soil erosion. Abby explains project, "We partnered with Michigan State University. This station monitors what is called degree days which monitors insects so that tells us when to start looking for some insects."

The weather station provides data that's used in pest management and crop maintenance, environmental approaches that affect food safety as well. Abby says, "It helps us immensely in minimizing the amount of control materials that we have to put out there so we're producing a safe product, a healthier product and we're protecting the environment as well."

It may not be your usual image of an American farm, but for this family, the heritage of the land and their connection to consumers delivers what the sisters call family, food and fun. Katrina adds, "But it seems to be something families especially now want to come back to and come together and we've become part of their family tradition."

Abby explains, "To see that it's a family tradition makes me feel so good that were providing a service and providing family memories to help make families stronger, to help make those connections and memories that they'll have for a lifetime."