With Michigan’s proximity to the Great Lakes, our apple grower communities benefit from the nutrient-dense soils alongside the sunny days and cool nights. Our network of growers spans more than 10,000 acres of fertile apple-growing land. Discover the dedicated tradition behind the produce on the store shelves.
In 1935, Walter E. Swindeman, Sr., a wholesale grocery salesman, noticed the poor-quality apples in the surrounding area stores and thought upon retirement, that he would begin hobby farming apples to better support local retail stores in the Southeast Michigan area. From this initial idea, he planted 600 trees on 16 acres of Applewood land. Using the resources at hand, he stored the freshly picked fruit in the basement of his garage and sold by the bushel out of the front of his home. With a steady growth to his operations and a need to increase supply to match the high demand from local grocers, he began handling other apple growers’ fruit in the area.
Walter’s son, Bernie Swindeman, grew up on the farm helping his dad and was able to save money to buy land and set up an orchard of his own in his teen years. In 1955, Bernie and his wife took full control of the family operations and continued to expand the little farm business, along the way becoming the first to build a Controlled Atmosphere (CA) room in the U.S. in 1958. In the mid-1970s, Bernie’s sons, Steve, Scott, and Jim, got involved in running the family business. The three sons now run the company along with the fourth generation, Scott’s son Michael and Jim’s sons Brandt and Trent.
Applewood has grown to 350+ acres of apples, has multiple grower-packer relationships, and now ships to numerous areas in the U.S. and exports to several countries. Today, Applewood Orchards, LLC is successfully acquired by FirstFruits Farms of Washington to become the first nationwide, regionally sourced apple supplier.
Apples:
Just as an apple tree begins its life as a seed and grows into a strong, plentiful fruit, Patrick’s story compares in many ways. When Patrick was younger, he worked on his small family orchard with his father, Bill, becoming the fifth generation to grow apples in his family. He began to draw a fondness for business and the craft of growing superior Michigan apples. In 2004, he began renting orchards in the area—subsequently, purchasing additional farms and taking over the family farm from his father.
Being the ambitious businessman Patrick is, he purchased his first farm at age 23 with strong goals shooting past just the orchard side of apple operations. Since the first purchased land, he has added cold storage facilities, trucking, and part-ownership to one of the largest apple packing facilities in Michigan.
Continuing to evolve and now armed with a wealth of knowledge, Patrick has steadily planted new trees of popular varieties such as Gala, Honeycrisp, and Fuji. PG Orchards continues to grow into a sustainable, innovative business operating on over 325 acres of fruitful Michigan soil.
Apples:
Steffens Orchards, ran by Rob and Christine Steffens and their now adult children, operates on 300+ acres scattered throughout the Alpine, Sparta, and Chester township areas of rich Michigan soil. To the Steffens family and many more, the production of apples is a year-round effort with one goal in mind – to provide people with a reliable, delicious piece of fruit.
When they purchased the farm market portion of the land, there was not a single apple tree growing on it. This area is now fully covered by their farmers market including the growth of fresh apples, some sweet cherries, and pumpkins. Today, the legacy and growth continue under Rob’s vision, being part owner of multiple packing facilities, increased acreage, and planting new apple varieties.
Apples:
For Ryan of RKS Farms, apple growing is not just a profession; it is a family legacy and skillful passion. Seeing the commitment to farming that his family members had before him, Ryan acquired his first forty acres of open Michigan land in 2011 where he planted all apples. Spending long nights and early mornings learning and growing for four years, Ryan then decided to expand his operations with the addition of eighty acres of rich soil for more apple trees to prosper.
Apart from being a remarkable dad to three beautiful children, Ryan enjoys doing business alongside his father and brother, keeping the family traditions alive and showing a true testament to the dedication and perseverance that comes from apple growing.
Apples:
Being raised in a family of tradition and hard work, Ron Rasch (pictured here) has continued and enhanced his family’s heritage of apple growing in Michigan. Some say, he may be one of the best growers in the area. Ron’s appreciation and understanding of apple production began at a ripe age while working in his family’s packing shed, overseen by his dad and grandfather. With a constant need to grow his knowledge parallel to being a die-hard Spartan fan, he took his experience at the packing shed to the classroom for a degree in Agriculture Business from Michigan State University.
Presently, the Rasch family has increased to roughly 800 acres of farmland in the Ridge, Belding, and Fremont areas of the state. A true force of devotion – Matthew Rasch, Ron’s son, has become his counter-part with acquiring the wisdom and knowledge of Ron’s operations, logistics, and orchard land. Among the multiple apple varieties grown by the Rasch family, Ron has become an apple expert in growing club varieties, such as Kiku®, Kanzi®, and his personal favorite – SweeTango®.
Apples:
Growing up running through orchards on his family farm, made working in the apple industry a second nature to Randy Kober. Located in the heart of apple country, the Sparta area holds a special place in Randy’s life. Proud to become a fifth-generation apple grower and work alongside his father, Rodney and brother Ryan, he purchased his first farm near the original family farm in 2009. Since then, he has increased his acreage and continues to seek opportunity for growth in apple production.
Randy enjoys all aspects of farming, from planting the trees and harvesting the apples, to filling his controlled atmosphere storage and trucking the fruit when it is sold. Currently with hope for the future generations to grow the same interest he did as a kid, Randy and his wife Kaitlyn raise their four children on the family farm. The Kober family shows evidence of a long-lasting commitment to quality, family, and tradition in growing Michigan apples.
Apples:
Established in Sparta, Michigan, Rodney and Denise Kober (pictured here) raised their four kids on community and family tradition, values that are instilled in the culture of apple growing. Being that both were raised on apple farms, Denise and Rodney remain fourth-generation farmers with support of their now adult children. Each remains a part of the apple industry, from his sons working on the farm to one of his daughters becoming the Michigan Apple Queen.
In recent years, their farm has become a part of the Michigan Centennial Farm Program, which recognizes working farms that have been continuously owned by the same family for at least 100 years. Rodney, while cherishing heritage and seeking innovation, has also added new Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage rooms to the farm and continues to look for ways to increase production and profitability.
Proud to work daily on the farm with his sons, Ryan and Randy, Rodney aims to hand his well-kept knowledge and wisdom down to his sons as they expand in their apple careers.
Apples:
Nestled 7 miles inland from the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan, New Era’s American Apple stands tall among the curving hills. By the time he could walk, young Caleb Coulter began working in apple orchards, tagging along with his Grandpa and sneaking in daily naps on the fender of his tractors.
Youthful and ambitious, Caleb purchased his first 100-acre farm in the Fall of 1996 right after graduating high school. The visionary farmer initially grew pickles to finance the future expansion of his orchards. From there, it was constant growth and integration with surrounding grower-partners.
Armed with a wealth of knowledge passed down from future generations, American Apple now grows 13 full-flavored apple varieties on over 180 acres. They are also one of the biggest asparagus packer-producers in the state of Michigan.
The business has grown into a machine that never sleeps, with increased asparagus production and partnerships alongside the additions of a fresh press apple cider program. Through this all, American Apple has focused on consistency in quality, customer service, and most importantly family tradition.
Crop: Apples
Umlor Orchards, operated by the Umlor family for over three generations now, is a family-run packer and grower located in Midwest Michigan in the heavy fruit production town, Conklin. Pictured to the left, Steve, Vince, Roger, and Mark Umlor run the farms and packing facilities together, each taking an essential part in the beautiful craft of fresh apple production. Not pictured but still as important are their sons Dominic, Tyler, and Ben Umlor who plan to continue the family farming legacy.
The company’s roots run deep in Michigan, dating back to 1958. Alongside a packing facility and storage, the Umlor family has 350+ acres of apple land in the Conklin, Shelby, and Hart areas. Throughout their operations, they utilize 14 controlled-atmosphere rooms and have become a staple and strong partnership with other growers in Michigan. Despite the inevitable challenges of running a family business, the Umlors value the trust and camaraderie that comes with working alongside the family.
Crop: Apples
We represent an amazing group of growers that inspire our mission: to bring quality apples and amazing flavor to market. At Applewood Fresh, we consider ourselves more than just customer service (but we excel at that too). We are in the business of cultivating relationships. That means our strategy to representation is not a one-size-fits-all. We approach each one of our growers uniquely. We start with listening, learning, and understanding. Then we take it from there.
