Locally
grown, owned A special publication of the Ludington Daily News Cover photo by Steve Begnoche
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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/LOCALLY GROWN
3958 W Chauvez Rd Ludington, MI 49431
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McDonald’s Bakery
Baking for the area since 1889 McDonald’s Bakery is a family-owned business that has been operating in Ludington for more than 110 years. The baking tradition has been carried on by five generations of family members, said Ella Mae McDonald — part of the fourth generation. The first generation to run the business was John McDonald in 1889. Then came Jim McDonald. Next was Mike McDonald, who graduated from Dunwoody Baking School in Minnesota in 1956. In 1998, Mike Jr. became owner. The sixth generation is running around now — they’re all 5 years old and younger, Ella Mae said. McDonald’s Bakery was named the Ludington & Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 business of the
year. McDonald’s Bakery caters to the needs of its customers with a complete line of baked goods. Their specialty is their hamburger and hotdog buns, which Ella Mae said are used for all kinds of celebrations. “It’s a familiar sight to see the McDonald’s van delivering fresh baked goods to restaurants, stores and facilities in this area,” she said. McDonald’s Bakery is friendly, fast and affordable and has plenty of parking for their customers’ convenience. McDonald’s Bakery is open six days a week. “McDonald’s Bakery, where family tradition is baked in all we do. We are celebrating more than 110 years of blessings because of our customers.”
Ella Mae McDonald holds up the original permit for business.
Hit the
New Vendors Welcome
Now Open
Sweet Spot!
Farmers Market Saturday mornings 9-12
• • • • • •
Apple Cinnamon Muffins Candy Bars German Apple Cake Hummingbird Cake Whoopie Pies Pumpkin Rolls
PIES:
• • • • • • •
Carrot Cake Rolls Danish Coffee Cakes Maple Nut Twist Rolls Granola Bars Apple Butter Honey Jams HOMEMADE BREADS
• Cherry • Apple • Coconut • Blueberry • Pecan • Rhubarb
• Peach
White • Raisin • Whole Wheat Zucchini • Banana Nut • Onion Cheese & Gluten Free
SPECIAL RECIPE GRANOLA Cranberry Pecan • Sunny Apple Honey Roasted Peanutbutter Crunch
COOKIES Chocolate Chip • Ginger Snap Raisin Oatmeal • Monster Cookies Peanutbutter Oatmeal • Wheat Free
SUGAR FREE
Open Monday- Saturday 9-6
Free granola samples
Banana Bread & Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake
CHEESE • Natural Marble • Pepperjack • Mozzarella • Muenster • Provolone and more
MEAT
• Turkey • Ham • Smoked • Honey Roast Turkey Breast and more
COUNTRYVIEW (231) 425-6791 • (231) 233-6292 BAKERY 4550 W. US Hwy. 10, Ludington
202 N. Main St., Scottville www.millersmarketplace.com
231.233.1584
We’ve moved from South Scottville to the old Fashion Bug building right next to Tractor Supply
www.countryviewbakery.com
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Locally grown directory The Buss Gardens 2879 W. Townline Rd. bussgardens.com 231-464-5833 Lillies, Hostas, Coral Bells, Perennials, Shrubs Cold Stream Farms www.coldstreamfarm.net Specializing in native trees and shrubs for wildlife habitat Countryview Bakery 4550 W. US Hwy. 10 Ludington, MI 49431 www.countryviewbakery.com 231-425-6791 Homemade Granola, Breads, Cookies, Pies, and So Much More Dublin General Store 18372 Hoxeyville Rd, Wellston, MI 49689 www.dublinstore.com (231) 859-4188 Over 50 varieties of Homemade Jerkey, full grocery & hardware store, beer, wine, liquor, full bakery, deli, dairy and frozen. Grassa’s Farm Market 2442 US-10 Ludington, MI 49431 (231) 843-8020 Seasonal Plants, Farm Fresh Produce, Lawn Decor, Mulch, Trees & Shrubs, Deer Feed.
Hamlin Grocery 3611 N. Jebavy Dr, Ludington www.hamlingrocery.com 231-843-2058 Locally grown produce, full service deli, Hamlin Lake apparel, beer & wine & propane fill station
Miller’s Marketplace 202 N. Main St., Scottville www.millersmarketplace.com 231-233-1584 In Season Fresh Produce, Saturday Morning Farmers Market. Find us on Facebook
Indian Summer Co-op 3958 W. Chauvez Rd. #1 Ludington, MI 231-845-6248 Applesauce, Apple Juice, Apple Cider, Cherry Juice
Orchard Market 212 S. Pere Marquette Hwy., Ludington 231-843-4603 8400 N. US 31, Freesoil 231-464-5534 Farm fresh produce, butter cream fudge, jams & jellies, homemade pies & donuts, seasonal plants
The Jam Lady 5075 W. Meisenheimer Road www.facebook.com/lois.jamlady 231-845-9909 30 flavors of local jams, preserves and butters, bread mix & dip mixes, gift baskets Lewis Farm Market & Petting Farm 4180 West M-20,New Era, MI 49446 lewisfarmmarket.com 231-861-5730 Home grown produce, fruit orchards, market with gifts and goodies, bakery, Petting Zoo and Outdoor Attractions McDonald’s Bakery Corner of South James & Dowland, Ludington 231-843-9495 Hamburger & Hotdog Buns, Rolls & Breads, Pastries, Pies & Cookies
Rennhack Orchards Market 3731 W. Polk Road Hart, MI 49420 shop.rennhackorchards.com 231-873-7523 Apples, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Peaches, Gift Baskets Sanders Meats 237 S. Main, Custer, MI www.sandersmeats.com 231-757-4768 Homemade Brats, Sausages, Jerkey, Burgers, Butterball Hams & More
West Shore Market 707 W. US-10, Scottville 231-757-9130 Grocery items • Bulk Items • Cheeses • Fresh Seasonal Fruit & Vegetables • Homemade Bakery Items
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Orchard Market
From farm to store since 1960
Business continues to be good for Orchard Market thanks to the people who buy the market’s locally grown and produced fruits and vegetables and eat the locally produced fudge, honey, jams and other local products. The family-owned business began at the intersection of U.S. 31 and Free Soil Road in 1960 and later expanded to include another store in the Ludington area on P.M. Highway, which opened in 1986. The stores’ secondgeneration owners Bob and Teresa Malkowski have been joined in running the business by their son, Kyle Malkowski, and son-in-law, Bill Sturgeon, to make Orchard Market a thirdgeneration business. And that business is bigger than just the stores. It also includes a 300-acre farm where the family grows strawberries, tart cherries, sweet corn, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkins, squash, cabbage, and many varieties of peaches and apples. Bob Malkowski said he grows 12 different varieties of peaches. He also said he’s preparing to grow and sell
plums, apricots and nectarines — in a couple years, after the trees mature. “They’re in the ground now, but it takes a couple years to get product,” Bob said. He also said the farm is popular in the early summer with people who like to pick their own strawberries. The stores also sell fruits and vegetables not grown on the Malkowskis’ farm, but which are still provided by other local growers. The Malkowskis’ goal
is to bring fresh fruits and vegetables from the farm to the consumer as quickly as possible to maximize freshness and nutrition. The Free Soil store also has a bakery, deli and fudge shop. Visitors may buy fresh baked goods, hot soups, deli sandwiches, homemade granolas, flatbreads, pizzas, meats and cheeses. Bob Malkowski also said the fudge counter includes more than 25 flavors of homemade butter cream
fudge and said bakery items, fudge, meats and cheeses are also sold at the Ludington Orchard Market store. The farm market also carries locally made honey, maple syrup, jams, jellies, sugar-free preserves, salsas, barbecue sauces, mustards, pickled products, packaged candies, fruit and nut mixes, juices and sauces. Orchard Market also carries a large selection of bulk spices, which have been popular with customers.
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Indian Summer Cooperative
Expanding local operations, product line BY BRIAN MULHERIN
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Indian Summer Cooperative is growing again. Founded by a group of area farmers, the cooperative, which creates apple juices and other products for markets all over the world using apples from all over the country, is adding a line so that it can create single-serving cups of applesauce right in its Pere Marquette/Riverton township plant. A new 40,000-square-foot addition is under construction. It will house the production line capable of producing 600 cups a minute. The line will feature robotic packaging and automatic palletizing. David Hackert said the cups are popular with food services, including the U.S. government, school lunch programs and retail establishments. Thanks to past co-packaging, Indian Summer brand cups are already in demand. He said modern families want convenience. “It’s just more convenient to throw some in the fridge and grab one for a snack,” Hackert said. Hackert said the new line will be dedicated to applesauce, but in the future there is room to expand into fruit cups. “We’ve got it all designed so we can add onto it later,” Hackert said.
The new line is expected to be on line by October, just in time to capture this year’s apple crop. The first apples of the season generally arrive any day now in Michigan and the crop is expected to be good. “Locally it’s going to be a good crop, down a little bit from the frost that we had, not a disaster by any means,” Hackert said.
Indian Summer makes products under a variety of labels, but its namesake label is reserved for products made with U.S. apples. The company has a new applesauce product in 2014 — chunky blueberry applesauce. Hackert said the flavor makes for seven different varieties now. He said the blueberries are from Michigan and Georgia.
“So far, everyone really likes it,” Hackert said. In 2013, the company rolled out some new packaging that went over very well with U.S. retailers. The packaging is a ninepack of 64-ounce bottles that gets packed on a pallet and can be displayed in a center aisle or on an end cap. Indian Summer bottles for a variety of store brands and last year added Aldi stores to the list. Hackert noted that some varieties of product bottle under store brand names do use foreign concentrate, but nothing with the Indian Summer label gets anything but U.S. apples. Indian Summer has the highest international food safety rating possible — Safe Quality Foods (SQF) level 3. It’s similar to the ISO processes other businesses go through, but it’s geared toward the food industry. Hackert said if the rain comes when it’s supposed to where it’s supposed to, it should be business as usual. “We’re planning on having a good year this year,” Hackert said. “We’re planning on putting apples through the plant.” And those apples should go through a little quicker this year. The plant has a new rotary filter that extracts juice from pulp left after pressing. Hackert said the system
is faster and should help a point that used to be a bottleneck in the production process.
HISTORY The fruit processing plant was started around 1960 by five farmers — Willy VanNortwick, Elwin Olmstead, Art Lister Sr., Don Harmon and Roy Hackert. Once known as Mason County Cold Storage, which processed mainly cherries, the business was later sold to Morgan McCool. “In 1975, we started with apples when Duffy Mott left Michigan,” President Roy Hackert told the Daily News in 2011. The Mott’s apple juice magnate moved to Connecticut and left behind a facility in Paw Paw. The business that is now Indian Summer Cooperative purchased the equipment. The operation began to develop a few products and bottled them in glass containers. The co-op added a fleet of trucks for shipping the products because glass is heavy, and the geographic location, a distance from major Michigan freeways, the operation had to become vertically integrated to be competitive. About 14 years ago, the cooperative began using plastic bottles, which made shipping less costly as the containers are lighter in weight.
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Rennhack Orchards Market
Offering new programs for customers BY ANDREW J. COOPER DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER HART — Since 1984, Dave and Joann Rennhack have operated Rennhack Orchards Market and the farm of the same name, growing produce such as fresh-picked sweetcorn — “the best sweetcorn,” as their customers often say. The market specializes in produce and locally made products, selling sweet and tart cherries, apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, melons, pumpkins, squash and 26 varieties of apple. Customers can sample produce when they enter the market. The market offers several new exciting programs this year, Joann Rennhack said and one — Double Up Food Bucks — has her especially excited. “It’s an amazing program that actually has been funded through the Fair Food Network, which is a nationwide nonprofit based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They really want people who have limited income to be able to eat better and eat fresh produce,” Rennhack said. “If they have a Michigan bridge card, they just need to
bring it to our market and we can get them signed up electronically on our app.” People with bridge cards, formerly known as food stamps, can
earn matching funds, up to $20 a day, through Double Up Food Bucks. The funds can then be spent at Rennhack Orchard Market, which Joann
noted is the only place in Mason and Oceana counties participating. “It’s super exciting,” Rennhack said. People without bridge cards will also
find something new at Rennhack Orchards Market. A new display freezer offers 11 flavors of locally-produced Country Dairy ice cream. “They’re of course our local dairy in Oceana,” said Rennhack. “Kind of connected to that, some folks in Whitehall are making gourmet little ice cream bars so we have (those)... We really try to look for local products.” Also new, the market sells Uncle Gene’s Pretzels, which started at the Incubator Kitchen in Hart and are now carried in Cracker
Barrel, as well as the Incubator Kitchen’s brand of jams. Several new varieties of cherry are available and soon, customers will be able to taste evercrisp apples, considered a cousin of honeycrisp. Most of what the market sells is fresh and grown at the farm, however. “Our tagline is ‘We grow it for you,’” Rennhack said. “We actually grow almost all we sell on our very own farm so people can get much fresher produce and of course Dave really has a stake in keeping that quality high because he wants to keep customers happy.”
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Lewis Farm Market
Preparing for a busy fall season chards, U-pick apples, U-pick pumpkins and a variety of outdoor attractions. WhethNEW ERA — Lewis Farm er you are there for the day Market has a full roster of or a couple of hours, activievents this fall, with both old ties at Lewis Farm Market will favorites and new attractions. keep you and your family One new attraction, accordentertained. There are wagon ing to owner Scott Lewis, is an rides, jumping pillows, pedal aviary open every day from carts, birthday parties, school 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring tours, gem mining, a pump400 budgie parakeets kin cannon and more. “They’re a real big hit,” LewOn Sept. 6, the eight-acre is said. “It’s a nice feature. corn maze opens, and fall acLewis Farm Market, located tivities will be in full swing by on M-20 just east of U.S. 31 Sept. 13. The Apple Express in New Era, features homewill be ready to take guests grown produce, fruit orBY ANDREW COOPER DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Make Every Meal Count
Plan on Sanders for your Summertime Favorites. From Our Family Smokehouse Since 1925 HOMEMADE
BRATS • HOT DOGS • SAUSAGE • SNACK STICKS JERKY • STEAKS • BURGERS • RIBS • BBQ HOGS AND MORE
with low prices on your family’s favorite foods!
USDA Inspected - No Poultry Fillers
BULK
All Purpose Gluten Free Flour ......... $2.89 Pumpkin Seeds Roasted & Salted.. $6.09
Open Mon.-Sat. 8 AM-5 PM
Lb.
237 S. Main, Custer, MI 231-757-4768 www.sandersmeats.com
Lb.
FROZEN
Tart Cherries .................................... $2.19 Lb. Garlic Bread ........................... $2.19 16 Oz./Each
GROCERY
Coconut Oil ...................................... $2.99 Lb. Mrs. Wages Pickle Mixes ..... $2.99 5-6 Oz./Each
COOLER
on a special fall tour where they may encounter witches, clowns and other forest friends. The market hosts an event called pumpkin destruction Nov. 1, the same day it closes for the season. Lewis Farm Market is located on M-20 just east of U.S. 31 in New Era, Exit 140. Many different animals are in the petting farm, including goats, donkeys, ducks, chickens, rabbits, peacocks, wallabies, llamas, mini horses, Jeffrey the camel, fallow deer and prairie dogs.
Roll Butter .............................. $7.89 2 Lbs./Each Lebanon Bologna (Reg. or Sweet) ........$5.89 Lb.
CHEESE
Provolone ...................... $3.09 Lb. Chipotle Pepper ............$2.99 Lb.
WEST SHORE
MARKET DISCOUNT FOODS
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 AM-6 PM; Sat. 9 AM-5 PM • 707 W. US 10, SCOTTVILLE MI • 757-9130
Cold Stream Farm ~ Specializing in Native Trees and Shrubs for wildlife habitat ~ visit www.coldstreamfarm.net
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GRASSA FARM MARKET
Selling in-season, local produce for over 30 years! Homegrown
Homegrown Extra Sweet
APPLES
SWEET CORN
Hardy
MUMS
• JAMS • JELLIES • SUGAR FREE PRESERVES • SALSAS • BBQ SAUCES • MUSTARDS Swings, Picnic Tables, Benches
For Fall Planting
AMISH BAKED GOODS
Beautiful selection of Shade & Ornamental Trees
FIRE PIT
RINGS & COVERS 24" - 72"
SEASONED
LARGE QUANTITIES
FIREWOOD
Bundle Box or Rick
Homegrown
SQUASH & CABBAGE ATTENTION HUNTERS: • CARROTS • SHELLED CORN • EAR CORN • SUGAR BEETS • APPLES FOOD PLOT Flavored Salt Blocks Wild Game Jerky SEED: Rye, Rape, APPLE TREES! Turnips, Etc
Trophy Rock, Hunting Blinds, Feeders
Open 8:30-7 Corner of US-10 &•Stiles • 843-8020 VISIT Daily OUR WEB SITE •www.orchardmarket.us OPENRd. 7 DAYS A WEEK
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Miller’s Marketplace
Growing produce on site BY MELISSA KEEFER DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
SCOTTVILLE — After her first season in business, Jennifer Miller, owner of Miller’s Marketplace, said she has learned a lot more about growing produce and running a business. She had thought of and planned for this venture for years, and it finally came into fruition this summer. “I grew up in Victory (Township), and while we didn’t live on a farm, I had them all around me. I always loved to garden and help my grandpa garden. He taught me a lot,” Miller said this spring as she was just opening her store. As a supporter of Scottville and someone who wants to see Scottville flourish, Miller said she wanted to fill one of the open spaces available downtown and the location at 202 N. Main St. caught her eye. Miller’s Marketplace offers vegetables grown right on the property in raised beds, locally made products from others such as baked goods and handcrafted items,
and she has brought back Scottville’s Saturday morning farmers market. She said since Scottville no longer had a farmers market on Saturday mornings, she really hopes it becomes a destination for people to buy their fresh fruits and vegetables. “I am still hoping for more vendors to sign up,” Miller said.
As the seasons change, so do the products available and Miller is hoping that before she closes down in the fall, she will be able to find a farmer with pumpkins and other fruits and vegetables she isn’t growing. Miller has been selling the harvested vegetables she has grown during the farmers
“I knew it would be different from home,” she said. For the ones that do, she has gotten creative, creating a makeshift trellis out of wire fencing and old grape vines to keep the plants standing tall. Miller kept to the basics, offering a variety of tomatoes, peppers, yellow squash, cucumbers, lettuces, green beans and peas. She said one of the things she has been doing throughout the spring and summer is Jennifer Miller works in her raised-bed garden at educating people about Miller’s Marketplace in downtown Scottville. the growing seasons and what is available. “You could have asparagus fresh this time of year (end of July), but you’d have to grow it in Peru,” Miller said. “Asparagus just doesn’t grow here at market and throughout has provided some that time.” the week as it’s ready. challenges — but she Its season is roughly Because Miller only has is especially grateful Mother’s Day to Faa small space for grow- that people have not ther’s Day. ing, the quantity is lim- disturbed the plants She said the focus in ited and produce can she has worked hard to opening Miller’s Marsell out quickly. grow. ketplace was to pro“The customer base “I have learned a lot vide a local outlet for is definitely here,” Mill- about what will and people to start. er said. “People come will not grow here,” “There are so many to the market to buy Miller said, noting the people that are talentwhat’s fresh for the raised beds are in the ed,” Miller said. “I like day and that’s just how parking lot of her store to encourage people to some people eat.” and some plants just show off their stuff.” Growing in the city don’t thrive there.
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Lewis Farm Market & Petting Farm
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Family-owned, specializing in home-grown produce on 700 acres. Open May thru November 1. Something for everyone! Friendly staff ready to assist you with all your favorite fruits, vegetables and ice cream. Make sure to take some homemade fudge and fresh-baked goods home. Browse our gifts, pantry and children’s corner.
6 Acre Corn Maze!
New for 2015 Bird Aviary Fall Fun: U pick apples & Apple Express (weekends) • U pick pumpkins • Barrel Train • Pumpkin Moon Walk • Jumping Pillows • Pedal Carts • Bunker Hill Apple Cannons • Fall Produce
Petting farm. Wagon rides, corn maze, birthday parties, jumping pillows, pedal carts, school tours, bus tours, animated chicken show, duck races, gem mining and more. Visit our website at lewisfarmmarket.com for a printable list of our schedule of events-every weekend has something new. Growing Fruit, Fun & Memories! Visit us on Facebook.
Take US31 to Exit 140, go east ¼ mile on the left. Lewis Farm Market & Petting Farm 4180 W M20 New Era MI 49446 (231)861-5730
THE BUSS GARDENS 2879 W. Townline Rd., 8 Miles N. on Stiles Road, Turn left - 1/3 mile on dirt road
231-464-5833
www.BussGardens.com
SPECIALIZING IN ORIENTAL, ORIENPET, TRUMPET AND TIGER LILLIES -DAYLILLIES, HOSTAS - PEONIES - PERENNIALS FALL HOURS: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM All the flowers pictured are from my gardens
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We Grow 26 Varieties of Apples for you... Stop in for a FREE Sample! Open 9-6 Mon-Sat June-Oct. 31 • Open 9-5 Fri & Sat only Nov.1-21 Open 9-5 Mon-Sat Nov. 23-Dec. 23 3731 W. Polk Rd., Hart, One mile east of US-31 Exit 149 (Hart) (231)873-7523O • www.rennhackmarket.com
Your hometown source for
& Honeycrisp apples!
Our own fresh produce, & unique gift baskets that show you care, featuring local & Michigan-made products! Corporate gift baskets, too!
Out-Of-Town Family, Friends or Employees? SHIPPING AVAILABLE for our Apples in Season & our Gift Baskets!
Project Fresh, Senior Market Fresh, Credit Cards & EBT Bridge Cards Welcome! EBT Double Up Food Bucks June 1-October 31! Rennhack Orchards Market in Hart is the only participating location for Double Up Food Bucks in Oceana County
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West Shore Market
Fresh produce, bulk goods offered BY KEVIN BRACISZESKI DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Painting the building new colors and adding a sign out front have helped the owners of West Shore Market attract customers to the store, which is a short drive west of Scottville. The owners, Ivan and Rachel Hershberger, bought the business nearly two years ago and Manager Rebecca Hershberger said the paint job and sign have attracted customers. “It used to be a blue and white building so we painted it and it looks a little different,” Rebecca said. “People talk about it. It’s one of the things they notice.” The store carries locally produced maple syrup from the Kasza Sugar Bush in the Shelby area and local honey from Ed Malkowski of Scottville. West Shore Market stocks many items of bulk food and has 50 different kinds of cheese as well as carrying meat and frozen products.
e h t g n i Serv unity Comm
Since 1904
McDonald’s...Where Family Tradition Is Baked In All We Do Hamburger & Hot Dog Buns Sandwich Rolls • Rolls & Breads Pastries, Pies & Cookies Decorated Cakes
Celebrating 111 Years
McDonald’s Bakery Corner of South James & Dowland, Ludington
843-9495
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Buss Gardens
Sharing a passion for gardening GRANT TWP. — Violet Buss has a passion for gardening and she gladly shows it to people who visit her expansive gardens on West Townline Road in Grant Township. Buss provides visitors with free tours of her gardens and she also offers a wide assortment of plants for sale at Buss Gardens. “Gardening is a work in progress,” Violet said. “There is always something new and I’m always learning something new.” She’s lived on the property since 1972 and has gardened there since 1979. Buss specializes in lilies — oriental, tiger, day lilies and
tree lilies, to name a few — but her expertise extends far beyond that, including nine water gardens and a butterfly garden. New this year are two hosta gardens. “I have a lot of varieties to offer,” she said. “I have be-
tween 250 and 300 varieties of hosta.” Buss has also created garden rooms, which she calls vignettes. “It’s like walking into a house,” she said. “You can begin your tour by visiting the garden rooms.”
She also plants red, trumpet-shaped lilies to attract hummingbirds. “Hummingbirds love red,” Buss said. Two of her water gardens are above ground and bubblers and pumps keep the water from freezing and allow the fish inside to survive the winter. “The raised water gardens are really nice if you have an area you can’t get anything grown in,” she said. Visitors to Buss Gardens will also see an artificial dog and small statues of cranes and herons. They’re there to keep other animals away. “When a wild animal sees another animal, even a
fake, they’ll think it’s (the statue’s) territory so they’ll leave it alone,” Buss explained. “Animals are territorial.” Violet said all the plants she sells will grow locally. They include a wide assortment of day lilies — “every color you can think of from white to purple, pinks and peach,” she said. She also sells double orientals, tree lilies, shrubs and a variety of perennials she knows will grow in the local area. Free tours are offered at Buss Gardens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in August and September.
Sanders Meats
Known for fresh local meat
CUSTER — Sanders Meats has been known for its fresh local meat since it was founded in 1925 by Joseph Sanders. Known for their hams, Sanders’ hams were well-received and quickly gained in popularity and increased distribution. With the increase in demand for the old-fashioned hams came the need for more processing area, and many expansion programs throughout the years, with modern equipment and renewed enthusiasm for more products.
“We carry on this tradition today, with a growing customer base that comes back for Butterball ham, beef jerky, our Snack Stix and more,” said fourth generation owner Derek Sanders. Everything about the business is still local, including the family, he said. The second generation Sanders is Carlton Sanders. David Sanders is third generation, and Derek, Alec and Corey Sanders are the fourth generation in the business. The business sells its famous Butterball hams, burg-
ers, brats, jerky, hot dogs, sandwich meat, sausages and more, offering products from its retail store, 237 S. Main St., in Custer or by or-
dering online at www.sandersmeats.com. Sanders also offers wholesale service, delivering products to other meat markets,
stores, and restuarants. The store is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. After Christmas, Saturdays hours are reduced and the retail store closes at noon. In March, hours are back to 8-5 Monday-Saturday. The company does its meat processing right in the building and all of the smoked products are done in the family smokehouse. Sanders offers custom processing of beef and pork and, during the hunting season, venison as well.
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Dublin General Store
Celebrating 80 years in business DUBLIN — Frank and Rose Fortelka launched the Dublin General Store 80 years ago and it’s continuing to sell jerky and other products to customers across the country and even around the world. “We’re celebrating our 80th anniversary this year and it’s been a family-owned store the whole time,” said current owner Greg Fischer, who represents the third generation of the family. The store’s clientele has evolved since 1935 and this year Fisch-
er said, “we’re doing an awful lot of online sales.” He said the store has sold its products online for many years but said the number of online orders “just continues to grow. People are changing a lot of their shopping and a lot are shopping from home online.” Dublin General Store is well known for its jerky, which is made from a wide variety of meats. “We have a lot of original flavors and game varieties,” Fischer said.
Those varieties include not only beef and turkey, but also meat from deer, elk, kangaroo, alligator, pheasant, rabbit and wild boar. There are also many flavors including hellfire, Cajun, chili cheese and cherry. Fischer said Dublin General Store products have been shipped all over America through the years and many were sent in recent years to members of the military as they serve either in this country or overseas.
Many people who have ordered jerky or other products or received Dublin General Store products across the country or overseas have also come to visit the store, which is
located at 18372 Hoxeyville Road, south of Wellston and about a mile north of the county line between Manistee and Lake counties. Among those visitors have been mem-
bers of Manistee’s B Troop unit of the Army National Guard, who received packages of Dublin General Store jerky while being deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Grassa’s Farm Market
Selling in-season produce, plants and more Grassa’s Farm Market has now been in business for 37 years. Owned by Al Grassa, it specializes in selling in-season produce. It also sells trees, shrubs, wooden lawn ornaments and plants of all kinds. Grassa’s also sells Amish baked goods, fire rings, fire wood and hunting blinds. “Everybody wants fresh-from-the-farm products,” Al Grassa said about his customers. The business is visible from a good distance away thanks to a massive deer likeness promoting deer feed. It is located at the northwest corner of U.S. 10 and Stiles Road at 2442 W. U.S. 10.
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Hamlin Grocery
Offering local produce, gourmet products BRIAN MULHERIN DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Hamlin Grocery North is in its fifth season of operation and continues to provide many local and visiting customers with delicious locally grown organic and farm fresh fruits and vegetables. Hamlin North’s organic produce is grown by Pete Wilson and his family. The store also offers organic products from Esch and Food for Thought as well as gluten-free organics from Brownwood Farms. Homemade pies and jams by Wheeler Farms are also popular at the store. A number of gourmet and specialty items were added to Hamlin North’s inventory. Michigan items include
infused flavored olive oils, many flavors of all-natural gluten- and fat-free salsa, garlic dill and hot pickles, Safie’s famous dill pickle beans, asparagus, beets, old-fashioned bread/butter pickles, sweet and hot bread/ butter pickles, hot/ zesty pickles, Friga-
no’s spaghetti sauce, Traverse Bay apple and raspberry BBQ sauce, and Traverse Bay all natural flavored salsa. Locally made items include homemade jams, toppings, honey, maple syrup, made-to-order homemade fruit pies, and the well-known Andru-
cheese spreads. Hamlin North offers two flavors of softserve yogurt to choose from. Three sizes of sundaes and delicious fruit smoothies made with fresh local berries are available. Several toppings are available to add to your yogurt selection, such as fresh berries, peaches, homemade syrups, as well as M&M’s, Oreo cookies and chocolate chips for those with a sweet tooth. A designated wine lus Farmers Cheeses. sampling area is a Other specialty items popular stop. The desinclude Virgil’s all-nat- ignated area allows ural gluten-free crème customers ages 21 and soda, Reed’s all-natural older to sample up to gluten-free ginger non- three 2-ounce servings alcohol beer, organic of wine and/or a Michitricolor pasta, a variety gan micro-brew from of Bechtle egg pasta, among the featured seBruschetta toasts, olive lections chosen for the bruschetta spread, and week. Tasters are able a variety of gourmet to enjoy their sample
in the designated area while non-tasting customers can complete their shopping with a speedy checkout. Hamlin Grocery North is located just across the parking lot from Hamlin Grocery, located at the corner of Jebavy Drive and Dewey roads in Hamlin Township. Hamlin Grocery North is open seven days a week from 6 a.m.-10 p.m.. Wine sampling hours are from 1 to 5 p.m. daily. All servers are TIPS-certified. Vaughn Flewelling, owner of both Hamlin Grocery and Hamlin North, said Hamlin North Manager Sheila Genter takes great pride in selecting only the finest local- and Michigan-made products and the best quality local produce.
Cold Stream Farm
Wholesale shrubs, trees available
FREE SOIL — Cold Stream Farm has offered wholesale shrubs and bare root trees to customers throughout the Midwest for more than 30 years.
The business specializes in trees and shrubs for wildlife habitat, offering discounts for large orders but with no minimum order required. On offer are cedar
trees, bald cypresses, firs, larch trees, pine trees, redwood trees, sequoias and spruces in addition to many shrubs, vines, grasses, ferns and seeds. Cold Stream
Farm also sells fertilizer tablets, planting bars, root gel, and tree protection. Mail order forms and account set-up is available at www.coldstreamfarm.net.
Cold Stream Farms is located at 8585 N. Stephens Road, Free Soil. Call (231) 464-5809 or email info@coldstreamfarm.net.
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The Jam Farm
Producing jams from locally grown fruit BY DIANE NEMITZ DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Just a short way down Meisenheimer Road west of P.M. Highway (Old U.S. 31) is a barn and working farm. The barn is part of the barn quilt trail and has a large quilt square titled “Michigan Beauty” on the side. But that’s not the main reason to visit Lois Gieleghem’s farm. Parked behind the barn is a converted house trailer where Lois cooks up jar after jar of homemade jam. The “Jam Lady” is hard at work all summer canning small batches of jam using fruit from her garden and extensive orchards of cherries, apples, peaches and pears. If she and her husband, Jim, don’t grow it themselves, they buy locally. “I believe in giving back to the community,” she said. “I even buy my canning jars from Briggs instead of big chain stores.” The Jam Farm started 16 years ago and is a licensed commercial kitchen. Lois said her operation is so small she found it easy to
Lois Gieleghem is the Jam Lady, shown above working to produce local jams.
follow the health department rules. She prepares about 24 jars of jam at a time, enough to fill a large canning kettle, simil-
lar to one home canners might use. By doing small batches, she maintains quality control. “I only use fruit,
Michigan-made sugar and organic pectin,” she said. There are no preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or additives.
Then she’ll follow up with peach, apple, pear and apricot, and hopes her grapevines yield enough this year for grape jelly. She said she’d canned about 3,800 jars by the end of July and added that it was a very good year for fruit. Some of the jams and jellies include lowsugar caramel apple and sugar-free varieties. Other jams are strawberry margarita, rhubarb, sweet cherry, blackberry, raspberry and hot pepper jam. They sell for $5.50 for a half pint jar, and the used jars can be returned for a 25 cent credit on a future purchase. Those who buy six jars get a free bread mix. The Jam Farm is open every day from May to December from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. As for that barn quilt, Lois explained that the quilt pattern dates from the Civil War, about the same time the family-owned farm was begun. The As of the first of Au- Gieleghems chose to gust, she was starting have it painted red, to cook up 800 pounds white and blue to honor their military of blueberries from service. Jim was in the Couturier Blueberry Marines and Lois in Farm in Ludington.
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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/LOCALLY GROWN
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Country View Bakery
More room, exposure for expanding business Country View Bakery, 4550 W. U.S. 10 near Tractor Supply, offers a wide range of fresh-baked goods from breads and cookies to cinnamon rolls, Danish coffee cakes, muffins, jams and noodles. Country View Bakery has been in Kathryn Lambright’s family since 1986, when it was known as Miller’s Bakery, but they moved to a new location in November 2012. “We wanted just more exposure to people in town,” Lambright said. “We were out of town quite a ways, wanted to go where there was more traffic. We weren’t open in the wintertime out there.” New to the store is a line of gluten-free breads, as well as meats, cheeses, and sandwiches, along with organic drink products from CocaCola. Daniel, Kathryn’s husband, said the gluten-free bread was added because of the number of people asking for the variety. “My wife can’t eat gluten either,” Daniel said. He said this summer has been the best
‘People like what we make.’
meal, and Swedish rye. Country View Bakery makes pies in a wide variety of flavors, too, Kathryn Lambright from cherry, blueberry, apple and raspberry to since the move. pecan and French co“We have been conut, as well as other swamped since the seasonal varieties such end of June,” Daniel as peach and rhubarb. said. Also offered are sugFor those with a ar-free blueberry streusweet tooth, Counsel coffee cake, frozen try View offers delipizza to go, and free cious treats such as coffee samples. hummingbird cake, “People like what we buttermilk brownies, make,” Kathryn said. peanut butter fudge “There’s something for brownies, German everyone.” apple cake, zucchini bread and banana COUNTRY VIEW Bakery is open bread. Bread comes in 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday many varieties such through Saturday. as white, whole wheat, onion cheese, jalapeno cheese, raisin cinnamon, honey oat-
Dublin General Store Homemade Jerky • Fishing & Hunting Licenses Tackle & Bait GROCERY • LOTTERY • LIQUOR HARDWARE
231-859-4121 18372 Hoxeyville Rd., Wellston, MI 49689 www.dublinstore.com
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Your Favorite Corner Store We’ve got the corner on... Summertime Outing Supplies • • • • • •
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BOOK YOUR pARtY! Vaughn & Sheila, Wine Consultants and tasting party Coordinators. Call Vaughn or Sheila today to book your private wine tasting party! TIPS Certified.
Hosting an in-home Wine Tasting Party is an ideal way to spice up an afternoon or evening with your family, friends or colleagues. Experience a variety of wines, a tasting lesson, complete with tasting notes and food pairing suggestions, just like world-famous wineries and vineyards. It’s easy, fun and informative!
HAMLIN GROCERY 3611 N. Jebavy, Ludington
OUR continuing goal is to provide our customers with the most delicious locally grown organic & farm fresh produce, homemade jams, fruit toppings, maple syrup, honey, and more!! Free wine tasting 1-5 pm daily. Must be 21. Picture ID required. TIPS Certified.
843-2058
www.hamlingrocery.com
OpEN dAILY 6 AM tO 10 pM
3611 N. Jebavy, Ludington
(231) 425-4140 www.hamlingrocery.com
OpEN dAILY 10 AM-6 pM
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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/LOCALLY GROWN
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Farm Fresh Produce Since 1960 Homegrown Extra Sweet
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** More Than 25 Flavors ** Buy 2 - 1/2 Lb. Boxes Get 1 - 1/2 Lb. Box
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212 S. Pere Marquette Hwy., Ludington (231) 843-4603 8400 N. US 31, Free Soil (231) 464-5534 Mon.-Sat. 8 AM-7 PM; Sun. 9 AM-5 PM Everyday 8 AM-7 PM ACCEPTING PROJECT FRESH PRODUCE COUPOONS
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