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t one time the majority of Americans grew up on family farms. The number of farms and farmers has been steadily declining since the 1940's, and fewer and fewer people have known the farming life. We are an exception to this trend, being first-generation farmers who had a dream of owning our own farm and have been able to make that dream a reality.

In 1980 John found the Aardema farm for sale and was able to buy it. Since then we have made many improvements; We put up three new pole barns, expanded the market and added a gravel parking lot, and planted thousands of new fruit trees.

Frank and peach
 Jim and John
Jim and John King in the fruitstand
e were fortunate to have a lot of help from family and friends when we started. John's brother Jim helped out the first two years, and later bought his own 60 acre farm nearby. The early years were hard, but as John says, we didn't have enough experience to know we should be worried. We have always been willing to do whatever it takes to make a go at farming.

 Betsy in the truck
Betsy King in the truck
 looking west across the orchard
(left)Looking west across the farm, you can see Grand Traverse Bay in the distance.

(right) This is a view of the old barn, looking north.

 looking north near the old barn
farm motto-Quality is rarely an accident, but the result of hard work
 barns and farmhouse King Orchard logo
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Copyright 1999 - 2004 updated- 9-17-2001