April 10, 2013
Woke up to a beautiful white day. This is turning out to be one of the cooler springs in quite a while. So far this is all good for fruit […]
Category: Crop Updates & Orchard Talk
8 Degree February Morning
Lots of snow lately and cold weather. The Northern Michigan fruit growers have been more nervous about the weather than ever before so it has been comforting to have normal […]
Holidays Around Here
The lack of snow so far has allowed us to keep the farm hands going. The manure is almost all spread and it doesn’t stink anymore (maybe I am immune). […]
Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo
We always look forward to the Expo which is held in Grand Rapids at the DeVos Center Dec 4, 5, and 6.. The place is packed with fruit industry people. […]
November Notes
Several news items that I should have posted earlier but I didn’t. The biggest news is that Jim and Rose are grandparents again as Mark and Brande had a baby […]
October News
It has been a great few weeks for us. Honeycrisp quality is excellent and demand is crazy. Galas picked more than our estimate so that is good news too. We […]
U-pick Apples
The greatly reduced apple crop combined with very hot August and Sept weather has accelerated the apple ripening. We have been planting varieties for u-pick and encouraging customers to come […]
Fall crop update
Yes we have apples!! We have started picking the Ginger Golds and they are really good. The super hot weather (plus irrigation) has made them very sweet and juicy. Even […]
Fruit News
We hand picked a few lugs of sweets today. Three weeks earlier than we would usually start picking. We have about 5 acres of sweets (out of 45) at the […]
Life is just a Bowl Full of Cherries!
I wish, this year we are feeling that it is more a bowl full of pits! Our disappointment with the crop failure is now a reality and we are learning […]
The Arrival of the Bees!
After the warm 80 degree days of mid March, an emergency call was made to bring the bees up from their Florida winter residence early. They arrived at 7:30PM on […]
Weather Challenges
The weather this year has been pretty far from the norm. I have delayed in commenting because it is so hard to predict how this will turn out. Monday night […]
February is National Cherry Month
Why February for National Cherry Month? That is a common question that I hear from my customers? Now, I’m not an expert but I have been around for 30 years […]
Winter News
Hello everyone! Even though it is winter we are still here on the farm and working hard. 🙂 The winter is progressing and so is our new building. We are […]
Frozen Cherry Shipping Has Begun!
Winter has finally arrived here in Northern Michigan so that means that we can start shipping our frozen cherries! Click on the link below and watch the video for information, […]
Jingle Bells, the orchards smells, turkey pooh is on the way
Several years back we were put in touch with a large turkey farm near Grand Rapids that sells the giant double semi trailer loads of manure. Around here we call […]
Old Vs. New
I had been lobbying Jim for a few months to buy a new Orchard tractor. I don’t spend many hours in the tractor seat anymore. but I do still plant […]
AARP Recommends Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate!
Check out the article AARP published about “10 Home Remedies That Work”. Tart cherry juice concentrate’s benefits are highlighted in #3! Click to view the AARP Magazine article
Fall Update!
It has been a busy fall at Kings! We made it through another Applefest in Charlevoix, despite the wind and rain. All of the apples are now officially off the […]
Honeycrisp Time!
The time all apple lovers have been waiting for is here! Honeycrisp apples are ready and available in the fruitstands! We also have Gingergold, McIntosh, and Gala apples available. Cortlands […]
Cherry juice concentrate price increase
We have raised the price of tart cherry juice concentrate for the first time in many years. We are going to $16.99/quart. This is a steep increase. We had a […]
Bartlett Pears, Bosc Pears, and Stanley Plums
We really have a nice crop of pears this year. The Bartletts are in right now and they are large size and real nice. We will start the Bosc pears […]
Upick apples
The M88 apple block has been laid out with u-pick in mind, and we have promoted our u-pick for several years. However, as the apples on the M-88 farm began […]
McIntosh are IN!
The first of the McIntosh apples just started coming in today! We also still have Gingergolds available, however not for too much longer so get ’em while they’re still around! […]
Labor Day U-Pick
We are looking forward to a busy weekend ahead. The main question we have been getting- “What will you have for u-pick?” Raspberry picking will be strong this weekend. There […]
APPLES!
This fall weather means its apple season! Today, I had my first apple of the season and it was everything I have been waiting for- juicy, crisp, and sweet! We […]
Late August Fruit Roundup
Betsy and I just completed a lap of the orchard and I felt I better report. Red Havens are taking their time getting ripe. We will start on Monday or […]
August in the Market
The fruit stands are running out of table space because of all the fresh produce we have in right now! The markets have been taken over with the smell of […]
‘Cot Week!
Things have been very busy at the farm lately. We are moving into our peak week for apricots! The trees and our coolers are loaded. We have them available for […]
Tart Time!
We are coming to the last few days of sweet cherry picking. Tomorrow is the last day for picking at the M 88 market. We have a later variety (the […]
Biggest Black Sweet Cherries Ever!!!
What a pick your own cherry season it has been already! We have never seen U-pickers so happy with their fruit! The good news for this season is that these […]
SWEET CHERRIES!
The time is here! King Orchards’ sweet cherry season has officially started! This is the best crop we have had in years! We have cherries in the market for sale […]
John’s comments, Really nice looking cherry crop
The sweet cherries have finally begun to turn color and we can get excited about the upcoming sweet cherry season. The crows are getting in the act and we have […]
Daisy Had Puppies!!
Many of you know Daisy, the King family’s Bernese Mountain dog that can be found wandering around the farm and market. As of June 8th, Daisy is the proud mother […]
Getting Ready for Cherry Season!
The markets are starting to prepare for the busy season ahead! Our cherry crop should be very good this year! We are looking at the sweet cherry crop starting around […]
Fruitstand Update & Top Ten Ways to Eat Asparagus
We’re still in the thick of asparagus season. Stop by the M-88 or US-31 markets from 9 until 6, and pick up a pound or ten of these fresh, delicious […]
Asparagus in the Markets
Asparagus is here and it is AWESOME!!!! Stop in to see us at M-88 or US-31 Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm and on Sunday from 12-4pm. Hope to see you!
Planting apples 2011
Watch the video:
New news on research!
There’s a new press release at UofMHealth.org describing findings of Dr. Bolling’s Cardioprotection Research Laboratory. Their studies report on the benefits of including cherries in the diet: reduction of […]
Frozen Montmorency Tart Cherries Customer Feedback
Dear Betsy, I don’t normally send email to companies about their products, but your frozen Montmorency cherries are out of this world! I placed my first order last Wednesday and […]
Still Apple Season!
Our markets are full of quality apples. It is the time of the year to visit and stock up for winter. Here are a couple of enticements! Jonagolds 1/2 bushels […]
Apple Fest
Charlevoix Apple Fest is this coming week-end, Oct 8 9 and 10. We will line the main street with apples and apple goodies. The town is packed and fun is […]
Honeycrisp in XXL
The Honeycrisp are beautiful! Apple season is coming so fast. We have in the market McIntosh, Gala, Cortland, Mutsu, Jonagold, Northern Spy, Bosc Pears and Stanley Prune Plums. Squash, cornstalks, […]
Picking is going quick!
Yes, our apple u-pick is going quick. With the combination of an early season and not as many apples as usual the season for apple picking will probably only last […]
U-PICK APPLES
U-pick is available for Zestar, Gingergold, and Premiere Honeycrisp.
It feels like fall!
The temperatures have dropped and I’m hankering for an apple! Football, cool weather, and labor day makes it feel like fall. This summer was so warm and wonderful but I’m […]
Beautiful Baker’s Blueberry Birthday Breakfast
Please bear with me and today’s overly-alliterated blog post. When Lexi (Bakin’ Girl) was a baby, one of the first books we read to her was The Berenstain Bears “B” […]
Ginger gold apples are in!
Yes, the ginger gold apples are in the market. They are firm and delicious. We have great quality and everyone from Josh in the truck to Eric in the shop […]
Temps cooled but not our sale!
We still have our 1/2 bushel of red haven peaches sale going on for a few more days! Everyone is loving the nectarines. Raspberries are back and easy to pick. […]
August Update
John’s sweetcorn is in and it is AWESOME! Our pickles are coming in by the 1/2 bushel. Come in or call to reserve yours. Garnet Beauty peaches are being picked. […]
Pickling Cukes
PICKLES ARE IN!
Peaches and Apricots
Apricots are beautiful! Peak u-pick for the next couple of days. Apricots will be in the market for a good two weeks. Peaches —-Garnet Beauty, the semi cling peach is […]
Monday 7/12 Update
This week we are picking Balaton tart cherries. If you want to make cherry bounce this year these are the cherries you want to use. We are picking with the […]
What’s Happening this Week?
Things have been so busy in the market! Our sweet cherry u-pick crop has been small, but it’s lasted through the 4th of July weekend, which is very good. We […]
Fruitstand Gossip
Things have been getting very busy around the fruit stand. We are still u-picking sweet cherries. We will be u-picking until atleast Tuesday, possibly longer. We will keep you updated […]
U-Pick Update
U-pick is now in full swing here at the orchard. We opened up apricot picking this morning and they are delicious! We just started on a few trees today, but […]
Managing a short crop
I have been riding through the sweet cherries this afternoon trying to get together a plan to manage u-pick. The crop is very short. The early May frost damaged almost […]
“Meg’s Market Update”
Hey there! It’s Megan, Betsy and John’s niece. I’m going to be taking over the blog a little, along with Courtney and a few of the other “fruit stand girls”, […]
Sunday 6-20
Happy Father’s day! Strawberries over ice cream for everyone! In the market: the strawberries are beautiful and big, great time to put some in the freezer. Asparagus all gone for […]
update sat 6-19
Today strawberries in the market and last day for asparagus. Lots of call about u-pick. We will keep people posted on the blog each day. Today it looks like we […]
quick update
David called and reminded me to UPDATE! thanks Dave from GR. He was most interested in apricots. I’m looking for them to ripen towards the end of July. Most of […]
My farthest away customer!
Message for Betsy – Hi, it’s Meredith, Nan’s Los Angeles daughter. Just wanted you to know I stopped in yesterday on the way to the airport and grabbed a big […]
Tart Cherry Bloom Report
Tart cherry bloom has come early this year! If you are thinking about a drive to northern Michigan to witness the spectacular tart cherry blossoms, don’t hesitate to make it […]
Early spring
This prolonged warm weather is very scary for fruit growers. Fruit buds are moving along slowly. We don’t know how much they have advanced yet but with each warm day […]
catalogs and the landfill
Hello, Today I am writing about a little crusade I have taken up. It seems that I get piles and piles of catalogs in the mail. Most of them go […]
I.Q.F. cherries
I.Q.F. stands for individually quick frozen. The cherries are easy to use since they are frozen like marbles instead of a solid mass. I just sold a 10 pound bag […]
Frozen cherries are a big hit!
I’m getting great feedback from the customers that are ordering the frozen cherries. Most are opting for ground shipping and knowing that they will be slightly thawed. Most are laying […]
Powered by Red: Day 16 – Deer in the orchard >:(
Ok for my powered by red post I must say that I am eating more than my share of tart cherries. I have tested all the recipes this month and […]
Mid Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention
My wife Rose and I went out to Pennsylvania for the Mid Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Growers Convention last week. We went to the convention to market Cherry Juice Concentrate […]
Organic Cherries?
This post started out as a response to a feedback question from Mary White. Patty and I spent all morning on our response and we decided to post it on […]
Frozen cherries
Calling all foodies!!! February is National Cherry Month! The perfect time to try ordering some of our frozen tart cherries. We have been shipping pitted tart cherries for years however, […]
A business headache
Yesterday I was balancing the checkbook against the bank statement. I found a withdrawal that I didn’t recognize for $49.95. It is a monthly charge put in place for a […]
Northern Spy Apples – It’s what’s inside that counts!
“Spys for pies!” says Nan, the pie baking champion of Central Lake. She should know, as she has been cooking apple pies for the swiss steak dinners at the Methodist […]
Tips for Selection and Storage of Apples
Rose and Betsy’s top tips for apple buying and storing: Be adventurous! Don’t be afraid to experiment. You have nothing to lose but boredom. Try some new varieties. You may […]
Honeycrisp Apples
What a nice way to start the morning, with a gorgeous Honeycrisp apple sitting on my desk. I feel like Steve Martin in The Jerk, but instead of shouting, […]
USA Today: 10 Great Places to Pick Your Own Apples
King Orchards is proud to have been named in USA Today’s 10 Great Places to Pick Your Own Apples! “Enjoy the recreation playground of northern Michigan when you pick apples […]
Red Haven Peaches: Ripe for Picking and Canning
RED HAVEN PEACHES: Red Haven is the all-time favorite of peach lovers for both canning and eating fresh. They are freestone, which means that the fruit comes free from the […]
Fruitstand Update :)
Help! We’re being overrun by cucumbers!!! If we can’t get to the phones, it’s because we can’t make it through the mountains of pickling and slicing cukes we’ve harvested from […]
Fruitstand Report :)
Dipping Day: From now through the weekend you will be able to come and scoop out as many tart cherries as you wish from our shaking tanks without having to […]
Balaton Tart Cherries
We have a wonderful crop of Balaton tart cherries this year. Balaton cherries are a darker morello-style variety of sour cherry traditionally grown in Hungary, near the Soviet border. The […]
Sweet Cherries
It’s raining again this morning. When we have sweet cherries to pick rain is a real problem. The high sugar content in the cherry draws water through the skin and […]
? of the day
There is one question everyone is asking. How long will we be able to pick sweet cherries? This year is so odd that I can’t say. My hope is that […]
Tart Cherry Crop Report
Betsy and John were out checking on the tart cherries this morning. They’re still a bit orange-y, so we’re looking at 4 to 5 days before prime picking time. Picking […]
The turning point
Well today we began picking in earnest and u-pickers are showing up. This is the turning point when we start taking in money on the crops which have been getting […]
Sweet cherry picking starts today
To encourage lots and lots of Michigan cherry picking, we are rolling back our u-pick prices to 2006! We’re calling it our Cherry U-Pick Stimulus Plan (CUSP for those of […]
Happy 4th of July!
We drove the golf cart in the Central Lake parade today! The market has been busy and the pies were piled high this morning. With no cherries ripe there has […]
Cherry Crop Update
There are a lot of cherries on the trees, and all signs point to a good crop of both sweet and tart cherries. Our latest estimate is that sweet cherry […]
cool spring
June 8th and Still cool here in Northern Michigan! I’ve noticed that my favorite way to cook asparagus is in the oven at 400 for 20 minutes. The added benefit […]
Cherry Blossoms
Monday AM
Ok, I was wrong but I bet the apricots pop out today. This morning is so busy with activities. Workers driving the golf cart to plant trees. Shouts of directions […]
Blossoms!
My prediction is that we will have apricot blossoms for the week-end. Apricots are first to blossom and then sweet cherries, tart cherries, peaches and apples. They all kind of […]
February… spring?
Hi Everyone, It has finally slowed down here on the farm and I hate to say it but Jim and John are already talking Spring? Meanwhile our Jésus in the […]
U-Picking Open for Apricots
Apricots are in! We have a large, beautiful crop this year, and have opened them up for u-picking at $1.75 per pound. It looks like we have a few days […]
Black Sweet Cherries
The black sweet cherries have been slow to ripen but we are finally there! Sweet cherries are in the markets by the quart. U-pick will open on Wed 7/9 at […]
Cherry Festival
We are loading up the tables for the cherry festival right now. We will be at the open space in Traverse City Fri noon until 10 pm. The hours July […]
Strawberries are here!
Strawberries are finally here! The strawberries look absolutely wonderful and delicious. They taste just as great as they look. The prices of the strawberries are set at $4 a quart […]
Rain, Rain, Rain!
It’s been raining so much lately! In the past 40 days, we’ve had rain on 24 of them. Hopefully it dries up soon, because the rain can cause the cherries […]
Coming Soon… Strawberries and Raspberries!
Hey everyone! Megan here, writing for Betsy while she’s at church. (For those of you that don’t know me, I’m John and Betsy’s niece that lives here on the farm […]
Update on Strawberries and Sweet Cherries
Things are finally warming up here! We’ve had rain the past few days, and the sweet corn is beginning to sprout. We have asparagus in the market for one more […]
Asparagus is in!
I know that it is really spring because the asparagus is in. Beautiful and tender. We had it grilled, steamed, and sauteed with soy sauce. The big change everyone will […]