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McDonald’s honors Michigan farmers for apple month

Michigan McDonald’s is recognizing apple growers this October for being an instrumental supplier partner.

Ken Berg owns six McDonald’s restaurants across West Michigan and tells Brownfield he’s proud to see Michigan products regularly on the menu.

“I think our customers have really said local is important,” he says. I think it’s also important for our owners and our families here as well. And I think that’s how we see our communities grow.”

Berg says McDonald’s purchases over $160 million of ingredients from Michigan farmers each year.

“We have a lot of families that we take care of and feed, and apples is a big deal as well as agriculture with sugar as well as eggs, beef, milk, and butter all really from Michigan,” he shares.

Michigan apple growers played a significant role in developing apple slices for McDonald’s 20 years ago. Today farmers in the state supply 14 million pounds of apples to the national chain for apple slices and apple pie.

Farmers, state leaders, and local suppliers recently met at an apple farm north of Grand Rapids to celebrate National Apple Month and Michigan Apple Month.

AUDIO: Interview with Ken Berg