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Schultz Fruitridge Farm marks 75 years while growing local food partnerships

A southwest Michigan farm family says partnering with a local food hub helps keep more of their produce local while creating consistent demand.

Bill Schultz tells Brownfield, “It kind of helps connect the dots for our local community that we have a local farm that’s available with these crops and the food hub has helped facilitate that.”

He says working with ValleyHUB gets their products in local schools, hospitals, and restaurants in addition to their commercial and direct farm sales.

“I think right now we can find a home for everything that we produce,” he says. “With farming, you can be the best producer in the world. If you cannot market that crop for a profit, you will not stay in business.”

Robyn Schultz says this is the 75^th season for their third-generation farm.

“My grandparents bought the farm in 1951 because it had a peach crop that year and many other farms in the area didn’t,” she shares. “We still raise peaches to this day. Being diversified allows us to better serve our customers throughout the whole season.”

Schultz Fruitridge Farm grows a large variety of fruits and vegetables in Mattawan, and the family operates Texas Corners Brewing Company and Lawton Ridge Winery.