King Orchards -- Family Farming

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.

Jim and John King in the fruitstand	Betsy King in the truck
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.
(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.