Spring in Leelanau can be gorgeous as the sun reappears from the winter, and a muddy mess as the winter snow transitions to green grass. We have both going on as well as lots of activity across HH Cherries and Red Truck Orchards. Here is an overview from mid-March 2025:
HH Cherries
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About 60% snow cover over the fields, with the driveway a rutted mess. With the ground still frozen 6” down, it’s a mud pie on top. We are still getting snow here and there.
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Cherry tree focus. The crunch time for the cherry trees is March to May and Dick is out there getting it done. His focus is on pruning each tree at present (~6000) which will roll into weed control, new tree planting (~350), irrigation system improvements and then the bloom, which is the most intensive spray period during the season. What happens in the next 90 days sets the results for the summer harvest.
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New flower seedlings are up! Yup, Sarah’s flowers are already in the flower room emerging from the seeds. They will be transplanted by the intern crew once we are past the frost date in May.
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Maple sap collection has begun! More on this in the coming weeks.
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Lots of equipment to repair….
Red Truck Orchards
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We are on wine batch #2! Learning and working through scale up on the acidification of turning the wine into vinegar. It has been said that “Making wine is easy, making good wine is hard.” which is so true. Sam and I will add that compared to making wine, making good vinegar is much harder! Working through some growing pains…
From the Bar and Restaurant Show
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Strong interest in a new vinegar, made from cherries. No one had heard of it before. Label is eyecatching.
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High awareness of the health benefits in tart cherries. Surprised us. They knew cherries were healthy, and thus a cherry vinegar will be healthy.
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Loved the taste. Clearly distinct with the front acid burst and long tail.
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Lots of Apple Cider Vinegar daily users and after sampling, strong interest in switching for daily dosing.
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Several mixologists interested in drinks; restaurants in salad dressings or slushies.
Cherry On!
Phil Hallstedt
