Klug Orchards is the family farm of Kevin & Cathy Klug along with their sons Ben,Dan & Ethan who each enjoy various roles in farming their bountiful crops. Kevin's parents Arnold & Clara Klug still actively participate also in running the farm which they are successfully transitioning to his care. For over 60 years they raised their 5 children and grew various fresh fruits and vegetables on this same 160 acre farm located on beautiful rolling hills in southwestern Berrien County, Mich. Though each of their 5 children had enjoyed aspects of farming through the years, only Kevin and his wife Cathy have dedicated both their lives full time to farming since their own marriage in 1988. Prior to the Klug families' stewardship of the farm it was a family Dairy, dating to the earliest known platt book of Berrien County in 1842, when the farmhouse was merely the smaller portion of the family's home which still has the original bark log underfloor over hickory and poplar planks of Abraham Lincoln era simple construction. Even the "New addition" 2 story block portion dates to 1908. While technology has changed throughout the years, many simple farming techniques have stayed the same here at the Klug's Orchards; such as the natural grazing of their horses, sheep, cows or chickens on their certified organic pasture, to the old fashioned pull behind metal wheeled 1row planter for longer stemmed plants or seeds and bulbs - which could have been drawn by a horse once upon a time. Hand hoeing acres of crops and hand picking of their fresh produce at the peak of ripeness to bring to customers at Farmer's Markets are also timeless traditions that carry on.
For over 40 years Kevin's parents have faithfully taken their sweet fruits and vegetables to Benton Harbor's wholesale market and the South Bend, Ind. Farmer's Market where countless families have become more like familiar friends than customers as produce and pleasantries comingled through the years. Kevin and Cathy also were stockholders selling at the S.B.Market while raising their expanding family, growing field and greenhouse crops as they renovated the old family farmhouse in the center of the farm through the early years of their marriage. Back then, the family's old fashioned Cider Press saw many hours of Kevin&Cathy blending fresh bushels of apples in the Fall to produce fresh, natural Cider and Springtime kept the two active hauling buckets of Maple sap to be boiled into sweet syrup. Since then, Mich.Cider has had to be pasteurized, putting the mill to the side; and the 40 tree Maple lane 10miles away was sold and developed.Yet, they carried on growing plants and produce year after year.
When the folks broached their 70's , Kevin realized 2members of the their same family farm selling at the same market was both confusing and counterproductive to the customers and to the atmosphere of the market itself. That is when he and Cathy agreed to launch out to try taking the farm's produce to distant Chicago neighborhood markets in the summers and the parents could spend their golden years tending the S.B.Mkt solely, while Kevin operated their booths through the winters with their apples and squashes etc. Kevin also took their family farm produce to various distant Illinos markets such as current 2010 open air 1day markets of : Sat.- Wilmette Wheaton& Northfield, Tues&Thurs- Federal & Daley Plazas downtown Chicago, and Wed.- Highland Pk. Several restaurants faithfully frequent their booths to purchase delectable items to incorporate into menu recipes. Kevin & Cathy also donate fresh produce weekly to several area Food Pantrys while there. The unexpected relationships which have developed at both the South Bend and Neighborhood Illinois markets are the most rewarding aspect of marketing to them- and all because of a simple dedication to carrying on the parents traditions of their family farming and providing quality delicious homegrown Michigan foods to people who appreciate their fresh, local produce.
Now in their late 80's the folks are completing the transitioning of their farm and market customers full time over to Kevin, Cathy and his family to continue steering Klug Orchards into the future. This includes adding new apple varieties alongside Honeycrisp and modernizing various growing tools such as compost tea or using a scout to addressing specific needs; to diversifying crops with old heirloom varieties and more sustainably growing sweet Red Haven peaches, plums, pears, apricots, nectarines,grapes, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, red & black raspberries, and tasty multitudes of vegetable crops as well as the endless beauty from their greenhouses. Achieving USDA Organic Certification for 32 acres of various berries and vegetables under their Green Organics,and adding acreage each year.Food Alliance Certification is also a valuable tool in farm stewardship and they were proud to certify all remaining 90 acres of crops in 2011! Below is just a brief representative sample of the Klug Orchards family and operational examples to better aquaint you with them.
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Shown displaying
their Certificate of Conformance for Organic Farming is Kevin and Cathy Klug of
Klug Orchards, Berrien Center. They achieved Organic Certification effective
March, 2010 after years of implementation and the official verification process.
Out of the farm’s 150 acres the Klugs are currently approved for 32 acres of various
berries and assorted vegetables. Kevin, who has conventionally grown crops
alongside his parents Arnold and Clara Klug his whole life, has also applied
and been accepted into the USDA NRCS “Transitioning to Organic Farming” program
which addresses larger whole farm issues and assists with implementation over a
four year timeline. He also works with the MSU extension office and Eau Claire
Fruit Exchange in addressing pest and nutrient management. Considering the
hundreds of growers in Southwest Michigan, it is an unique accomplishment to be
among the handful who are Certified.
Klug attributes
the example of his parents old-fashioned persistence on using less chemicals to
still grow healthy crops as foundational to his organic transition. Kevin further
believes his parents desire to see the family farm transition to the next
generations needed to include old farming practices such as off season manure
spreading as well as newly installed drip irrigation capable of administering
organic micronutrients to individual crops. At this time they have no on-farm
retail sales of their organic produce, but take crops as their parents have for
decades to various Farmers Markets. Klug also serves as an elected member of
the Berrien Township Board and feels that his choices in farming do eventually
affect his local township, so it’s a positive direction for all. Asked about
advice to others who want to grow healthier, sustainable and delicious produce,
Kevin said that every garden and crop is unique but there are great informational
sites online that anyone can access. Certifiers such as Indiana Certified Organic and the Global Organic
Alliance have detailed literature also. Locally, many stores are starting to
carry a good variety of organic gardening supplies, which are clearly marked OMRI certified for easy identification to use with confidence.
Klug Orchards' "Green Organics" & "Cottage Gardens" offer the finest Sustainable,Low spray IPM, USDA Certified Organic & FoodAlliance Certified Fruits & Produce Locally Grown on our 3rd Generation Farm! ALSO See KlugOrchards at "LocalHarvest.org"!
