Sparta, Mich. – In a fitting tribute of giving back to the West Michigan community while moving its business ahead, Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc., picked the first apples of 2014 at the company’s original farm in Conklin, to celebrate the Sparta-based grower/packer/ shipper’s 25th year in business. On hand to assist with the harvest of early Gingergold apples were children and their grandparents from a local childcare facility, who had volunteered for the day at Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank.
Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc., with sales offices, orchards and a large packing facility in Sparta, as well as orchards in other locations, began as a three-person apple sales agency in Grant, Mich.,
25 years ago this fall.
“Our three founding partners, who all had a background in the produce and grocery business in West Michigan, saw an opportunity to create a different kind of sales organization,” said Justin Finkler, Riveridge’s operations manager, who supervised the first-pick project. “We began by trying to match very progressive growers who were often introducing premium varieties, with customers who wanted that level of apple.”
“And the founders also recognized that cultivating good relationships with people is what will make – and has made – us successful. We value relationships with our apple grower-partners, our staff, our buyers and members of the local community who are such big fans of Michigan apples,” Finkler said.
Riveridge is a frequent donor to Feeding America West Michigan, including working with volunteer gleaners at the end of many picking seasons. The 25 bushels of apples picked by the children, their grandparents, and staff Wednesday were donated to the Food Bank. "We will be loading them on a mobile pantry distribution for this afternoon, so families will be able to enjoy them this evening. We picked about 600# so that should provide almost 600 meals to the families we serve," said Katie Auwers, Food Sourcing Specialist with Feeding America West Michigan.
“Talking with food banks around the country, not everyone has access to the kind of produce that Riveridge donates. We’re incredibly fortunate to have a partner like this,” said Ken Estelle, CEO of Feeding America West Michigan. Feeding America West Michigan has received 214,000 pounds of apples from the company since 2011.
Riveridge’s founding partners – Don Armock, Roger Geers and the late Dan Rock, Sr. – began Riveridge Produce in Grant, 10 miles north of current corporate headquarters. Over the years, the company has aligned with 117 of the best apple growers across Michigan, along with seven apple packing facilities in Michigan and Wisconsin. Riveridge growers are located from southern Michigan near Berrien Springs to orchards north of Traverse City, as well as Wisconsin to provide geographic diversity.
In 1995, Riveridge became a vertically integrated company by planting its first orchards and managing orchards for a few other growers. Today Riveridge Land Company has 860 acres of apples, including a new high-tech spindle-and-V trellis orchard planted not far from the company’s founding roots in Grant, Michigan.
In 2010, the company opened a state-of-the-art apple sorting and packing facility just off north Alpine Avenue in rural Sparta. In most seasons, Riveridge represents nearly 40 percent of Michigan’s fresh apple crop, selling in up to 26 states and exporting Michigan apples to a dozen foreign countries.
Company president, Don Armock, who was visiting retail buyers and unable to attend the ceremonial first-pick looks for the business to remain on the leading edge for the next 25 years, while continuing to give back to the local community.
Michigan is the nation’s third-largest apple producing state, and nearly 60 percent of the state’s apples are grown on or near Fruit Ridge, which runs through Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa counties.
Source: Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc.