Farmers » Hillside Orchards

Contact

Paul and Sarah Thelen
269 471-7558
8198 Fleisher Lane
Berrien Springs, MI 49103
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Specialties

fruits, honey, jams

Participation

Indoor and outdoor markets
Wednesdays and Saturdays

Bio

Hillside Orchards has been a family operation since 1836. In 1920, Sarah Feather’s great-grandfather began selling his produce at a farmers market in South Bend, Indiana. Sarah grew up on the farm and married Paul Thelen, who also had a farming background. The couple farmed the Feather orchards with Sarah’s father. Today daughters Rebecca and Erica are involved in the 100-acre farm, which contains 1,700 organic chestnut trees. Hillside’s many types of fruit, including a variety of heirloom apples, are grown using an Integrated Pest Management system. The Good Agriculture Practice sessions the family attends are designed to ensure that fruit is produced and marketed in the safest manner possible. The Thelen’s goal is to continue using ever safer and more sustainable production methods.