A Lifestyle Worth Living
Tucked in the heart of Michigan blueberry country, just off the beaten path you’ll find a blueberry operation with family, hard work, and a whole lot of heart at the center of their operation.
“We’re doing the best thing we think we can do for the future, and for us that’s providing handpicked fresh fruit.” Scott Harris, owner of Harris Blueberries located in Bloomingdale, MI, radiates pride for his product, his operation, and his livelihood. Scott, along with his wife, Marcy, and his Uncle Al, started Harris Blueberries in the late 70s with a dream to grow a sustainable full-time blueberry operation. But for Scott, his dream of operating a blueberry farm started much sooner, back as a 12-year-old working for a local blueberry farmer. “He told me if I planted 10 acres of berries here, that’s all I would have to do, and I could retire on that. That’s what started it for me.”
Of course, Harris Blueberries has expanded well past 10 acres of farmland, and Scott and his family don’t show any signs of slowing down. Harris Blueberries now spans 265 acres, and they hand pick and pack over 1.2 million pounds of fresh blueberries a year. Uncle Al, a patriarch of the farm who is now in his 90’s, still eagerly manages the operation’s nursery, overseeing more than 80,000 new blueberry plants until they are mature and ready to be planted.
For the Harris family, raising and packing fresh blueberries is more than just a job. “This is our livelihood,” says Marcy. “A lot of people don’t realize this is more than a job. Farming is a lifestyle to us, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.” Marcy herself manages the farm’s food safety protocols and keeps the office operations running smoothly and efficiently.
Family First
Family is an obvious pillar in the Harrises’ operation, and it’s more than apparent in the part they each play in running a successful family business. The Harrises take great pride in their farm as well as the several multi-generational families they employ who are helping make their dream a reality. This strong foundation of families working together has played a key role in the success of the business and remains an important part of the operation.
The Challenges of Operating a Blueberry Farm
Michigan’s fair summers, lake effect weather, and sandy soil conditions prove to be the perfect atmosphere for producing blueberries. However, their growing season doesn’t come without its own set of challenges. Uncharacteristically hot and humid summers, unpredictable weather, sporadic temperature drops, and seasonal pests all affect the harvest and can take a toll on the yield of fruit they produce every year. In addition, the Harrises have found themselves adapting to changes in demand from consumers as well.
The ongoing challenge of supplying the market with new varieties can be a risky endeavor. “We’re seeing a demand now for larger, crispier berries,” says Scott. This means planting new proprietary varieties of berries, which take time to mature and develop, posing a potential risk that may not pay off in the end.
The Value of a Reliable Partnership
It’s these unique challenges of farming that make having a trusted financial partner in your corner so important. “GreenStone understands us, because they understand ag,” says Scott.
When the Harrises began considering taking their operation full time, they knew they needed the support of a trusted lender, and one who understood the agricultural landscape.
“GreenStone really allowed us the opportunity to take our operation from part time, as something we were doing on the side, to full time. Because of their ag knowledge, they were able to help us purchase land that we needed for investing in more plants, and we were able to go full time with the business a little over 20 years ago,” Scott recapped. “They believed in us, even with all the challenges that we faced along the way. They’ve been a big part of our growth, and it’s been a great partnership for Harris Blueberries.”
Miles Bowman, Senior Financial Services Officer at GreenStone adds "Working with Scott over the past three years has been a fantastic experience. The dedication and hard work he put into his operation is inspiring. At GreenStone our goal is to support farmers like Scott to continue to grow and innovate. His story is a great example of how GreenStone can work with our customers to facilitate growth.”
GreenStone possesses the experience and knowledge necessary to help farmers succeed in growing and developing their unique operations. Click here to learn more about the services we provide to farmers and rural communities in Michigan and northeast Wisconsin.
