A Slice of Heaven

   Have you ever been so excited you were barely able to wait for the car to stop rolling before you hurled your body out its nearest opening? Acre after acre of open rolling hills can be seen from a road-side vantage point. Yes, that is an orchard boys and girls! But, not just any orchard…

   As I approached the rows of trees in the fields of empty limbs, I began to try to imagine what it would be like when the season came once again:

   ….From tree to tree, you can almost see all the excited bodies with outstretched arms and aspirations of reaching the best apple on the branch. I can picture children being hoisted up onto the shoulders of their parents and the tiny determined hands scrambling through dangling branches. It is that once-a-year moment that seems to release the sweet smell of a fresh cut apple and the cool outdoor air pumping through your lungs. Ahhh yes! A Michigan tradition in my book….

   Let us begin to explore the more edible points of life!

   

   I cherish the days where I can go off and wander into a setting that yields heavy smiles and happy tummies. I picked the perfect day to enter the gates of Crane’s Pie Pantry. It was a very special time to be around, considering they are so busy sometimes that you can’t even find a place to park your car! From what I gathered, there are lines and lines of cars attempting to get into the orchard for the days that the “U-Pick” operation is in full swing. What is U-Pick you say?

   They grow it, U-Pick it!

   Guests are allowed to come in and pick their own fruit right off the trees and vines. This is where terms like agri-tainment or agri-tourism get their names from. It is more than just picking fruit, it is an event! Odds are that you aren’t going to bother to pick fruit from a tree unless there is a valid purpose such as good ole fashion family bonding time! I couldn’t think of a better place for the family. Crane’s isn’t just a place that turns out tons of apple pies annually… It is a multi-facetted hot spot for entertainment.

   Hooray for AGRI-TAINMENT!

   The orchard can be broken down into three main sections. The first section can be labeled as the largest portion of the farm. The apples make up about 80% of total fruit that is harvested at Crane’s. Peaches make up the second section with about 15% of the total output. Last but not least, there are also sweet cherries! The sweet cherries only make up about 5% of the crops and are solely used for “U-Pick” purposes.

   So why is Crane’s so special in my eyes?

   I am always thrilled to hear stories of passion and persistence for my own personal growth and motivation. In this case, I think that everything that I had encountered more or less slid right into this category of life lessons and encouragement. I already had a great vibe going on the tour and I am pretty sure it wasn’t just the museum-like display looking at me from all directions (which is outstanding by the way). I have a theory on why I felt such warmth as I meandered through the halls and corridors…

   The Human Element of course. The essence of what builds the moments that we remember.

   I can say it once, twice or even a thousand times… People create the experience, not just the place! Although the place has a lot to do with our perception of a time worth spent, it is still the people that can make or break the experience. If Crane’s was run by a bunch of robots do you think anyone would truly care about their apples and peaches? That answer will most likely be a no. That being said, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Lou and Becky Crane (Laura Crane was making magic happen nearby) about how their business began and the struggles that presented themselves along the way.

   Crane’s opened up their Cider Mill in 1968. Things weren’t going as well as they had hoped for so in 1972 they established their restaurant. Although they were never swimming in “Benjamins”, it didn’t seem to bother them. In this time however, Lou Crane had perfected her pie crust which would ultimately raise their stock.

   An ongoing story of Crane family history was being unfolded by Lou as I was given a tour of the property. During this time she told me something rather sad. I know that Allegan County is the highest producer of agriculture in Michigan at the moment, but this doesn’t tell the story of past years. Crane’s Pie Pantry is one of the few lucky ones in the area that managed to stay afloat. Along the M-89 area there has been quite a bit fluctuation from an agricultural standpoint. Only about two locations of functioning producers still remain from a once booming region.

   Bob and Lou Crane nearly sunk into bankruptcy with the rest of the crowd. Year after year, their farm barely put bread on the table and covered the bills. Lou described it as a true battle of personal strength to keep positive. The farm had been in Mr. Crane’s family ever since the 19^th and it was not an option to put the 180-acre farm up for adoption. I am glad that they kept a strong hold onto their land and continue their traditions to the present day.

Kudos to the Crane’s.