Phillips Orchards and Cider Mill

Phillips Orchards began in 1852 when Robert Phillips acquired land in Fulton Township, Gratiot County, Michigan. Initially, the farm included a variety of crops and livestock such as cows, sheep, and horses. Over the generations, the farm was managed by James Hice Phillips, Austin James Phillips, Parmer Raymond Phillips, and Dennis AJ Phillips, before Brian Mark Phillips took over. The farm has expanded and contracted over the years, including a period in the 1960s and 1970s when there was a farm market in DeWitt, Michigan, and a satellite farm near Maple Rapids. Today, the farm spans 170 acres, including the original parcel, and is best known for its apples.

The farm employs traditional methods, such as using a rack and cloth cider press to produce high-quality cider without any additives. This labor-intensive process ensures the finest quality cider, which is pressed for 6-8 months of the year and frozen for sale during the off-season. The orchard, located on a north slope with the Maple River running through its northern edge, has proven to be excellent fruit-growing land.

Phillips Orchards grows 36 varieties of apples, 15 varieties of peaches, plums, pumpkins, squash, gourds, and other miscellaneous produce. They offer fresh, unpasteurized apple cider and a variety of homemade baked goods, including pies and cookies made from scratch using local ingredients.