Local orchard Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm’s history extends through decades of familial love and hard work.

Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm is a Michigan apple orchard that has successfully combined its love of delicious tasting apples with lasting family memories. What began as small family operation in 1956 has developed into an orchard, bakery, and cider mill that Michiganders have known and loved for years. 

Owner Steve Meckley started working on the farm shortly after leaving his job in the business industry. 

 “Coming home from college, I went to work for Gordon Food Services and Sam’s Club,” Meckley said. “I was working in the Detroit area, managing stores for them, but I was not happy working in the corporate environment. My father was looking for someone to help him out with the farm and so I ended up quitting my job in the corporate world, came home, and have been here ever since.”

When none of Meckley’s five siblings showed interest in taking over the farm, he knew that he wanted to be there long-term. And so, 10 years ago, Meckely decided to purchase the farm from his mother after his father passed

As much as the fruit farm has expanded in the past decade, Meckley has always prioritized the preservation of the farm’s heritage and tradition. According to Meckley, the orchard’s name has not changed since the farm’s first opening. 

“Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm was the name of the business that my mother and father purchased in 1956,” Meckely said.

With a total of 375 acres of land, Meckley’s houses more than 20 varieties of apples, several miles of corn maze, sunflower fields, cherry trees, pumpkin patches, raspberry bushes, a bakery, cider mill, and small market. In 2022, Meckley’s celebrates its 66th year in the orchard business, selling top quality apples, donuts, cider, and other specialty items. 

Four generations later, this local institution still maintains a small business appeal while also producing fresh fall goodies and a fun family experience. As Meckley put it, being a small business means that the decision-making process is “instantaneous.” Meckley said he believes in the importance of a family-oriented operation where employees meet as a team to make decisions. Meckley said the farm flourishes with a familial approach.

“We politely refer to the farm as the goose,” Meckely said. “You keep the goose happy and she lays golden eggs. She needs to be happy and she needs to be healthy which means you need to reinvest in her and you need to keep her up to speed on current things.”

Meckley’s sources all of its products locally for a unique spin on all of their home-baked classics. Make sure to come hungry, because the shop has more than a dozen specialty items to choose from like hand-dipped caramel apples, freshly baked donuts and pies, seasonal treats, and of course, plenty of apples.  

Head brewer and general manager Andrew Scoby grew up going to church with Meckley. Scoby was good friends with the Meckley family before coming to work for them at 14 years old.

Even though Scoby eventually moved away to Alaska, it was not long before he returned to Michigan and became a Meckley’s employee for the second time. 

“Steve has always recognized a good work ethic,” Scoby said. “Within a few years, I was running the whole back of the barn. I became the head brewer and general manager all in the blink of an eye.” 

While every day looks different for Scoby, he can count on a consistent routine of gravity readings, kegging, and canning. “Most of it is just following recipe prompts and directions, and then you get to experiment again. It’s really fun,” Scoby said. 

Scoby’s favorite part about working at Meckley’s is observing the joy of visitors. He pointed out how the generations of returning people make Meckely’s Flavor Fruit Farm that beloved place that it is. 

One cool, fall Saturday, Paul Rezkalla, assistant professor of philosophy, visited the orchard with a group of friends. A Brooklyn native, Rezkalla thought it was only proper that he bring his Floridian friends to do “the most Midwestern thing” possible: visiting an apple orchard.

“I grew up in New York City and we would drive hours just to go to corn mazes and apple orchards. So it’s nice to have something just 20 minutes away from where I live,” Rezkalla said. “Meckley’s makes life more enjoyable.”

Above all, Meckley said, the farm is a Christ-centered company which strives to uphold Chrisitian values. 

“Everything we do is all for God’s glory,” Meckely said. “That is what our principles are based on and it affects how we are to our staff and team. You live through Christ and you have him live through you. We pray about staffing, we pray about the weather, and – some people think I am a lunatic – but I have prayed over pieces of equipment before.”

Meckley said he is proud of the place Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm has become today. 

“My parents themselves always said that they felt like the farm was a lighthouse to the community, drawing people in to create memories and enjoy family visits,” Meckley said. “Here we are four generations later, and that’s a reality.”