“Farming was in my blood. Several generations of farming right here,” says Jim Koan, owner of Almar Orchards & Cidery.
Jim Koan has been growing apples since he was 28. Now, at 76, he and his family, who have made Genesee County home for generations, have expanded their offerings. Almar has evolved into an organic orchard and now offers fully organic apples to the community.
Apples aren’t all they offer, though, as they also feature a farm store with cider, farm-raised pastured pork, unfiltered organic vinegar, honey, maple syrup, and freshly made donuts.
Almar Orchard also has a separate arm of the business called JK’s Farmhouse Ciders, which is run by Monique Lapinski, a co-owner of the orchards. With apples from Almar, JK’s produces a wide variety of hard ciders and switchels, which are available nationwide and have been exported to Japan.
Almar is a great example of the wonderful farms in Flint & Genesee that offer fruits and vegetables, farmers’ markets, and other products.
Here are a few of them:
Spicer Orchards Farm Market, Winery & Tasting Room in Fenton is another multigenerational farm, and features a donut shop, market, cider mill, apples, winery, and special events.
Damouni Orchard and The Coop Hard Cider & Wine Tasting Room in Flint offers a variety of apples and a tasting room offering wine and hard cider.
Montrose Orchards features fresh Michigan in-season fruit, a farm market, a bakery, and special events for families to participate in.
Davison Farmers Market is open year-round with more than 70 vendors from across the state selling baked goods, fresh produce, and much more.
Flint Farmers’ Market offers dozens of vendors selling food, meats, flowers, baked goods, produce, wine, and much more. In warmer months, the market’s space extends to an outdoor pavilion where produce from around the region is sold. The market also features a bar and special event space.
Flint & Genesee also has seasonal farmers’ markets in many of its towns and cities, offering residents the opportunity to shop for fresh food locally. You can find more of them on the Explore Flint & Genesee website.
The area is also home to such special attractions as Outback Alpacas in Flushing. Here you will find the home of several alpacas and other animals happy to greet visitors, as well as an alpaca store.
If you are looking for flowers, you can visit Twig End Farm at the Flint Farmers’ Market or Walker Farms and Greenhouses in Burton. You can also head to Bordine’s, a large-scale garden center or Gerych’s in Fenton.
To learn more about Almar Orchards & Cidery and their products, or the other farmers’ markets, garden centers, and other nearby farms on the Explore Flint & Genesee’s website.
