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Goodrich orchard a family affair
By Jane Peterson
Special to The Oakland Press
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Autumn is the time of the year when many people’s thoughts turn to the apple harvest and all the good things that result from it – warm apple pie, homemade applesauce and gooey caramel apples just to name a few.
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For Ray and Dee Porter, every day of the year is apple season. As third-generation operators of Porter’s Orchard in Goodrich, the husband and wife team is continuing a family tradition that began in 1919 when Ray Porter’s grandfather, Raymod Porter, purchased 60 acres of farm land.
At the time, he was a machinist working in Flint who had an interest in agriculture and thought it would be fun to have a farm.
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He planted is first apple trees in 1921, Ray Porter said. One of the original trees remains a vital part of the farm and still produces apples, he added.
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Ray’s father, Roger, grew up on the farm and developed a love for agriculture. He wanted to keep the farm in the family, so as a young man Roger enrolled at Iowa State to pursue his passion. He was a horticulture major, but his college career was cut short when Raymod died unexpectedly and Roger returned home to the farm.
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Roger expanded the orchard and its operations while continuing to sell bushels of apples along with apple cider.
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In 1976, Porter’s Orchard expanded with an addition that housed a larger farm market and doughnut shop. Ever since then, the smell of plain, cinnamon sugar and powdered sugar doughnuts have enticed visitors.
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Like his father, Ray Porter was raised on the farm and loved it.
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“It’s hard work, but very rewarding”, he said. “I always liked working with my dad and spending time outdoors.”
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Father and son continued working together on the farm until Roger’s death in 2005.
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Today, Ray and his wife, Dee, continue the tradition and share their love for the orchard with school children who visit by the busloads in September and October.
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Throughout the years, the business has changed and evolved, adding more “agritourism” activities such as hayrides and a petting farm to meet the needs of today’s families looking for wholesome fun on the farm.
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“We want people to have a good time and feel welcome. We want families to come and enjoy the fall weather together.” Ray said.
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Still, apples remain at the core of the business. Porter’s Orchard grows many varieties and each has its own qualities that make it good for different applications. Walking into the shop at Porter’s Orchard delights all the senses, from the sight of bags and bags of apples to the smell of doughnuts.
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Gallons of apple cider capture attention, as well. Making cider is a fine art – one that the orchard has proven to excel at.
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In 2006, Porter’s Orchard earned a second place award at a statewide competition for the Best Apple Cider in Michigan.
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The tase of cider changes from year to year, and even throughout the growing season, Porter said.
November is his favorite time of the year for cider because it has good body to it, he said.
“I drink cider every day. I never get tired of it.” he said.
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In addition to the apples, apple cider and other home-made goodies, the farm market at Porter’s Orchard is stocked with pumpkins, hone and products from local producers such as FarmBoy Tortilla Chips, Jar Head Salsa and Alma Hill Breads, which uses the kitchen at Porter’s Orchard to make their signature banana bread as well as many other flavors.
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Amos Sphanie, who started Alma Hill Breads with his wife, Caria, called Ray and Dee Porter two of the “nicest people that God ever put on the face of this earth.”
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He said the Porters gave them the springboard they needed to move forward with their business venture making natural, lower-sugar sweet breads.
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“They are fantastic, very hard-working people,” he said. “They treat us like family.”