Evolution

In 1978, Dennis Courtier bought Pepin Heights Orchard, a small apple farm on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in Lake City Minnesota. More than 20 years later, using farming practices that call for less pesticide use and an intimate understanding of nature’s balance, the operation now produces 20% of all the apples grown in Minnesota. Midwest Food Alliance approved, they are committed to stewardship of the land and an approach that takes into account the farm’s entire ecosystem. Dennis sees his role as working with nature rather than against it.

“An apple orchard is a complex eco-system into which we reach with the specific purpose of producing a perennial crop. Biologically there is a ton of stuff going on in that ecosystem, and as much as possible we try to work with the natural balance of things and to disrupt as little as possible in meeting the goals of producing the crop,” says Dennis.

“It’s really about gaining a greater understanding of how that ecosystem works and doing the minimal things you can do to keep it on track. That really reduces the amount of pesticides, too.”

Quality AND Quantity

When Dennis bought Pepin Heights, virtually all their sales came from on-farm retail. Now, 25 yearslater, the wholesale grocery industry is their market – distributing to large stores such as Cub Foods, Rainbow Foods, Kowalski’s, Byerly’s, and Lunds. Dennis has worked to become a large enough operation without sacrificing his values, so he can introduce change in the whole-sale food industry. “We have to keep our eyes on core values, and meet the needs of the retail food industry as it is….and we can’t let go of either, or game over,” says Dennis. “Over time you build up personal relationships and a reputation, but we still have to earn the business everyday with the consistent quality and quantity of products that our customers need.”

Changing the System

“In this operation, we’re looking to produce healthy food in a healthy environment. For the most part, the food system in this country is completely quantitative, not qualitative. Bigger, faster, cheaper. I’m concerned in how that kind of thinking impacts everything,” says Dennis. “We have an agricultural economy based on converting #2 diesel fuel into #2 yellow corn, and it’s not a good thing.” While most of the apple industry is still focused on cosmetics and distributional durability, Pepin Heights Orchard is growing for taste. Dennis’s favorite is Honey Crisp. “It’s not a huge tonnage apple, and it is real fussy – but it is terrific tasting. You have to make a choice.”

Open daily from 9am to 6pm, August 20th thorugh Dec 24th, the Pepin Hieghts Store sells many of the apple varieties not grown in large enough quantities for grocery store distribution. There is also a wide variety of

• fresh pressed apple cider
• sparkling cider
• crafts
• apple products
• cheese
• pumpkins and squash.

When asked what makes Pepin Heights Orchard a success, Dennis credits the people who work there, along with the fact that: “We really like apples!”