What Champlain Orchards does

Champlain Orchards is a privately held, family-owned orchard and cidery founded in 1998 by Bill Suhr and headquartered in Shoreham, Vermont. The company operates 300+ acres producing more than 175 varieties of fruit — predominantly apples at 100,000+ bushels annually — alongside stone fruit, pears, and berries. Its core production capabilities are conventional orchard operations, including a solar-powered facility, hard cider production, on-site bakery output, and seasonal fresh-pack operations.

Revenue is generated through a multi-channel model: (i) wholesale distribution of fresh fruit to retailers and institutions (schools, hospitals, food banks) via an in-house delivery fleet and third-party distributors; (ii) hard cider sales through wholesale, on-site Cider Garden tastings, and DTC e-commerce shipping to 46 states via Vinoshipper; (iii) DTC e-commerce for fruit and gift boxes; (iv) on-site experiences including a Farm Market, pick-your-own, bookable orchard tours, cookware classes, and paint-and-sip events; and (v) merchandise and seasonal provisions. The orchard is Eco-Apple certified through a partnership with Red Tomato and the IPM Institute, which provides a third-party-verified sustainability positioning within Northeast retail.

Operations are supported by approximately 35 full-time staff and roughly 50 seasonal H-2A workers sourced from Jamaica. In 2020 the company acquired Douglas Orchards, expanding its growing capacity. Strategic priorities evident from the inputs include converting the cider line into a national DTC brand, expanding higher-margin agritourism and gift/provisions revenue, and embedding social-impact positioning through the Cider for Good program launched in October 2024.

Name

Champlain Orchards

Legal name

Champlain Orchards

Website

https://champlainorchards.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Champlain Orchards is a family-owned Vermont orchard and cidery operating 300+ acres of fruit, selling fresh fruit, hard cider, baked goods, and gift boxes through wholesale, on-site experiences, and DTC e-commerce shipping across 46 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orchard and Cidery Products

NAICS

Apple Orchards (111331), Fruit and Tree Nut Combination Farming (111336), Fruit and Tree Nut Farming (1113)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Cider & Orchard Fruit Production (Apples/pears for cider & processing) (AFAGACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cideries & Meadery Tasting Rooms (THAFALAI), Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops) (CRAHAGAO), Stone Fruit Orchards (Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Cherries, Apricots) (AFAGACAC), Berry Farming (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Cranberries) (AFAGACAD)

Keywords

• Fruit orchard farming
• Hard cider production
• Pick-your-own fruit
• Farm market retail
• Wholesale produce distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Shoreham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fresh Fruit Sales: Direct-to-consumer and wholesale sales of fresh Eco-Certified and Organic (VOF-certified) apples, peaches, pears, plums, cherries, nectarines, and berries. Also offers fresh cider, apple butter, and cider syrup.
2. Farm Market Retail: On-site farm market selling fresh fruit, baked goods (pies, pastries, donuts), sweet cider, hard cider, and locally-sourced provisions including Vermont cheeses, meats, specialty foods, and bath/body care products.
3. Cider Garden Experience: On-site dining and beverage experience featuring award-winning hard ciders, sweet ciders, locally-sourced small plates, baked goods, and activities like lawn games and orchard tours. Open Saturdays and Sundays.
4. Tours and Experiences: Paid experiences including Orchard Tours ($12/person), Student Tours ($11/student), Hard Cider Tastings ($30/person), Combined Tour + Tasting ($45/person), Cooking Classes ($80/person), and Paint & Sip events ($50/person).
5. Gift Boxes and Provisions: Curated gift boxes and provisions shipped direct to consumer including The Grand Vermonter Box ($125), The Vermonter Box ($75), Orchard Essentials Box, Orchard Sampler ($55), Syrup Sampler ($29.99), and I Want It All! Bundle ($34.99).
6. Hard Cider Direct-to-Consumer: Vinoshipper direct shipping of hard ciders including Farmstead, Mac & Maple, Kingston Dry, Honeycrisp, Citra, Sidria, Lemon Drift, Calyx, Tuscan Blue, Ginger Pear, and limited releases. Available in 46 US states.
7. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale supply of produce, fresh cider, apple pies, turnovers, cider donuts, apple butter, cider syrup, and applesauce to stores and institutions. Own drivers deliver within Vermont; third-party distributors cover broader territory.
8. Orchard Gear: Branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hats, hoodies), drinkware (tumblers, Teku glasses), accessories (tote bags, picnic blankets), and gift cards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Champlain Orchards is a family-owned Vermont orchard operating 300+ acres that grows 175+ varieties of Eco-Certified and organically certified fruits (apples, peaches, pears, plums, cherries, nectarines, berries). The company produces and sells hard ciders, sweet cider, baked goods (pies, donuts, turnovers), wood-fire boiled syrups, apple butter, curated gift boxes, and branded merchandise, while operating a Farm Market, Pick-Your-Own orchards, Cider Garden, and bookable tours and tasting experiences.

Product overview

Champlain Orchards is a family-owned Vermont orchard and cidery offering a diversified portfolio of products centered around sustainably grown fruit. The core offerings include fresh apples (175+ varieties) and other stone fruits/berries, complemented by a craft hard cider line featuring year-round staples (Farmstead, Citra, Mac & Maple, Kingston Dry) and seasonal releases. Value-added provisions include gift boxes, wood-fire boiled syrups (maple, cider, maple cider), apple butter, and fresh-baked goods. The business operates experiential retail through a Farm Market, Cider Garden, Pick-Your-Own operations, and private tour/experience bookings. All fruit is either Eco-certified by the IPM Institute or organically certified by VOF.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Farmstead: Hard cider brand - Not Too Sweet, Not Too Dry flagship cider
• Cider for Good

Products and services

• Hard Ciders Artisan hard ciders crafted from the orchard's 150+ apple varieties, featuring dry, semi-dry, hopped, botanical, and fruit-infused styles. Core lineup includes Farmstead, Citra, Mac & Maple, and Kingston Dry, with seasonal and limited releases like Honeycrisp, Sidria, Lemon Drift, Calyx, Tuscan Blue, and Ginger Pear. Sold direct-to-consumer via Vinoshipper in 46 US states plus DC.
• Estate Series Ciders Limited-release single-varietal and small-batch hard ciders made from rare heirloom apple varieties, including Redfield, Ettersburg, Burbank & Balaton, and Ice Ciders made in deep winter.
• Fresh Fruit Over 175 varieties of eco-certified and organically certified (VOF) fruits including apples (146 varieties), pears (23), plums (15), peaches (17), cherries (9), nectarines (6), raspberries (12), plus blackberries, elderberries, currants, strawberries, and grapes grown across 300 acres in Shoreham, Vermont. Sold via farm market, PYO, wholesale, and DTC shipping.
• Sweet Cider Fresh-pressed sweet apple cider available in various sizes from pint to bulk, as well as seasonal cranberry cider. Sold at farm market and wholesale.
• Gift Boxes Curated gift boxes featuring Vermont products including The Grand Vermonter Box ($125), The Vermonter Box ($75), Orchard Essentials Box, Orchard Sampler ($55), Big Breakfast Bundle ($90), and I Want It All! Bundle ($34.99). Shipped DTC via FedEx 2-Day.
• Syrups Handmade small-batch syrups including Maple Syrup (certified organic, from $14.99), Cider Syrup (boiled cider), and Maple Cider Syrup (8oz), all boiled over wood fire. Includes Syrup Sampler ($29.99) bundle.
• Apple Butter Small-batch apple butter crafted from eco-certified apples, reduced with cinnamon and allspice. Available in 6oz and 16oz sizes.
• Baked Goods & Provisions Fresh-baked goods including apple pies (6" or 9"), apple turnovers, cider donuts (cinnamon sugar and plain), plus local Vermont provisions like cheeses, meats, jams, and specialty foods sold at the Farm Market and wholesale.
• Orchard Gear Branded apparel and accessories including t-shirts, hats, hoodies, insulated tumblers, Rastal Teku glasses, picnic blankets, and reusable hemp tote bags. Also gift cards in $25-$200 denominations.
• Cider Garden Experience Outdoor venue open Saturdays 12pm-7pm and Sundays 12pm-4pm featuring locally-sourced small plates, award-winning hard ciders, sweet ciders, lawn games, fire pits, and scenic orchard walks with views of Lake Champlain.
• Orchard Tours & Experiences Bookable guided orchard experiences including tours ($12/person), student tours ($11/student), hard cider tastings ($30/person), combination tour with tasting ($45/person), cooking classes ($80/person), and paint and sip events ($50/person).
• Pick-Your-Own Seasonal pick-your-own fruit experiences for strawberries, cherries, raspberries, currants, plums, berries, peaches, nectarines, elderberries, grapes, and apples with unit pricing from $3-$60 depending on fruit and quantity. Open Wed-Sun seasonally.

Quantifiable outcome

• Donates 1/4 lb of Eco-Certified apples to local food banks for every 4-pack of hard cider sold
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Douglas OrchardscoreOthers · 1 January 2020Acquired neighboring Douglas Orchards in Shoreham, Vermont in 2020. Expands growing capacity and adds strawberry PYO operations. Strawberries grown at this location are 'never sprayed'.
• Black River ProducecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party produce distributor used for wholesale distribution beyond Champlain Orchards' direct delivery reach.
• ReinhartcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party produce distributor used for wholesale distribution beyond Champlain Orchards' direct delivery reach.
• Meyers ProducecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party produce distributor used for wholesale distribution beyond Champlain Orchards' direct delivery reach.
• The Gateway Farm (Bristol, VT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupplier of pure Dark Robust Vermont Maple Syrup used in Mac & Maple hard cider. 3.5% of Mac & Maple proceeds donated to 350VT.org.
• IPM Institute of North AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization that administers the Eco-Certified growing protocol and conducts annual audits of Champlain Orchards' growing practices.
• Red TomatocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the Eco program and works on behalf of the grower network to market and distribute Eco-certified fruit. Partners with local farmers, scientific advisors, and IPM Institute.
• 350VT.orgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental organization. 3.5% of Mac & Maple cider proceeds donated to help mitigate climate change effects and protect Vermont agriculture.
• Vermont Foodbank and Regional Food BankscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough 'Cider for Good' program, donates 1/4 lb of Eco-Certified apples to local food banks for every 4-pack of hard cider sold. Donations directed to food banks in the state where cider was purchased (VT, NH, MA, CT, RI, NJ, DE).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cold Hollow Cider Mill: Vermont cider mill and farm market with PYO, baked goods, and cider tastings. Directly comparable diversified orchard-to-consumer business model with strong agritourism component.
• Citizen Cider: Vermont craft cidery with taproom experience and a portfolio of dry and fruit-forward ciders. Comparable in craft cider positioning, Vermont identity, and tasting room-driven retail.
• Sunrise Orchards: Vermont apple orchard with PYO, farm market, and wholesale distribution. Comparable in regional orchard operations, PYO experience, and New England wholesale customer base.
• Scott Farm Orchard: Vermont historic orchard growing heirloom and rare apple varieties with a farm market. Comparable in heritage apple variety focus, Eco/Orchard growing practices, and on-site retail model.
• Farnum Hill Ciders: New Hampshire orchard-based cidery that grows estate apples and produces traditional-method hard ciders. Directly comparable in the estate-grown, orchard-integrated craft cider model.

Broad incumbents

• Angry Orchard: National craft hard cider brand owned by Boston Beer Company. Comparable hard cider category and DTC ambition, though operates at national scale without integrated orchard.
• Bold Rock Hard Cider: Regional craft cidery with taprooms and broad retail distribution across the Eastern U.S. Comparable hard cider product line and tasting room experiences, though without estate orchard integration.
• Vermont Hard Cider Company (Woodchuck): Vermont-based national craft hard cider brand. Comparable in product category and Vermont heritage, but operates at much greater scale without the integrated orchard and agritourism model.

Regional players

• Lincoln Peak Vineyard & Winery: Vermont farm winery with tasting room experience and direct sales. Comparable in Vermont agritourism-driven direct-to-consumer model with estate-grown beverage production.
• Yardley Orchards: Utah-based family orchard with PYO, farm market, and cider production. Comparable diversified orchard-to-consumer model with similar mid-sized family farm positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ChamplainOrchards
• Instagraminstagram.com/champlainorchards
• Xx.com/champorch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/champlain-orchards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Champlain Orchards