Hillside Orchards
Hillside Orchards is a family-owned Michigan fruit orchard established in 1836 that grows chestnuts, apples, peaches, cherries, and berries, selling directly to consumers at Chicago-area farmers markets and offering value-added chestnut products plus a tree sponsorship carbon offset program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1836
- HeadquartersBerrien Springs, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Hillside Orchards does
Hillside Orchards is a family-owned and operated fruit orchard located at 8198 Fleisher Lane in Berrien Springs, Michigan, along the fruitbelt of Southwestern Michigan. Established in 1836, the farm has been in continuous family operation for nearly 190 years and is currently run by a husband-and-wife team along with their two daughters, with a total headcount of approximately six people. The farm is recognized as one of the largest chestnut growers in the state of Michigan, and approximately half of the farm acreage is in active production while the remainder is rested for soil-building purposes. A separate 5-acre woodlot is maintained for wildlife habitat. Approximately half the farm is in active production across a diverse portfolio including apples, peaches, nectarines, apricots, sweet cherries, chestnuts, blueberries, and raspberries.
The farm's product strategy combines seasonal fresh fruit with value-added processed chestnut products (peeled and frozen chestnuts, dried sliced chestnuts, gluten-free chestnut flour) and complementary wildflower and chestnut honey. The core technology platform is built on sustainable agriculture practices: a laser-measuring precision sprayer enables tree-specific chemical application to reduce input waste and drift, while integrated pest management using insect pheromones and growth regulators minimizes chemical dependency. The farm is USDA GAP certified, Food Alliance certified sustainable, and MAEAP environmentally verified, with conservation awards from the St Joseph River Conservation District in 1998 and 2002.
The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer through three weekly Chicago metropolitan farmers markets (Lincoln Park Green City Market on Saturdays, Near North Side Market on Saturdays, and Andersonville Farm Market on Wednesdays). The farm is explicitly not a U-Pick operation. A supplementary revenue stream is the 'Sponsor a Chestnut Tree' carbon offset program with three pricing tiers ($60/$100/$150) covering horticultural practices including mowing, irrigation, pruning, soil testing, and wildlife protection. The farm holds memberships in industry associations including Chestnut Growers Inc., Michigan Peach Sponsors, MACMA, and Michigan Nut Growers. Pricing for produce is not publicly disclosed; only the tree sponsorship pricing is transparent.
Hillside Orchards firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hillside Orchards
- Legal name
- Hillside Orchards LLC
- Website
- https://hillsideorchards.us
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1836
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hillside Orchards is a family-owned Michigan fruit orchard established in 1836 that grows chestnuts, apples, peaches, cherries, and berries, selling directly to consumers at Chicago-area farmers markets and offering value-added chestnut products plus a tree sponsorship carbon offset program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hillside Orchards industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fruit Orchards
- NAICS
- Fruit and Tree Nut Farming (1113), Tree Nut Farming (111335), Berry (except Strawberry) Farming (111334)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pome Fruit Orchards (Apples, Pears, Quinces) (AFAGACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tree Nut Orchards (Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachios, Pecans, Hazelnuts, Macadamias) (AFAGACAE), Berry Farming (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Cranberries) (AFAGACAD)
Keywords
Where Hillside Orchards is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berrien Springs
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hillside Orchards business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Fresh Fruit Sales: Fresh produce sold directly to consumers at farmers markets including apples, peaches, nectarines, apricots, sweet cherries, chestnuts, blueberries, and raspberries.
- Chestnut Products: Value-added chestnut products including fresh chestnuts, peeled and frozen chestnuts, dried sliced chestnuts, and gluten-free chestnut flour.
- Tree Sponsorship Program: Carbon footprint reduction program allowing customers to sponsor chestnut trees at three tiers ($60, $100, $150) covering horticultural practices including mowing, irrigation, pruning, soil tests, and wildlife protection.
- Honey Sales: Wildflower and chestnut honey sold as a complementary product.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Young Chestnut Tree sponsorship |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Medium Chestnut Tree sponsorship |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Large Chestnut Tree sponsorship |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels2 records
Hillside Orchards product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hillside Orchards is a family-owned fruit and chestnut orchard in Berrien Springs, Michigan, established in 1836. It grows and sells seasonal fresh fruit (apples, peaches, nectarines, apricots, sweet cherries, berries), fresh chestnuts, and value-added chestnut products (peeled/frozen chestnuts, dried chestnuts, and gluten-free chestnut flour), along with wildflower and chestnut honey. The farm distributes directly to consumers at multiple Chicago-area farmers markets and operates a 'Sponsor a Chestnut Tree' carbon footprint reduction program.
Product overview
Hillside Orchards is a family-owned fruit farm established in 1836 in Berrien Springs, Michigan, offering a diverse portfolio of fresh produce and processed products. The core offerings include seasonal fresh fruits (apples, peaches, nectarines, apricots, sweet cherries, berries) and specialty chestnut products (fresh chestnuts, peeled/frozen chestnuts, dried chestnuts, and gluten-free chestnut flour). The farm also operates a 'Sponsor a Chestnut Tree' carbon offset program. The business integrates sustainable farming practices with integrated pest management and has grown to become one of the largest chestnut growers in Michigan.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 190 years of continuous family farm operation
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Hillside Orchards
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hillside Orchards technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Hillside Orchards partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Michigan Peach SponsorsminorMembership organization for peach growers in Michigan.
- MACMA Michigan Agricultural Cooperative Marketing AssociationminorCooperative marketing association helping Michigan agricultural producers with marketing and product development.
- Michigan Nut GrowersminorOrganization promoting growing, marketing, and product development for nut growers in Michigan.
- Chestnut Growers Inc.coreKey organization promoting chestnut growing, marketing, and product development. Hillside Orchards is one of the largest chestnut growers in Michigan and a member of this organization.
- Food AlliancecoreCertifying organization for sustainable agriculture. Hillside Orchards is Food Alliance certified sustainable.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Hillside Orchards competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- King Orchards: Family-run Northern Michigan orchard growing sweet cherries, apples, and other fruit with farm-market DTC sales, directly comparable in crop mix, family-operation model, and Michigan location.
- Michigan Blueberry Growers Association: Michigan-based cooperative growing and marketing blueberries, directly comparable on the berry portion of Hillside's product mix and the Southwest Michigan growing region.
- HMC Farms: Multi-generation California stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots) and table grape grower with diversified product line, highly comparable in core stone fruit production.
- Murray Family Farms: Multi-generation California stone fruit farm with on-farm stand, farmers markets, and value-added products; closely comparable DTC, family-farm, and stone fruit positioning.
- BelleHarvest Sales Inc. Michigan-based grower, packer, and marketer of apples and stone fruit, directly comparable to Hillside's apples/peaches/cherries line and its Michigan orchard footprint.
- Cherry Bay Orchards: Michigan sweet and tart cherry grower/processor; directly comparable in cherry production, Michigan location, and integrated fresh and processed product approach.
Broad incumbents
- Columbia Fruit Packers: Pacific Northwest grower-packer of cherries, apples, and pears with vertically integrated marketing; comparable tree fruit category with much larger scale and broader distribution.
- Stemilt Growers: Large Pacific Northwest tree fruit grower (apples, pears, cherries) with vertically integrated packing and marketing; comparable core fruit category but much broader scale than Hillside.
- Royal Ridge Fruits: Pacific Northwest grower-shipper of stone fruit, apples, and cherries with wholesale and value-added product lines, comparable crop mix but operating at significantly larger scale.
Others
- Chestnut Growers Inc. Industry association/cooperative for chestnut growers and marketers; directly comparable as the trade body for Hillside's chestnut category and a channel for industry data and partnerships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hillside Orchards social profiles
Digital presenceHillside Orchards compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Hillside Orchards financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hillside Orchards leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Hillside Orchards funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hillside Orchards M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hillside Orchards
What does Hillside Orchards do?
Hillside Orchards is a family-owned fruit and chestnut orchard in Berrien Springs, Michigan, established in 1836. It grows and sells seasonal fresh fruit (apples, peaches, nectarines, apricots, sweet cherries, berries), fresh chestnuts, and value-added chestnut products (peeled/frozen chestnuts, dried chestnuts, and gluten-free chestnut flour), along with wildflower and chestnut honey. The farm distributes directly to consumers at multiple Chicago-area farmers markets and operates a 'Sponsor a Chestnut Tree' carbon footprint reduction program.
Is Hillside Orchards a public or private company?
Hillside Orchards is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Hillside Orchards founded?
Hillside Orchards was founded in 1836. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hillside Orchards based?
Hillside Orchards is headquartered in Berrien Springs, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hillside Orchards make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Fresh Fruit Sales are the primary driver. The others are chestnut Products, tree Sponsorship Program and honey Sales.
Who are Hillside Orchards's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are King Orchards, Michigan Blueberry Growers Association, HMC Farms, Murray Family Farms, BelleHarvest Sales Inc. and Cherry Bay Orchards. Broad incumbents are Columbia Fruit Packers, Stemilt Growers and Royal Ridge Fruits. Chestnut Growers Inc. is listed as an others.
Does Hillside Orchards have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hillside Orchards.
What industry is Hillside Orchards in?
Hillside Orchards's product category is Fruit Orchards. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGACAB, Pome Fruit Orchards (Apples, Pears, Quinces), with a secondary code of AFAGACAE, Tree Nut Orchards (Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachios, Pecans, Hazelnuts, Macadamias). Its NAICS code is 1113 and its SIC code is 100.