National Grape Cooperative
There are 1,282 grape growers in Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Ontario, Canada, who are National Grape Cooperative members.
The sole owner of Welch's, National Grape delivers outstanding grapes, while Welch's converts the grapes into food products for consumers in the U.S. and abroad.
The Schmaltz family are some of those growers. The family has been farming grapes in Michigan since 1926, when they purchased a farm and planted their first two acres. But their road to Michigan grape farming was not an easy one.
Their family's journey began in the Ukraine when farmland became scarce and Fred Schmaltz's grandparents and great-grandfather left the Ukraine in search of new farmland. Sponsored by a Mennonite family, they crossed the ocean in steerage and landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, before continuing on to Winnipeg, Canada. They worked for three years there to pay off their sponsorship debt.
Fred and his sons, Jerry and Mike, now farm their land in Michigan and, as members of National Grape Cooperative, rely on its services. "Before we joined the co-op, we didn't always get paid for the grapes we delivered," Fred explained. The financial investment is huge and the risks are many, but for the Schmaltz family it offers a lifestyle they wouldn't trade.
What the Schmaltzes love most about farming is the opportunity to work together as a family. While they agree that farming is not for the faint of heart, they wouldn't change their lifestyle. They embrace their farming challenges with optimism and enthusiasm that shines through. "We're already anticipating this year's harvest," commented Jerry. "You reap what you sow, and we can hardly wait."
Learn more about National Grape Cooperative at www.nationalgrape.com.