We, the 2019 summer interns, had the opportunity to trade a day in the office for a day in the fields and headed to Tuttle Orchards in Greenfield, Indiana, owned by Farm Bureau members Mike and Helen Roney.

Our tour began with Helen Roney, who told us that Tuttles was founded almost 90 years ago and has remained family-operated for three generations. Helen took us on a hay ride through the orchard, and she explained the various crops planted over the years. Currently, 30 varieties of apples are grown on the orchard, attracting Hoosiers during the fall months. In the summer, Tuttles maintains business with tomatoes, sweet corn and other vegetables. The Roneys use high tunnels to plant tomatoes, due to their plants’ weather-sensitivity.

In addition to crops, Tuttles offers summer activities including festivals, tours and horticulture classes. Also on the property are a green house, farm store and café. Tuttle’s Café offers a lunch menu with locally-sourced products in addition to apple doughnuts and slushies. A wide selection of preserves, pies, produce and homemade aprons are sold in the farm store. The aprons are designed by one of the Roneys’ daughters.

During our lunch at the café, we discussed difficulties the Roneys experience on their orchard. Mike noted that owning an apple orchard can be challenging, especially with unpredictable weather. With the large amount of rain this spring, bees are less active and are unable to pollinate apple trees. Without pollination, apples don’t develop properly and yields suffer. With apples being the family’s primary crop, the Roneys, like many farmers, will be rushed for time come fall. Yet among hardships, the Roneys continuously pour love into their orchard.