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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/researching-family-land-to-identify-ancestors-x9n8239kvcj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RESEARCHING-FAMILY-LAND-TO-IDENTIFY-ANCESTORS">Researching Family Land to Identify Ancestors</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Michigan Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Michigan Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MIAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MIAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/michigan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Michigan</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/welcome-to-aarp-michigan/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-GRANDRAPIDS-MI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPMichigan" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmichigan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned" name="description"/> <meta content="Moelker, Orchards, Farm, Market, Grand, Rapids, MI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.93753"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.7836"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/researching-family-land-to-identify-ancestors-x9n8239kvcj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RESEARCHING-FAMILY-LAND-TO-IDENTIFY-ANCESTORS">Researching Family Land to Identify Ancestors</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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}); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned" name="description"/> <meta content="Moelker, Orchards, Farm, Market, Grand, Rapids, MI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.93753"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.7836"/> ' $title_for_layout = 'Place Detail - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ''include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/researching-family-land-to-identify-ancestors-x9n8239kvcj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RESEARCHING-FAMILY-LAND-TO-IDENTIFY-ANCESTORS">Researching Family Land to Identify Ancestors</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned" name="description"/> <meta content="Moelker, Orchards, Farm, Market, Grand, Rapids, MI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.93753"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.7836"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/researching-family-land-to-identify-ancestors-x9n8239kvcj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RESEARCHING-FAMILY-LAND-TO-IDENTIFY-ANCESTORS">Researching Family Land to Identify Ancestors</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Michigan Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Michigan Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MIAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MIAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/michigan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Michigan</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/welcome-to-aarp-michigan/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-GRANDRAPIDS-MI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPMichigan" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmichigan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned" name="description"/> <meta content="Moelker, Orchards, Farm, Market, Grand, Rapids, MI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.93753"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.7836"/> ' $title_for_layout = 'Place Detail - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ''include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? 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Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/researching-family-land-to-identify-ancestors-x9n8239kvcj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RESEARCHING-FAMILY-LAND-TO-IDENTIFY-ANCESTORS">Researching Family Land to Identify Ancestors</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned" name="description"/> <meta content="Moelker, Orchards, Farm, Market, Grand, Rapids, MI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.93753"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.7836"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/researching-family-land-to-identify-ancestors-x9n8239kvcj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RESEARCHING-FAMILY-LAND-TO-IDENTIFY-ANCESTORS">Researching Family Land to Identify Ancestors</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/researching-family-land-to-identify-ancestors-x9n8239kvcj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RESEARCHING-FAMILY-LAND-TO-IDENTIFY-ANCESTORS">Researching Family Land to Identify Ancestors</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Michigan Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Michigan Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MIAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MIAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/michigan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Michigan</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/welcome-to-aarp-michigan/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-GRANDRAPIDS-MI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AARPMichigan" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmichigan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned" name="description"/> <meta content="Moelker, Orchards, Farm, Market, Grand, Rapids, MI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.93753"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.7836"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/researching-family-land-to-identify-ancestors-x9n8239kvcj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RESEARCHING-FAMILY-LAND-TO-IDENTIFY-ANCESTORS">Researching Family Land to Identify Ancestors</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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History:
For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.
Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.
Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.
Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.
But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!
John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.
As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.
Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.
Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET
Online
Online Event
Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Online
Online Event
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Online
Online Event
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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} </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned" name="description"/> <meta content="Moelker, Orchards, Farm, Market, Grand, Rapids, MI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.93753"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.7836"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/researching-family-land-to-identify-ancestors-x9n8239kvcj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RESEARCHING-FAMILY-LAND-TO-IDENTIFY-ANCESTORS">Researching Family Land to Identify Ancestors</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/researching-family-land-to-identify-ancestors-x9n8239kvcj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RESEARCHING-FAMILY-LAND-TO-IDENTIFY-ANCESTORS">Researching Family Land to Identify Ancestors</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned" name="description"/> <meta content="Moelker, Orchards, Farm, Market, Grand, Rapids, MI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.93753"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.7836"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP 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<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MIAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MIAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/michigan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Michigan</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/welcome-to-aarp-michigan/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-GRANDRAPIDS-MI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarp.michigan" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img 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For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.93753"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.7836"/> ' $title_for_layout = 'Place Detail - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = '' $highlighting = '<span class="highlighting">Highlighting Grand Rapids 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Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/researching-family-land-to-identify-ancestors-x9n8239kvcj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RESEARCHING-FAMILY-LAND-TO-IDENTIFY-ANCESTORS">Researching Family Land to Identify Ancestors</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned" name="description"/> <meta content="Moelker, Orchards, Farm, Market, Grand, Rapids, MI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.93753"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.7836"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned" name="description"/> <meta content="Moelker, Orchards, Farm, Market, Grand, Rapids, MI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.93753"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.7836"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/researching-family-land-to-identify-ancestors-x9n8239kvcj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RESEARCHING-FAMILY-LAND-TO-IDENTIFY-ANCESTORS">Researching Family Land to Identify Ancestors</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GRANDRAPIDS-MI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Grand Rapids</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-mi-rhythms-of-life-virtual-rhythm-circle-m3nkbf4dwmp.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-RHYTHMS-OF-LIFE-VIRTUAL-RHYTHM-CIRCLE">Rhythms of Life: Virtual Rhythm Circle</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Online</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/the-basics-for-researching-your-roots-g5n52mxwz2p.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-BASICS-FOR-RESEARCHING-YOUR-ROOTS">The Basics for Researching Your Roots</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market - Grand Rapids, MI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned" name="description"/> <meta content="Moelker, Orchards, Farm, Market, Grand, Rapids, MI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Moelker Orchards and Farm Market"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.93753"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.7836"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Moelker Orchards and Farm Market</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>9265 Kenowa Avenue SouthWest</div> <div> <span>Grand Rapids</span>, <span>MI</span> <span>49534</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.moelkerorchards.com" target="_blank">Moelker Orchards And Farm Market</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 616-453-2585</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Moelker+Orchards+and+Farm+Market%2C+9265+Kenowa+Avenue+SouthWest%2C+Grand+Rapids%2C+MI+49534" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History:</p> <p>For more than a century, the Moelker family has grown fresh fruit on the same farm just west of Grand Rapids, and is today still a family farm, owned and operated by Tom and Bonnie Moelker. They are ably assisted by their three children.</p> <p>Travis Moelker assists in orchard management, and oversees the marketing aspects of the farm including the overall online presence.</p> <p>Tressa Moelker manages the bakery and is responsible for all bakery operations, purchasing and employees.</p> <p>Taylor Moelker works in the farm market and assists wherever needed.</p> <p>But the story of the orchard begins long ago, when in April of 1888, Hubrecht Moelker and his wife Adriana immigrated to America from the Netherlands. They lived on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 10 years until Adriana’s death in 1898. Hubrecht and son John then moved to a small dairy farm on Breton Avenue where John established a milk route in town. John married in 1901, and he and continued to live in Grand Rapids with his wife, Elizabeth, until 1907. They then purchased a farm west of town that is now known as Moelker Orchards!</p> <p>John and Elizabeth had a diverse farm, as many were in that time, with livestock such as cows and chickens and many field crops. John began planting fruit trees as well and soon realized that this location was great for orchards. John also had a small vineyard and made communion wine for the local churches. One by one their children grew up and moved off the farm until only the youngest, Jim, was left. Jim married and continued to farm and expand the orchards with his wife Donna. They started their own family and purchased the farm upon John’s death in 1956.</p> <p>As their children grew, Jim and Donna worked hard to expand the orchard plantings and Jim drove to Grand Rapids to sell fruit at the Fulton Street Market for many years. All 5 of the children were expected to help out as they could and it became a family venture! In 1970, Jim and Donna had a refrigerated apple storage constructed on the farm. They now had room to sell fruit in the front room of this building so Jim stopped going to market in town and began selling his fruit right on the farm instead. However, as the children grew up they too began to move off the farm. By the early 1980’s, the farm was thriving and the youngest son, Tom, stayed on with Jim to operate the business. After Jim passed on unexpectedly in 1986, Tom and Donna continued operating the farm.</p> <p>Tom married in 1990 and, with his wife Bonnie, purchased the farm, and began to expand the on-farm market. In the following years they added more orchards and new activities for families including horse-drawn wagon rides, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and cherries, and fall tours for school children. After a devastating frost wiped out their fruit crops in 2012, Tom and Bonnie and their 3 children Travis, Tressa, and Taylor spent the summer constructing a bakery in the farm market and began selling homemade donuts, cookies, pastries, caramel apple, apple dumplings, and fudge.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/grand-rapids-mi/report/place/moelker-orchards-and-farm-market-grand-rapids-mi.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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</span>' $location = '<a href="/grand-rapids-mi/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Greater Grand Rapids, MI</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/grand-rapids-mi/things-to-do/">Places</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="containerx"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu containerx" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/grand-rapids-mi/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/grand-rapids-mi/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/grand-rapids-mi/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/grand-rapids-mi/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/grand-rapids-mi/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/grand-rapids-mi/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/grand-rapids-mi/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/grand-rapids-mi/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/grand-rapids-mi/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/grand-rapids-mi/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/grand-rapids-mi/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/grand-rapids-mi/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/grand-rapids-mi/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118