McCallum’s Orchard & Cider Mill celebrates 90 years serving Michigan’s Thumb Coast

For nearly a century, McCallum’s Orchard & Cider Mill has provided the Blue Water Area with a place where the entire family can come to enjoy and create fond memories during the fall season.  

Six years ago, current owner Ray Peltier bought the orchard and cider mill located at 5697 Harris Rd. in Jeddo. A U.S. Navy veteran, the Fort Gratiot resident says the orchard was first opened in 1932 by Marvin McCallum Sr.

“I had a tree moving service, I had a sawmill and would work on houses, and I found out that they had an orchard there,” Peltier says. “I had my trees in the forest and I couldn’t understand why my apple trees wouldn't produce. That’s why I looked up an orchard and that’s when I ran into Mr. McCallum in ’99. He taught me and I just kept running with it from there.”

McCallum’s Orchard & Cider Mill offers a variety of products from apples and wine to cider and fresh donuts.

Originally over 200 acres, he says McCallum’s had a cow barn and largely offered produce such as peaches, cherries, and asparagus.

“They had way more peaches than now,” Peltier says. “You can dig in different areas and you'll find a peach pit. You have no idea how old that thing is.”

Today, the McCallum’s property is about 80 acres and peaches are still grown in the orchard. In addition, 60 varieties of apples can be found in the orchard and fruits such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.

“It's just such a joy that people care and share the time and the stories,” Peltier says. “That's why the girls or the guys at the farm are doing this. It's a sense of purpose and a sense of history that you carry along and we’re just lucky. Some of these people came because their parents mentioned it or their grandparents used to go here. Now how fun is it that they’re at the orchard?”

The entire family is sure to have fun at McCallum’s Orchard & Cider Mill with several activities across the property such as the Kid's Zone.

Topped with whipped cream, caramel, and a cinnamon sugar donut, the Cider Slushy is a popular offering at McCallum's.
From sunflower picking, wagon rides, a petting farm, and a cozy bonfire to warm up by, McCallum’s offers plenty of activities to keep the family entertained all day long. In addition to staples such as apples, cider, and donuts, McCallum’s also has a winery highlighting products made from fruits grown on the orchard.

“You might say of course our donuts are the best thing in the world, which they are,” Peltier says. “There are no helpers, no preservatives, that's what makes them so uncanny … But it’s just the doughnuts, the memories, and people coming out.”

McCallum’s season runs from May until mid-November, but coming later this fall, your favorite McCallum’s products can also be found at The Lot in Port Huron. Peltier says they anticipate opening in November and will be open Friday through Sunday offering wine as well as fresh donuts, apples, and cider.

“We see the community and we really applaud what the city has been doing,” he says. And it shows, my gosh, you can see people walking down at nighttime now, or playing at McMorran. It's just wonderful.”

To stay up-to-date with current offerings at the orchard, visit mccallumsorchard.com or facebook.com/mccallumsorchard.