The Land

The Land: Maple Grove Farms, making syrup for 7 decades.

March 28, 2018

  The Land: Maple Grove Farms, making syrup for 7 decades. #TheLand. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. CRYSTAL TOWNSHIP — Just south of the Mason-Oceana line, on 120th Avenue, sits Maple Grove Farms, owned by Jerry and Bernice Shafer. Jerry’s parents, Herb and Betty Shafer, moved to the farm when Jerry was 1-year-old, almost 79 years ago, from Indiana where Herb…

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The Land: Asparagus packing, a new generation of farming at Oomen Bros.

June 13, 2017

  The Land: Asparagus packing, a new generation of farming at Oomen Bros. #TheLand #OceanaCountyAgriculture. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. The Land is a monthly series that focuses on the agriculture industry in Oceana County.  CRYSTAL TOWNSHIP — Oomen Bros. Inc. is a four generation 2,000-acre farm located in eastern Oceana County that farms 300 acres of asparagus. Five years ago,…

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The Land: The Kaszas’ sweet success.

March 10, 2017

The Land: The Kasza’s sweet success. #TheLand. The Land is a monthly series that appears on Oceana County Press featuring local agriculture. If you have a suggestion for a Land story, please email editor@mediagroup31.com.  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Samuel and Philip Kasza take maple syrup making pretty seriously. In seven years the brothers have taken the operation…

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The Land: Change is constant at Rennhack Orchards.

September 22, 2016
The Land: Change is constant at Rennhack Orchards.

  #TheLand #OceanaCountyAgriculture By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. HART TOWNSHIP — Change happens quickly at Rennhack Orchards. Because the family owned operation owns its own farm market — and grows a majority of its produce for that market — the Rennhacks can study consumer trends and adjust their products according to what the customer demands. The farm market is located at…

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The Land: Farming, community go hand-in-hand for the Van Sickles.

June 7, 2016
The Land: Farming, community go hand-in-hand for the Van Sickles.

The Land series on local agriculture is brought to you by House of Flavors Restaurants in Ludington and Manistee: Bringing Something Sweet to the Lakeshore: www.houseofflavors.com. By Allison Scarbrough. Editor. ELBRIDGE TOWNSHIP — Larry Van Sickle has been farming asparagus most of his life, and the 73-year-old has observed many changes over the years in Oceana County’s biggest agricultural industry.…

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