Catching Up with Champlain Orchards: Ecologically Grown, Family-Run
Our mission at City Market is to be central to a thriving and healthy community, where the local food system is strengthened. We work with more than 300 local vendors offering more than 4,000 local products from Vermont and across New England, New York and Canada. Our relationships with local producers like Champlain Orchards and the people who shop with us both help to strengthen our community.
Champlain Orchards: Sustainable Agriculture
In the rolling Vermont hills of the Champlain Valley lies a 700-acre family-run fruit farm that’s recognized for its sustainable agriculture and community integration. Comprising four distinct Vermont Land Trust conserved farms, Champlain Orchards produces more than 150 varieties of ecologically grown apples as well as other fruits like plums, peaches, pears, nectarines and cherries—many of which are available at City Market year-round.
Family Owned & Operated—with Lots of Help
Champlain Orchards began in 1998 when Bill Suhr purchased 158 acres in Shoreham, Vermont. His passion for the environment and his entrepreneurial spirit drove the orchard's transformation into the large operation it is today. Bill’s wife Andrea and their two children, Rupert and Rosa join the orchard staff in the integral work of keeping the operation running. Andrea and Rosa are involved in the pick-your-own program in the fall, while Bill and Rupert work with the horticultural team in managing the tree nursery and overall orchard operations—finding unique ways to utilize the land and its crops.
Over 100 full-time equivalent employees work at the fruit farm at the height of the season, with a core group of approximately 30 U.S. based employees year-round. Champlain Orchards recruits seasonal help on an H2A agricultural visa. About 50 workers return from Jamaica each year—a core group of around 20 are with the orchard for 7-10 months of the year, and about 30 provide support during the harvest season.
Years of Co-op Support & Partnership
City Market is often the largest account for local vendors, often making it possible for them to sustain their businesses. Bill credits City Market in part for their success, citing regular connection and consistent support year-after-year. The Co-op and Champlain Orchards have worked together for 27 years. “The volume of support we receive from the City Market and the Co-op network in Vermont allows us to scale up to do wholesale and invest in year-round special storage, processing, and delivery capability.”
“The co-op staff also facilitate a healthy relationship and open dialogue about product offerings and prices—not all U.S. farmers have such an opportunity. City Market takes very good care of local Vermont farms,” Bill added.
“Farming is risky business, especially in a vulnerable and insecure market. It means a lot to be able to take risks financially, knowing City Market is backing us. The Co-op has also been supportive of offering value added products too—like sweet cider, hard cider, and baked goods like cider donuts and pies.”
Eye for Sustainability
Along with Champlain Orchard’s ecological growing practices, the farm uses renewable energy and aspires to improve its operational efficiency even more. Sixty percent of the power used to process apples and refrigerate them year-round comes from solar panels. “We’d love to continue on the path and move towards the electrification of trucks and farm equipment in an effort to ween off diesel fuels to transport and grow our crops.”
Beyond environmental sustainability, Champlain Orchards provides full-time employees with a robust benefits package beyond healthcare. “Coop Members purchasing our goods can feel good knowing some of their investment is also supporting the lives of our agricultural staff.”
Good Food is Good Business
Champlain Orchards’ hard cider continues to win awards, including Good Food Awards. Criteria for these awards not only evaluates the quality of the liquid but also the business including how it handles labor and renewable energy. “We’re proud of what this award represents, and it also shares values with the Co-op’s membership.”
“Although City Market brings the farm to Burlington, come out to the orchards and check us out! Life gets busy, but if you can get the kids outside, celebrate food, and enjoy listening to a live band at our orchards, next time you go to the Co-op you’ll have a memory of the farm and feel more connected to the food you’re purchasing.”
Bill adds, “With food, you either pay now or later. Educating people on farming techniques and what it means for your health to have a year-round supply of diverse local fruit is my big desire."
Champlain Orchards produces more than 150 varieties of fruit and has worked with City Market for more than 27 years. With apples and peaches currently on shelves, hear what impact City Market and its customers have had on the family-run business.
