SOMERSET CENTER, MI -- When the pandemic first hit in mid March, owners of Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm asked employees if they wanted to stay open.
They all said yes.
“We asked, ‘What do you want to do? If no one is comfortable, we’ll close,'” said owner/manager Steve Meckley, whose parents Ray and Louise first opened the 70-acre farm in 1956.
“I’ll tell you, not a single person on our staff wanted to stay home. They all came in every day, and they worked through the challenges of creating, from scratch, an online ordering system and a curbside to go system.”
Response was tremendous, he said, as the crew was met with long lines in March, April and May of people wanting their popular cake and yeast-raised doughnuts made fresh on the farm with locally sourced ingredients.
“People just wanted a taste of normal,” Meckley said. “If a cup of coffee and an apple fritter would give you a sense of normal, then we were able to accomplish that.”
Owner/manager Steve Meckley of Meckley's Flavor Fruit Farm in Somerset Center, Michigan.John Gonzalez
The lines have remained constant, Meckley said, as the fall brought back families, couples and friends wanting a little escape from the daily grind of the pandemic.
Meckley’s has always been a “destination,” he said, offering cider, wine, hard cider and even beer, which came on board about a year ago. Although events had to be canceled this year, its popular corn maze is back, but socially distanced, of course.
Maple bacon doughnuts at Meckley's Flavor Fruit Farm in Somerset Center, Michigan. John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman of MLive visited as part of their search for Michigan's Best Doughnut 2020.John Gonzalez
Doughnuts
But it’s the doughnuts that people crave. Apple fritters, apple cider cinnamon sugar, pumpkin glazed and cinnamon sugar doughnuts are all top sellers, he said. Buttermilk doughnuts are made each day, with apple cider donuts on Saturdays and pumpkin donuts on Sundays.
On a busy weekend it’s not uncommon to wait an hour for your doughnuts.
“I’m very humbled," Meckley said. “I love the fact folks appreciate what we do, and we do it fresh, and with high quality ingredients every single day.”
Families
Along with the corn maze, families can enjoy the pumpkin patch and animal exhibit available on Saturdays and Sundays.
“We are working towards offering a u-pick orchard for future seasons,” said marketing director, Lindsay Meckley, Steve’s daughter, who oversees the farm’s social media channels.
For now look for a U-Pick Apple Pop Up from noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Also, pumpkins are set up in a “patch” near the cider mill to allow families and kids to select their own pumpkins, she added.
“For the holidays, we are planning additional baked good preorders, as well as farmers markets, and other outdoor holidays events that are in the works and will be revealed soon,” she said.
The cellar is home to beer production, retail and the bakery at Meckley's Flavor Fruit Farm in Somerset Center, Michigan.John Gonzalez
Expansion
Before the pandemic, Steve Meckley said plans were underway to move the baking operation to the adjacent hard cider room to allow for a restaurant (with scratch pizza, and other menu items) to team up with the tasting room.
It will happen by next year, he said.
“We’ve always wanted to do a restaurant/brewery in this building,” he said, standing in the bakery, which also houses the beer production. “We have way out grown this facility for both the bakery and all of our food production.”
The growth means keeping his hard working staff employed, and customers happy.
“We’re not a traditional bakery, but we’re different from the standpoint that you can get beer and fresh cider,” he said. “It’s a unique destination.”
If you combine Meckley’s Vanilla Mojo Stout and a maple bacon doughnut or fresh apple fritter, well, you’re living the good life, he said.
"Let’s just say they pair very well,” Meckley added.
Customers can enjoy a tasting room at Meckley's Flavor Fruit Farm in Somerset Center, Michigan.John Gonzalez
IF YOU GO
Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm
11025 S Jackson Rd, Cement City, MI 49233
517-688-3455
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Open year round. Closed for two weeks over the holidays. Limited to weekend hours over the winter. Check online for updates.
More info: Online at flavorfruitfarm.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/flavorfruitfarm.
Special thanks to Michigan’s Best Doughnut search sponsor, the Michigan Sugar Company, makers of Pioneer Sugar.
A mural dedicated to Blueline Donuts, located at 605 Garland Street inside of Carriage Town Ministries on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020 near downtown Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)
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Check out our visit to Blueline Donuts at Carriage Town Ministries
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MLive reporters Amy Sherman, left, and John Gonzalez laugh as they pose with donuts at Blueline Donuts, located at 605 Garland Street inside of Carriage Town Ministries on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020 near downtown Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | Mlive.com
Follow our Michigan’s Best adventures on social media:
@mlivemibest on Twitter
@mlivemibest on Instagram
Facebook at MLiveMIBest.
Join in by using the hashtags #mibest and #BestDoughnut
In addition:
Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.
John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.
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