Up North Blog

“Are you okay?”“Yes. Thanks for asking. Health permitting, my family and I are going to be fine over the next two months. And that’s good enough for now. How about you?”That’s a sum of the conversations I have been having with staff, neighbors and customers during the COVID-19 crisis. We want to know that everyone around us will be OK. And while we're unsure what the future holds, for the moment Northern Michigan is making do. At Cherry Republic, our goal is to make it safely to Memorial Weekend ...

Dear Citizens of the Republic,With the rapidly changing circumstances surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, I wanted to update you on some changes we’ve made at Cherry Republic since my last post to you on March 13.First, please know that Cherry Republic continues to value the trust both our customers and employees place in us, and we take this responsibility seriously. Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, whether it be directly through the illness itself, or throu ...

Thanks to all who have responded to our call for nominations for Operation Cherry Cheer. We are acknowleging those who are going out of their way to help others during the coronavirus crisis, or those who simply need a pick-me-up during these challenging and uncertain times. We are choosing one deserving person each day to receive a free gift box from now through May 17, 2020. Below is a list of our very deserving recipients. We'll keep updating this blog every few days, so be sure to check ...

Since there is much on everyone's minds right now, we wanted to spread an extra bit of cherry cheer over the next couple of months. So each day for the next 60 days, Cherry Republic will send one free gift box to a special recipient who you -- our loyal Citizens -- nominate. Please tell us about those in your community who need their spirits lifted or who should be recognized and appreciated for going out of their way to help others. Send us an email with a name, address, phone nu ...

To our loyal Citizens,Cherry Republic values the trust both our customers and employees place in us and we take this responsibility seriously. We understand the growing concern surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19) across our communities, and our hearts go out to all those who've been impacted. Cherry Republic is working around the clock to ensure we're able to keep our customers and our ambassadors healthy and safe. To ensure our staff and customers safety, we are doing the following:We are freque ...

Lisa Wozniak's voice is a familiar one amidst the growing conversation about land, water, and air protection in our beloved Great Lakes State. The executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters since 2006, Lisa has spent more than 20 years as an environmental champion, speaking out passionately about threats like the dangerous Line 5 oil pipeline running beneath the Straits of Mackinac and increasing concerns about PFAS. So as we wade deeper into the 2020 election season—a ...

Update on 03-13-2020: In light of the heightened warnings and advice from health officials, we have made the decision to postpone our 2nd Annual Traveling Test Kitchen. Cherry Republic values the opinion of each of our loyal Citizens and want to make sure we give each of you the opportunity to visit us while on the road and offer your feedback to us. We remain committed to hosting these events in the future and will update all of you on our new road trip dates. Our Traveling Test Kitch ...

Nels Veliquette is a second generation cherry farmer, the C.F.O. of Cherry Ke and Cherries R Us, and for the last decade, a vital partner of Cherry Republic. The Veliquette family owns and leases thousands of acres of cherry orchards in Northern Michigan. They are fully integrated farmers, meaning they pick, pit and store all of the cherries they grow. Cherry growers throughout the United States have had the added burden of trying to compete with the unfair practice of cherry dumping f ...

Dr. Nikki Rothwell's name and reputation are well known among Michigan fruit farmers and, frankly, to anyone who likes to stay abreast of the health of our area's cherry crop. For the past 15+ years, Nikki has been the face of the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center (NWMHRC) as the District's Integrated Pest Management Agent for Fruit. In 2010 she was named NWMHRC Coordinator and District Extension Horticulture Educator — splitting her responsibilities between the Mich ...

Returning to MIchigan after raising their family in Indianapolis, Sarah Hallstedt and her husband, Phil, purchased their 53-acre cherry farm in Northport, MI, in 2006 to pursue their dream of fruit farming. Relying on used equipment bought at auction and the kind advice of local growers and researchers at MSU like Nikki Rothwell, the Hallstedts slowly transformed 22 acres of decrepit old tart cherry trees into fertile ground ready for the planting of 9,500 sweet cherry trees in 2010-2012.Al ...

Not only is 2020 the start of a brand new decade, it's also an election year. So we're kicking off a campaign of our own: Vote Cherries 2020! Our platform is simple. Let's support the candidates and causes that make Michigan special -- like our pristine lakes and thriving cherry orchards. Through monthly blogs and videos, we hope to inspire you to join us in this positive and hope-filled initiative. Today we kick off the first installment of Vote Cherries 2020 with a nod to our beautiful Sl ...

Bob Sutherland and Nels Veliquette, CFO of CherryKe, looking toward the future1-17-20 UPDATE:The International Trade Commission on Wednesday decided to reverse its earlier implementation of preliminary tariffs on dried tart cherries from Turkey. Our friend Nels Veliquette (pictured above with Bob) was quoted in the Detroit News as saying this ruling "represents a body blow to an industry that was already struggling in the commodities cycle." While this is indeed a hard knock, we are hopeful ...

Is there anything better than coming home to a simmering pot of soup on a cold winter night? This hearty recipe features our double-milled aged Premium Cherry White Cheddar Cheese and vitamin-packed cauliflower. Add a crusty baguette, a leafy green salad, and a bottle of your favorite cabernet for the perfect winter dinner!Ingredients3 tablespoons unsalted butter1 medium yellow onion, diced1 medium head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces4-5 cups low-sodium chicken broth8 oz. wel ...

Cherry Republic closed out the decade with a bang, packing 2019's calendar with everything from new product rollouts and building projects to fun customer events, a spiffy new website, and much more. Check out some of the highlights and prepare yourself for an exciting 2020!10. Traveling Test KitchenLast spring we packed up our first ever Traveling Test Kitchen and hit the road, visiting all six of our stores during March and April. Citizens had the chance to taste-test several new products ...

For those of us who have been around Cherry Republic awhile, it's hard to believe that at the start of the 2010s we only had two retail stores! Our flagship campus in Glen Arbor grew little by little since Bob started the company in 1989 out of the trunk of his car, and then our second location was added in 2007 in downtown Traverse City. As we round the corner into 2020, we are bursting with pride when we consider our six thriving stores scattered throughout out beautiful state of Michigan.Over ...