Up North Blog

On Tuesday, Glen Arbor and its surroundings woke up to the most astounding 30 inches of snow I've witnessed in my half century in the north. It was powdery like the stuff the mountains get. It was picturesque like the wildest north woods. The morning was calm and quiet, and while there was barely anywhere to go, it felt so good to be outside.When the official snow totals were in, Glen Arbor had 30 inches and a few hillsides had 38 inches that left us all stunned while working to move it out of o ...

Last month, we told you about Trisann -- one of our seasonal International Ambassadors, who left Glen Arbor at the end of the summer to return to her home country of Jamaica as a high school chemistry teacher. She was in need of some basic supplies for her students, and our Citizens responded with generous hearts. (Click here for an update on Trisann's school.)Well, it turns out Trisann wasn't the only future teacher among our ranks. Meet Miguel Binns, who has worked in the kitchen at Cherr ...

If you ask most Cherry Republic employees what their favorite season is, they’ll more than likely tell you that it's fall. In Northern Michigan, the weather during this time of year is still beautiful, and there’s a nice lull between the crazy days of summer and the jolly-yet-hectic weeks leading up to Christmas.The only problem is, there isn’t an official holiday throughout the fall season. So with a nod toward our whimsical company value of ‘Beaches’ (as in “Life, Liberty, Beaches & Pie"), ...

If you stopped by our Cherry Public House over the last two summers, you might recognize the smiling face of Trisann, pictured above. One of our dynamite International Ambassadors, she worked as a seasonal prep cook in our Glen Arbor kitchen, but left a few weeks early this year to take a job as a high school chemistry teacher in her home country of Jamaica.We've been checking in with Trisann, and she recently shared that her students are in need of some very basic school supplies (see ...

Cherry Republic President Bob Sutherland's love of environmental causes is well documented. On the board of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, he is a vocal supporter of renewable energy, and he has spoken out passionately about his love for the Great Lakes and his determination to shut down the Line 5 Pipeline running beneath the Straits of Mackinac. So you might not be surprised to hear that many Cherry Republic employees share that same passion. Two of those employees -- Laura ...

Meet the Albee Family. They came to us all the way from Arizona. Michael, Karena and their kids Sawyer and Rigby spent lots of time having fun tasting all of the different samples and playing in the ball pit at the Cherry Republic of Frankenmuth store. Being from Arizona, Michael said he's not unfamiliar with Cherry Republic, having spent many summers in Northern Michigan on Little Glen Lake at his grandparents house. He said no trip to Michigan is complete without a trip to Cherry Republic a ...

Nature's Way From The South Manitou Island LighthouseBy Jonathan SchechterThe landscape that is now Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is rightfully described as a masterpiece of ice, wind and water. It came into existence some 13,000 years ago as the last great glacier retreated leaving behind a raw landscape that gave birth to our Great Lakes and the rugged moraines along the western shore of northwest Lower Michigan. And then as winds howled, and waves crashed against the shores for hundr ...

If you've followed Cherry Republic for long, you know that we are big opponents of the Line 5 oil pipeline that runs under the Straits of Mackinac. Things are reaching a critical point at our state government over this issue, and now is the time that our voices need to be heard. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel made strong campaign pledges to shut down Line 5 due to the risk of a catastrophic oil spill, and they are now attempting to follow through on those comm ...

Tackle the Sleeping Bear Dunes ‘Dune Climb’ What’s better than climbing up a golden sand dune? Running back down, of course! Serious hikers can choose to make the 3+ hour trek to Lake Michigan. Just be sure to bring water and sandals … that sand gets hot!   Kayak, canoe or tube the Crystal River A leisurely float or paddle down the lovely Crystal River in Glen Arbor is the epitome of summertime relaxation. Let your fingers skim the cool, clear water between lily pads, watch for Great Blue ...

With June comes high school and college graduations, and at Cherry Republic it's a time to celebrate the young men and women who have come to mean so much to us over the years. Many of our Cherry Ambassadors and Cherry Factory employees work for us part time all through high school with many taking advantage of our Cherry Republic College Match Program (see details below) to help cover tuition costs. This year we are proud to recognize the accomplishments of 12 bright-eyed, hard-workin ...

Cherry Republic was honored to welcome world-renown social media influencer Jessica Beinecke to our Glen Arbor campus this week as part of her whirlwind trip to Northern Michigan. Jessica created her Chinese/English digital travel series I Know This Spot as a way to introduce Chinese travelers and foodies to U.S. destinations that aren't as well known internationally. "One of the top things Chinese travelers want to do is have unique culinary experiences, and everything in here definitely ...

Traverse City artist Charles R. Murphy has long been revered for his inspiring and iconic watercolor paintings, which have found their way into private and public collections, have graced the pages and covers of books, and have even adorned CDs and wine labels. Over the past 40+ years he's also shared his knowledge with budding artists through innumerable painting classes and workshops throughout the Midwest and has exhibited with the American Watercolor Society and International Society of Expe ...

Ingredients: 1/4 cup Cherry Republic BBQ Sauce (or Spicy BBQ Sauce) 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce 3/4 cup brown sugar 64 oz. bag smoked cocktail sausages Directions: Mix together Cherry Republic BBQ Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, and 3/4 cup brown sugar in a crock pot. Add smoked sausages and simmer for 4-5 hours on low heat. ...

Ingredients: 12 uncooked shrimp, pealed and deveined 2 tablespoons butter 1 bunch green onions, chopped 1 jar Cherry Republic Original BBQ Sauce 1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce Directions: Heat butter over medium to high heat until melted and slightly bubbling. Add shrimp, and cook 1-2 minutes per side, or until barely pink. Add Cherry BBQ Sauce and Worcestershire until sauce bubbles and shrimp is cooked through, approximately 1 minute. Transfer to a platter and ga ...

Ingredients: 1 stick butter 2 cups diced onions 2 cups diced celery 1 tablespoon minced sage 1 tablespoon minced thyme 1 cup dried cherries 3 cups low sodium turkey or chicken broth 2 eggs 1/4 cups chopped parsley 16 cups crusty, stale bread olive oil Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. If using as a side dish, butter or spray a 13" x 9" baking dish. Melt 1 stick of ...