Is Your Orchard Fit For A 5K?
November 5, 2014 [blackoutgallery id=”66714″]
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As I begin this month’s column, I should mention that I am not a runner. At all. In fact, I proudly tell people that I’m more likely to run FROM something — a rabid animal, for example — or TO something — such as my car when it’s raining.
So it should surprise you that I recently participated in the Scrumpy Skedaddle, a 5K run held at Almar Orchards in Flushing, MI. It should really surprise you.
The run was held on a cool Sunday morning. Along with 2,999 of my “closest” friends, most of whom knew nothing about orchards, apple varieties, or rootstocks, I ran the 3.1 mile course. To them, this was just a neat way to spend a morning in the fall. To me, it was a great way to experience some of the creative ways growers are coming up with to increase the profile of their businesses.
Although my time wasn’t stellar, I did manage to finish in 37:38, so at least I didn’t embarrass myself.
Almar Orchards owner Jim Koan and his family were contacted by RunningFit, a Michigan-based running organization to add hard cider to the organization’s “Thirsty 3” beverage-themed runs (a wine run and beer run were held earlier this year). RunningFit also handled all the particulars as far as setting up the course and organizing things such as the Port-A-Johns, music, running paraphernalia, registration, etc. Koan and his family, in turn, opened the doors of their farm market and cidery to visitors.
People posed for pre-run photos, using the Koans’ trees as the perfect fall backdrop. The smell of cider doughnuts seemed to funnel around the start of the race. After the run, the line to purchase hard cider was long. I saw many people walking around with boxes of doughnuts, fresh cider jugs, and bags of apples, too! With the number of people lingering, browsing, and buying, the run was clearly a success from a business end.
Koan set up a special tasting area for all of the hard ciders available. He and business partner Bruce Wright were joined by Matt Grieshop, associate professor in Michigan State University’s Organic Pest Management lab in helping to dole out samples of J.K. Scrumpy. Grieshop is also a close friend of the Koans.
“I had a fantastic time hosting the running event,” he says. “This event was nice because I opened my farm up to the community, but didn’t have to organize and run the business end of it. I hope more growers here in Michigan pick up this baton and run with it. It is a great way for the public to really connect with apples, where they came from, and the families that grew them.”
In The Fall Frame Of Mind
The Koans are not alone in hosting a run in their orchard in Michigan. Sietsema Orchards in Ada, MI, hosted a 5K Hard Cider run in August. The Sietsemas partnered with Run Riffraff to put together the run. Their orchard is located near a county trail system, so the course became half orchard and half trail.
“We wanted to do an event close to the fall so people are starting to get in the ‘fall’ frame of mind. If you want to get the biggest bang for you buck you need to do it the weekend before Labor Day weekend,” Andy Sietsema says.
The run was designed to bring people to the orchard, but Sietsema was clear that this was not an agritainment event. Sietsema Orchards also partnered with Kids’s Food Basket, a local charity that ensures children have a meal when they are away from school at night.
“I wanted to do an event out here that was different that a traditional farm experience. Something that stayed away from the ‘agri-tourism’ feel, something that showed off our orchard in a different light,” he says.
With more than 800 runners, Sietsema says he was worried about parking if it rained on the day of the event. He was in charge of getting the grounds ready and Run Riffraff handled the race particulars. Local law enforcement helped direct traffic and EMS was on standby.
“They event was a success not only because of Riffraff but because of the awesome people that came out to run and have a good time,” he says.
Both Koan and Sietsema say they will hold their runs in 2015.
If you host a 5K in your orchard, look out! You might spot me at the start with a few thousand of my closest friends.
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