Bayfield Apple Company under new ownership

BAYFIELD - Thousands of people come to Bayfield's Apple Fest for the tradition.

But this year, one orchard is getting ready to make some changes.

John Hoekstra has been an employee at the Bayfield Apple Company for eight years.

Last week, his job title changed.

"From day one I started getting all these ideas going through my head... What if... Someday... It was in my hands, things that I would do," said John Hoekstra. "Now I get that opportunity."

John and his father, Bruce, signed paperwork last Thursday, making them the new owners of the Bayfield Apple Company.

The previous owner, Einar Olsen, ran the business for 26 years.

For John and Bruce, going from employees to employeers hasn't changed much.

"Even though I've made jam everyday for six years, it still is exciting because I'm looking to make it better today than it was yesterday," said Bruce.

The new business partners are committed to a philosophy they learned under the company's former owner.

"Love the land, take care of the land, utilize everything that we grow and make a healthy product for people," said Bruce.

"That aspect of the company will never change. That will be our basic principal from day one, is that process that's been developed over the years," said John.

Maintaining a philosophy of all natural products is important to John and Bruce, but they do want to make some changes.

The new owners have big plans for expansion, including planting 300 new trees next spring.

Bayfield Apple Company products are already sold in Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula, but John wants his cider and jam in every state.

And he's confident he can make that happen.

"The product literally sells itself," said John.

Along with the company philosophy, the Hoekstras won't change a thing when it comes to how they make their apple goods.

"We're trying to use as much of the fruit that we can harvest as possible. Ones that most people would either discard or give away as deer apples, we actually have found a use for," said John. "If we didn't have the jam process that we do, that would go as just waste."

It seems John and Bruce have found a perfect balance of work and pleasure.

"I do very much enjoy what I'm doing and I think that makes a big difference," said Bruce.

John and Bruce Hoekstra also plan to go completley organic within the next three years and to begin selling their ciders in local grocery stores soon.