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Variety is key to family business
By Jennifer Latzke
As one drives east on Highway 62/82 from Lubbock, Texas, one can find the usual cotton fields and corn and grain sorghum fields that compose the West Texas landscape. But, four miles east of Idalou, one will find a highly unusual sight--an apple orchard.
Apple Country at Hi Plains Orchards is a family business owned and operated by Susan and Cal Brintz, which they began in 1981. Apple Country allows customers to pick their own fruit in the orchard of about 6,000 apple trees and 20 different apple varieties.
"In 1981 we had the opportunity to buy this land," Cal said. "We wanted a family orchard, something that would involve our whole family."
"Originally, it was going to be just a pick-your-own operation during the summer and then we'd close the rest of the year," Susan added. "That lasted for just the first year. When we opened back up the next year, we became a year-round operation and we've been that way ever since."
People have made Apple Country a family destination for more than two decades and many come from 100 or more miles away to pick apples and enjoy the orchard. Last year, 60 to 100 groups of schoolchildren and area organizations toured the facility and learned to pick apples.
"We even have some special needs visitors and we are equipped to handle wheelchairs," Susan said. "Some areas are easier to pick for them. We have groups of special needs children who visit us, too. We find that if we teach a kid to pick apples, they'll bring out their folks in the fall and teach their parents.
"We get many repeat customers," Susan added. "The calls start coming in early June about when we'll start picking certain varieties because each customer has a favorite."
Variety is key to the Apple Country's success. The Brintzes offer proven apple varieties, including favorites such as Jonathan, Red Delicious, Fuji and Granny Smiths, as well as newcomers such as Earliblaze, Pink Lady and Sun Downer. They also have their own test orchard to research new apples that may be future favorites.
"We have a testing block of trees that includes about 28 more new varieties," Cal said. "In West Texas, there is no apple or orchard Extension help or research, so we do our own. We put in new trees and we look for ones that produce every year. We want trees with good growth habits and limbs that spread out, not up, so that the branches can support weight of the fruit without breaking.
"We have hot summers, so we look for heat-tolerant apples and those with fruits that don't break down internally with high heat," he continued. "We do some grafting ourselves, but we also order trees that have been grafted onto root stalks by licensed nurseries. That way, when we come across a grafting that works for our customers, we can get more. These are all dwarf or semi-dwarf trees so they are low to the ground for our customers, but we also offer picking sticks for those who want to use them."
Cal said he knew apples would grow in West Texas because his father had apple trees on their farm. But, the challenge was finding information on making the operation work because no one had tried before.
"We have a lot of heat and sunshine, which builds the sugar content of our fruit," he said. "But, we also have little cloud cover, which means our apples don't color bright red when they are ripe. Most turn out variegated. We find the combination gives the apples fuller flavors, not like those you might find in the stores."
"We learned by doing" Susan said. "We can't do apples here like they do in typical northern climates. And, we couldn't talk to neighbors cause no one else was doing this. So we learn to adapt our situation to the area we were in."
The Brintzes learned to adapt the business to suit their customers' needs, as well.
Within a few years of opening, customers started asking the Brintzes if they would begin offering apple cider and apple baked goods and preserves. So, the family began expanding the business.
"We built a cider press," Susan said. "Then, we started offering baked goods. We built this A-frame structure and the cider mill and then added a bakery and then the restaurant and the country giftshop." The Brintzes have a line of jellies, jams and preserves and baked goods which they sell in their store, as well as online. The giftshop offers apple collectibles and cooking utensils. Additionally, the cider business evolved into a wine business. Apple Country spiced apple wine was a natural offshoot to the cider press and has won several awards.
"I used to do all of the baking," Susan said. "But, now we have a staff of bakers, cooks and store help who are wonderful." The facility is inspected and licensed by the City of Lubbock Health Inspector, the Texas Department of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
For those customers who have a particular favorite apple variety, Apple Country offers trees that are grafted just like their favorite tree in the orchard.
"We know what varieties are grafted together to make each tree in the orchard and if we have a customer who wants a tree just like it, we can order it from our supplier," Cal said. The business also sells peach, apricot, plum, cherry and Asian pear trees.
The calm orchard setting is a main attraction to visitors and became another area of expansion for the Brintzes.
"Our middle child wanted to get married in the orchard, so we built the gazebo outside with a waterfall and fountain area," Susan said. The family also added on a covered patio, which can be used for receptions and dances. The beams from the patio came from the only bridge in Lubbock County, Susan said.
"When it was torn down, we salvaged its beams and the beams from the Lorenzo Textile Mill," she said. "Our gazebo is built from wood recovered from our family barn that was built in 1926." The couple's weekends are nearly booked solid now with fall weddings and parties. Groups from nearby Texas Tech University come out and use the facilities for parties as well.
And, because many customers asked for it, the couple opened a country cafe, Apple Country Tearoom, which serves lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu consists of homecooking and baked apple goods fresh from the kitchen. The cafe created an opportunity for the Brintzes to showcase local musicians and vocalists from the West Central Texas area. They offer a house concert series that is a casual and personal atmosphere for new talent.
"We find our artists like to sing for our smaller groups because that is where the love is," Susan said. The evenings are limited to 40 or 50 guests and the proceeds are given to the artist for his or her time.
Giving back to the community is nothing new for the couple. For the past nine years, Apple Country has hosted three annual festivals: Apple Blossom Festival in April, the Apple Butter Festival in September, and an Orchard Christmas in December. The festivals include live music in the orchard, craft booths, and family activities. Lunch is served for a small fee and all proceeds benefit local charities including the South Plains Food Bank District 5730, Rotary Apple Orchard, Meals On Wheels, and the Caprock Council of the Girl Scouts.
"People are the best benefit of the business," Cal said. "We really enjoy coming to work. People come here because they want to be here and they want to feel like they've been someplace special. We have a lot of families who enjoy the non-commercialism and the rustic feel of the orchard. Plus, we produce good, healthy meals and wholesome produce."
"Our family enjoys coming here and spending the afternoons," Susan said. "We are fortunate that we can combine family and work all in one. Our children worked in every aspect of the farm, from the orchard to the cider press, to the gift shop and bakery. And, they come home and help with festivals." Each of the couple's three children were married in the orchard and their four grandchildren enjoy visiting the business.
As for what the future holds for Apple Country, only time will tell. The Brintzes maintain that their business is customer-driven and that they are open to any new ideas.
"An orchard, maintained well, can last for years and years," Susan said. "We're always looking for ways to promote healthy diets through our apples."
Date: 4/28/04
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