Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Kromer And Alison PaolettiKromer Kromer.
Hi Scott and Alison, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Our story at the apple farm actually began long before we ever imagined we would own it. Scott grew up just down the road and started working at the farm for Ed and Dusty Knaebe when he was just 10 years old, he continued to work there through high school and into college. Although life eventually took him away from the farm over to Wisconsin, where he built a career in construction management, met and married Alison, and started a family, the dream of one day owning the apple farm never really went away. Then, in the fall of 2020, Scott received an unexpected phone call, the farm was for sale and he was asked if he would be willing to take it over. It was the opportunity he’d dreamed of for years as a kid while mopping floors, picking apples, rolling out pie crusts, making donuts, and pressing cider, so we decided to take the leap of faith. We left our jobs and Alison’s hometown of Green Bay behind, packed up the kids, and made the 6 hour drive to Northeast Lower Michigan to begin a completely new chapter. In the past 6 years we have added some fun aspects to the farm, including Presque Isle County’s only microbrewery, dozens of new wines and hard ciders using our own apples, new wood-fired pizzas and bakery treats, all of which are produced fresh right here at the farm. Most recently, we have opened a second bakery location north of Rogers City to expand access to our famous donuts and bakery treats. We feel so fortunate to carry on a 40+ year tradition here at Knaebe’s. We look forward to seeing our friends and customers out at the farm every fall, whether it’s to pick one of 53 varieties of apples, drink our fresh pressed apple cider, get a dozen apple cider donuts, or enjoy the afternoon sitting in the orchard with a from scratch wood fired pizza, hand crafted hard cider, or microbrew.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We have definitely faced challenges along the way. We came into this as first time business owners, with two toddlers, in the midst of a global pandemic, to navigate running a well-established, well-loved family business. This has come with an immense amount of pressure to ensure our customers can continue their long-standing fall traditions, the same traditions that helped shape Scott into who he is today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are so much more than just an apple farm down a dirt road. We currently grow 53 varieties of apples, from heirloom varieties, to hard cider varieties, to the varieties you’re used to seeing on grocery store shelves. Our apples are offered pre-picked or u-pick throughout our season. Our Bakery offers freshly made donuts, cookies, cakes, and muffins. In our Main Barn you’ll find the cutest gift shop featuring all things fall, from jams, jellies, and salsas, to candles and décor, and our unpasteurized apple cider which is freshly pressed each week right here at the farm. In our Tasting Room, our twin Italian wood fired pizza ovens give off a charming glow in our open kitchen, where you can watch our pizza chefs assemble and cook your pizza with care and great skill in these 800 degree ovens. You’ll also find a large selection of hard ciders, each made with apple varieties hand picked to fit the flavor profile and our selection of small batch microbrews made right here at the farm. Outside there is plenty of seating to sit and enjoy the orchard, a playground for the kiddos, petting zoo featuring some of our biggest characters on the farm, a corn maze, u-pick pumpkin patch, and wagon and barrel train rides.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something that surprises people about our story is Alison actually attended culinary school with dreams of one day owning a bakery. That dream was put on the back burner after beginning her career in software testing and starting a family. Now that dream has become a reality.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mmmunchykrunchyapplefarm.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knaebesmmmunchykrunchyapplefarm.mi/
