Check Out Callie Cupp’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Callie Cupp.

Hi Callie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
We are a third generation farm located 2 miles south of Elk Rapids. My grandma, Mary Guntzviller, bought the farm in 1970 it was an old cherry farm. She bought it to grow vegetables. My father and mother, Mel and Rhonda Guntzviller inherited the farm and started raising raspberries and strawberries alongside of Mary. After Mary passed they continued raising more fruits such as blackberries, peaches, plums, apricots, and cherries. I, Callie Cupp am Mel and Rhonda Guntzviller’s oldest daughter I am 35 years old. I am married to Ben Cupp we have 3 daughters (Laila (9), Lianna (5), and Stella (1.) My husband Ben Cupp and I purchased another farm located on Indian Road (Kewadin) to expand even further. We plan on coming alongside of my parents and continuing on the family farm business! My mom, Rhonda Guntzviller runs the fruit stand and I myself attend all farmers markets up north such as; Harbors Springs, Boyne City, Petoskey, Charlevoix, and we also attend the Elk Rapids farmers market. I, Callie Cupp, also make all the jam and jelly that we sell and still use the same pot my grandmother used to make the jam! We also have a small variety of homemade baked goods available in the summer season. First crop of the season is asparagus we will be picking around Mother’s Day weekend, and then following accordingly is Strawberries, Rhubarb, Raspberries, Sweet Cherries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Plums, Apricots, Nectarines, Peaches, and a variety of vegetables throughout the season. One of our favorite things we offer is U-pick, but only on strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Our fruit stand is a small road side fruit stand that is open seasonally we are closed in the winter season. We typically are open May through September, sometimes through October if we have our Concord grapes available. I am very blessed to have come from family of farmers and I plan to do the same with our girls so they can be the 4th generation for Guntzvillers!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, over the last few years one of the biggest struggles has been inflation. Fruits and vegetables can only go up so high in price to make up for costs of things such as; containers, boxes, pest/disease control supplies, jars, wages, straw, bags, etc., We also over the years have had to battle new types of diseases, insects, and viruses. Each crop has its own specific problem and each crop has to be treated differently.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am farmer who specializes in growing local fruits and vegetables.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Everyday is a risk for farmers. Planting crops, experimenting with new growing methods, counting on seasonal workers to be available, we plant the crops and can’t control the weather.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guntzvillersfarm
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AV5ekSMGx/