Hidden Gems: Meet Rachel and Brian Ridley of Ridley Family Sugar Farm

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel and Brian Ridley. 

Hi Rachel and Brian, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Our business really started on a whim and sort of morphed into what it is now. We started making Maple Syrup in 2011 and realized that not only did we really enjoy making syrup together but that there was a real market for local Maple Syrup in our area. Shortly after that, we upgraded our Sugarhouse and equipment in order to be able to produce Syrup on a Commercial scale. The rest sort of fell into place! Brian’s family has been involved in agriculture here in Casco Township now for seven generations, and we loved the idea of being a part of that without being our neighbor’s competition. We decided to put our equipment to work many times a year instead of just during Maple season. We live in a beautiful area of West Michigan along the lakeshore lovingly referred to as the “fruit belt,” and it just made sense to work with the amazing fruits and berries of the area to create our specialty syrups. We pride ourselves on adding value to other farmers by processing their crops into our all-natural Syrups they can then sell to their customers, and I can offer to my wholesale customers, like farm markets, Inns, and restaurants. 

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?
Starting out with rudimentary equipment was our biggest struggle. When we first started our business, our Maple operation consisted of 1,000 buckets and taps that had to be emptied manually, daily, or sometimes more than, depending on the sap flow. Those same buckets, lids, and lines all had to be washed and sanitized by hand prior to the season. The amount of manpower it required was overwhelming. Fast forward to now, and our woods is set up with a vacuum tubing system that allows all the sap to flow into one central tank for collection. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Ridley Family Sugar Farm. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
We are commercial Maple Syrup producers in beautiful South Haven, Michigan. We also work with other local growers to add value to their crops by processing them into Syrup. We sell wholesale, bulk, and retail at our farm. 

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memories comes from being at or near Lake Michigan, so when I met Brian and moved here in 2002, it felt like I was living a dream. I still feel like I’m on vacation. We try to live like we are. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ridleyfamilysugarfarm.com
• Instagram: ridley_family_sugar_farm
• Facebook: @thesugarhousestore
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCznYfd235PWl8aUa1xbCxDw