Sharing Our Family Photos. Stanton Orchard’s Four Generations of Cherry Growers

Welcome to life on the family farm at Stanton Orchards. Our four generations of family have been growing and harvesting Montmorency tart cherries for 60 years in the heart of famed Leelanau Peninsula (Cherry Capital of U.S.) in beautiful Northern Michigan.

When our founder Earl Stanton retired from Libby Foods in 1960 he bought the 320-acre cherry orchard as a hobby farm that needed improvement. He restored the cherry trees, refurbished the farm, and started selling cherries as a business in the early 70’s. He then passed the farm on to his son Terry Stanton who took over the orchard and operated it with his wife Donna and their four children, Karen, Kurt, Todd, and Greg, for many years.

In 2010 Todd Stanton began to build the orchard's tart cherry concentrate business and developing its brand. Today he has created a nationwide network of retail grocers and distributorships throughout the United States. Whole Foods, Natural Grocers and hundreds of other healthy grocers carry the family's product, Stanton Orchards Tart Cherry Concentrate, a recognized brand that’s in high demand for its powerful health benefits.

Terry Stanton, Todd’s father, passed away in May 2020. Known and celebrated in Cherry Country in Michigan as an enterprising member of the Leelanau community, Terry passed on the property to Todd and his three siblings who now own the property: Curt, Todd, Karen, and Greg. They all gather at harvest time (with grandchildren and uncle Brent) to celebrate their family heritage -- growing one of America’s most beloved fruits, Montemorency tart cherries. 

See: Stanton family photos on the farm on Facebook

Written by Carol Blomstrand,a health advocate and writer on health subjects.