St. Johns, Mich. (WILX) – When the temperature begins to drop and the leaves start to change colors, cider mills start to see an increase in business.
Uncle John’s Cider Mill in St. Johns sits right off of US-127, and President Mike Beck says that while it may be a staple for the fall, the season doesn’t last long.
“Well, it starts basically Labor Day weekend, and much after next weekend it really starts to decline…It’s just a very short season, the whole cider mill, pumpkin season,” Beck said.
He says it’s a combination of the weather cooperating and customers having their supply of pumpkins, cider, and baked goods.
However, a short season doesn’t make preparations any less important or timely.
“We’ve done the preparation back in May, June, July, and August. So, there’s really no preparation, it’s just making sure you have enough people here to service everyone that comes,” Beck said.
Beck says he doesn’t have specific numbers that define a day as a success, but a full parking lot is a good indicator.
From the hay rides to the famous cider, customers travel both far and wide to see Uncle John’s.
Kenny Clark, one of the mill’s Supervisors, says he’s talked to travelers from Canada and Alaska, along with all the states around the region.
He’s learned that when people tend to travel a long way to visit their location, they tend to make it worthwhile.
“I had two [orders of pumpkins] last week, over 100 pounds each…When it gets to be like that, we got to break out the old phone and do some math,” Clark said.
Although an uptick in customers makes both Beck and Clark’s day at work a bit busier, they both say it’s all worth it.
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