US (MI): Graceland fruit is 'working with Mother Nature'

Michigan cherry farmers had a problem: The growing season only lasted so long, but they wanted to make money, even when nature wouldn't let them. Drying was one way to elongate the shelf life of the famed Traverse City-area fruit -- and their bank accounts -- but only produce with a high sugar content was dryable. But starting in the 1970s, a group of cherry growers developed a sugar-infusion method that made it possible to dry the little red guys. From that sweet start, Graceland Fruit in nearby Frankfort grew. Today, the 39-year-old company is a leading international fruit processor that does everything from dried cranberries, cherries, blueberries and apples to frozen mangos, strawberries and raspberries, plus a handful of vegetables, according to Al DeVore, president and CEO. Its annual revenues are an estimated $60 million -- 38% of which comes from overseas, double what it was three years ago.

Among its most celebrated overseas dealings is its relationship with Japan's Otsuka Foods, which Americans likely know from its Soyjoy bars. Gov. Rick Snyder and Keith Creagh, the director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, even met with executives from both companies during their trip to Asia in the fall. "When we dry the fruit, the nutritional value of the fruit is preserved. You wouldn't be able to have the nutritional value of the cherry off-season," DeVore said. "Dried cherry or dried cranberry wasn't even available 30-plus years ago. The only fruit was dates, figs and raisins. ... We're working with Mother Nature." And working well. Graceland produce -- more than 40 million pounds of fruits and veggies are processed a year -- ends up in salad toppings, trail mixes, muffins and breakfast cereals, he explained. The company is launching a retail line in the next several weeks.

"Who would've thought the big fast-food chains would've had oatmeal on their menus five or 10 years ago?" DeVore said, alluding to yet another place Graceland products turn up. "Now, they've got oatmeals with fruit toppings that do have benefit to you." The business, which has 210,000 square feet of processing and finishing space and boasts a research-and-development arm, employs 190 people, making it one of the largest employers in Benzie County, and is ripe for expansion. Graceland said it plans to hire 20 more in the next two years. The demand for dried fruit is growing, as consumers turn to healthier foods. "Everyone can pronounce the ingredients in our products. Our ingredients are the fruit, sugar and sunflower oil. There's no benzo-something I can't pronounce," DeVore explained. Graceland's recipe is simple: Fruits are pulled from freezers all year round. During the infusion process, they begin to thaw. Then, they're put in huge dryers. Lastly, they're finished to specification, for example, diced or julienned. "They're one of the largest sellers of dried fruit in the country, if not the world, so to have them in our backyard is a positive for us," said Nick Nicolay, president of Kar's Nuts, a nuts and trail-mix company based in Madison Heights. "They put out a high-quality product."

Source: freep.com