Preseason Activities

When we are done with our fall season, we close the doors on the last day and then clean everything in spring. 

Well this is what is looked like when we were redecorating and cleaning the market for this 2014 season! We took down all of the pictures off of the walls, moved all of the tables, and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned! 

Once we have cleaned and filled the nail holes we start to "re build" our beautiful market with NEW decor that was purchased throughout the winter, received, unpacked and priced weeks before we start to reassemble.

WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR ANOTHER SEASON! 

Remember we are open daily 9 to 5 and if you can’t get to the Market you can always order our goodies online at woodorchardmarket.com or by giving us a call, 866-763-2334

Hope to see you soon! 

How Wood Orchard Market Packs Apples

Have you ever wondered what the process involves when picking and packing apples?


We have decided to show you step by step how OUR  APPLES go from tree, to bin, to bag, and finally to your home.





1) Each apple is hand picked because apples are a delicate fruit. Once they are picked they are then put into the pickers picking bag.



2) When the bag is full, the apples are emptied into large bins. The bins are then brought to the packing shed where they wait to be washed, graded, and put into bags.
                                                                                                                                                                           



*Both of these photos were taken at our Sturgeon Bay Orchard. We also have an apple orchard in West Jacksonport

3) The apples are brought to the packing shed where they are lifted onto the grader. This machine will take the apples on a little ride.                                                            
                                                                                                                                                             
4) The apples are submerged into water and floated out of the bin.

         









5) Once the apples are out of the bin, they are elevated out of the water and are washed, then proceed down the packing line

 

The apples cross an inspection table where our ladies cull out blemished apples.

7) Next, the apples enter the grader. A camera takes several pictures of each apple and separates the red ones from green ones.  The apple grader is computer operated and the computer separates the apples to various tables according to size. The larger apples have plu (price look up) stickers affixed to them to help checkout personal at grocery stores know the variety and price of the apples. You will see these plu stickers on virtually every large piece of fruit in your grocery store, not just apples.

 . 

 8). The apples now roll onto foam tables. This is where they are put into boxes or bags per the order.

This is a photo of the line with the foam circle tables

Here the apples are being put into paper tote bags. 

Other apples are put into 3# poly bags
that are common in grocery stores.

Some apples are put on trays and then boxed

9) These apples are now ready to be brought to our market or grocery stores.

Now you know how our apples are picked and packed. If you have any questions don't hesitate to comment below or shoot us an email.  

We hope everyone is enjoying the winter, even though it is freezing outside. We look forward to seeing all of you in spring! 

STAY WARM!!!!!! 

• Wood Orchard Market
• 8112 State Highway 42
• Egg Harbor, WI 54209
• Phone: (920) 868-2334
• Toll Free: (866) 763-2334
• Fax: (920) 743-6994
• Email: steve@woodorchard.com

How to Make Your Own Garland!

Don't you love the smell of Christmas? We do too, at Wood Orchard! We found an inexpensive way  to decorate and have that joyful smell! WE MADE OUR OWN GARLAND! It was so easy to make and it was a wonderful bonding experience. With that being said we wanted to share with you how we made our Garland.

You will need- 
-Wire wrapped in jute ( we used green) 

-22 to 26 gauge floral wire

-Assorted Branches (the more variety the better)

-Gloves 

Step 1: Measure how long you will want your Garland to be. We suggest doing this first because it gets really heavy once all of the branches are attached. 

Step 2: Cut the Wire wrapped in jute. 

Step 3: Go outside and gather all of the branches you like. We used juniper, dogwood, spruce, pine and cedar. - We put them on a sheet to catch all of the needles and keep the tree sap from getting all over the place. 

Step 4: Cut 6-12in. sections from each type of branch and put them into piles. (That way it is easier to make the bundles) 

Step 5: Take one piece of each smaller cut branch and put it into a bundle. 

Step 6: Now you can start attaching the branch bundles to the wire covered in jute with the floral wire. You need to wrap the floral wire around the start of the jute covered wire a few times, then you can attach the bundles. It works easiest if you wrap the bundles at their base and wrap the wire a bunch of times to make sure it is secure. You keep doing this until you get to your end. 

Step 7: Now that you have gotten to the end of your garland string, have your last bundle face the opposite direction of your other bundles. This way your garland doesn't suddenly end and if you want to hang it on your mantle it looks nice. 

Now that you have finished your Garland, go hang it or drap it wherever you would like. We put ours outside. However, if you are keeping yours inside don't be afraid to spritz it every once and awhile. Someone told us they spritz their garland every time they water their christmas tree.

We hope you enjoy making garland and had as much fun as we did! WE loved making the Market smell like Christmas.

Don't forget we are open Friday through Monday until December 1st. If you can't make it up to visit us you can always order from us online or by phone 763-868-2334.

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON! 

Pumpkin Patch 2013

Pumpkin Patch Weekend was wonderful. Even though there was a little rain on Saturday it was wonderful seeing so many familiar faces and welcoming our new guests at the Market. We were busy all day long. But we did have some time to enjoy the day and we hope you did as well. 

Pumpkin Patch is all about spending time with family and friends while also enjoying fall and of course PUMPKINS!!!!! 

That's why we wanted to share with you the pumpkin decorations we had at Wood Orchard Market.

Here is David and Jordan enjoy their cool apple hats while also stocking up gourds and pumpkins. 

Pumpkin Patch is ALL about the cool pumpkins 

Here is a our pumpkin alligator and behind that are our spider pumpkins. 

Here are the pumpkins that our staff made. It was neat to see all the different designs they came up with. Don't be afraid to borrow some of their ideas when your creating your own pumpkin fun. 

 We hope your have a wonderful week and enjoyed your weekend even if you weren't able to visit for Pumpkin Patch.
This coming weekend is Fall Fest in Sister Bay. Don't forget to stop at Wood Orchard Market on your way up or down from Fall Fest!

Just some Apple Facts!

We LOVE APPLES at Wood Orchard Market!!!!!

Not only because they taste so good, but they're good for you too! As the old saying goes, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Have your ever wondered why? 

 
Well one reason is because apples contain nutrients that promote healthy bones. Flavonoids called phloridzin are only found in apples and help to protect against osteoporosis and increase bone density. Apples also contain boron which helps to strengthen your bones.

Do you have asthma?
If so, you should be drinking more apple juice. Studies have shown that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who had apple juice once a month.
Mothers who ate higher quantities of apples while they were pregnant, had children with lower rates of asthma.

Not only do apples help with asthma but reducing the risk of LUNG CANCER.
According to a study of 10,000 people, those who ate the most apples had a 50% lower risk of developing long cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of naringin and favonoids quercetin in apples.

Apples also help with weight loss!
Women who eat at least three apples a day tend to loose more weight while dieting than women who don't.
Don't forget to eat the skin of the apple because that is were most of the nutrients are found.

Now that you know all of the nutrition facts, its time for some fun apple facts! 

The average apple tree can produce up to 20 bushels of apples. (42 lbs=1 bushel)

The Worlds largest apple weighted 3 pounds, WOW!

Apples were originated in Western Asian but are now one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits in the WORLD!!!

The Crabapple is the only Native apple to the United States.

last but the most fascinating,

Apples are part of the rose family!


Not that you know a little more about apples don't forget to stop at the Market or The Apple Store to pick up your bag of apples. We still have SweeTango® Apples but supply is limited. Our Honeycrisp
season has just started. Macs and Cortlands are still here as well.

Don't forget the weekend of October 12th is Pumpkin Patch in Egg Harbor. The following weekend, October 18-20th, is Fall Fest in Sister Bay.

Hope to see you soon and enjoy an apple today!

Have you seen our Market Elves?

It's never boring at the Market! Lately we have had our elves working hard in the warehouse. They leave every day covered in pricing stickers and lots of glitter. The glitter is the main reason why we call them "elves." When they're walking around the Market they leave a trail of glitter behind. They have spent the last month in the hot warehouse pricing and organizing to make sure everything is ready for our Fall season. 

We want to thank them for all of their hard work and we are finally starting to put out our new decorations. 

Fall is just around the corner. Most schools just started and the leaves are going to start changing soon. Then its Halloween and Thanksgiving. If your favorite Holiday is Halloween we have some of the cutest stuff. Like fun witch hats and adorable pumpkin decorations. 

We will also be getting real pumpkins, squash, and gourds to sell as soon as they are ready. Fall is beautiful in Door County and a lot of fun. 

Egg Harbor's Pumpkin Patch is October 12th and 13th. While Sister Bay's Fall Fest is the following weekend, October 18th through the 20th. Those are great weekends to plan your next Door County trip, but don't forget to stop by and see us!

We know its not winter yet, but it's never too early to start your Christmas shopping for gifts and decorations.We have a wonderful, new selection to choose from. 

We have fluffy Snowmen and even a motorcycle Santa. Also this year we have TONS of light-up decorations, like light up snowmen and winter pictures. 

If snowmen aren't what your looking for, don't worry. Our woodsy winter wonder land section is great for that nature look. 

In other news: We just started our SweeTango* apple season this week. We are hoping to have them for about three weeks but it all depends on mother nature and the demand for them. Honeycrisp are doing great and should be in our stores around the end of the month! 

So when you come to the Market to pick up some apples, pie, or cherry salsa, take a look around at all of our fall and winter decor. We always have something for you and your grandchildren, sister, daughter, son, brother, aunt, husband, niece, nephew, uncle, neighbor, cat sitter and everyone else.

Just a warning, if you leave the Market covered in glitter just tell people where you were and they will understand. 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!!!! 

Peaches! They Taste Good and are Good For You!

If you haven't stopped at the Market lately we have Michigan Peaches and lots of them. Since it is Peach season we thought we should share with you some of the benefits of these delious and juicy fruit. 

If you have a sweet tooth peaches are a smart snack for you to choose. They only have 68 calories, with zero fat and packed full of natural sugars that will satisfy your craving. Also if you eat peaches instead of other processed snacks you can manage your weight a little better. 

Peaches are loaded with fiber, which is essential for a healthy digestion. This fiber packed fruit can help prevent constipation and keep your colon healthy. Fiber may also play a part in helping regulate your cholesterol levels and may lower your risk of developing heart disease. 

Not only are Peaches loaded with fiber but also jam packed with 

Vitamin A, which is good for you eyes.

Vitamin C for healthy tissue building

Vitamin E as an anti-oxidant

Vitamin K for blood health 

AND other nutrients like thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate and pantothenic acid. 

The flesh and skin of the peaches has significant antioxidants such as chlorogenic acid which helps to scavenge free radicals and reduce the effects of aging and deter chronic diseases. You read that right, REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF AGING! This special antioxidant may also help to ward off cancer and reduce body inflammation. 

While your at the Market having some fresh peaches also try our PEACH Butter, PEACH jam, and Cherry PEACH Berry Pie. The pie is made with Cherries, PEACHES and blueberries. 

We will only have the Cherry Peach Berry Pie during peach season along with fresh peaches. However, we have peach jam and peach butter all year long!

 Have a great week and a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

Hope to see you soon!