New owners of McCallum’s Orchard embrace tradition and growth

The Community Correspondent role provides readers with on-the-ground and inclusive stories about the Port Huron area. This is made possible through funding provided by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.

For more than 90 years, McCallum’s Orchard and Cider Mill has been a seasonal staple in St. Clair County, drawing generations of families for cider, donuts, and apple picking.

Now under new ownership, the historic orchard is entering a new chapter — one that balances honoring its legacy with building a future filled with new attractions, community events, and opportunities for gathering.

Mindy Radatz and her husband, the new owners of the orchard — recently renamed The Property Farms and McCallum’s Orchard and Cider Mill — hadn’t planned on becoming orchard keepers. 

“We weren’t sure — we’d never owned an orchard or anybody in our family,” Radatz says. “So we just jumped in, we walked on water and did our faith, and we just said, ‘Okay, God, if this is what you want us to do, we’re going to do it.’”

The couple discovered the orchard almost by chance. While on a trip in Texas in early 2023, Radatz saw the property listed for sale on Facebook. 

“Next thing you know, we were talking to the previous owner and one thing led to another,” she recalls. “We came home on Saturday, saw it, and on Monday, we were signing our purchase agreement.”

A Living Legacy

McCallum’s Orchard, founded by the McCallum family more than nine decades ago, has changed hands several times over the years, but its original roots remain strong. The family’s connection continues today through the orchard’s founder, Marvin McCallum, who still visits and offers wisdom to the new owners.

“Mr. McCallum himself turned 89 this year, and he still comes around and talks with us,” Radatz says. “He knows the responsibility and commitment that it is to own it, and he just is fantastic.”

The Radatz family chose to keep the McCallum name in the orchard’s new title as a way to honor that history. “Being able to honor him, we did a name change, but we continued on with his name as well, just to kind of applaud him for the wonderful work he did,” she says. 

Tradition Meets New Energy

Some traditions remain non-negotiable — fresh-pressed cider, warm donuts, and the classic experience of picking your own apples. But Radatz and her husband are also eager to bring new life to the property.

“To date, we added on a coffee bar. We started hard cider on tap here. And then we have a beautiful patio area that we put on this year,” Radatz says. Other additions include zip lines, a bounce pillow, an expanded animal area, a football throwing game, and what they call “giant sandbox land” for children.

The orchard has also leaned into agritourism with seasonal attractions like a sprawling corn maze and a new sunflower patch. “Sometimes the weather cooperates, and sometimes you are left with things you have to just make the best of. But it’s a cute little spot out there,” Radatz says.

This fall, families can expect familiar favorites alongside new traditions. Apple picking remains the centerpiece, but themed events are drawing visitors as well. They also host a Strawberry, Peach, and Grape Festival, if the fruit cooperates, Radatz says. 

And even for those who aren’t filling bags with apples, the orchard remains a place to slow down and make memories.

 “We’re making sure that people who come here, they want to be here,” she says. “It’s not just like a pit stop. They stay and enjoy the place.”

Rooted in Community

For the Radatz family, the orchard is more than just a business — it’s a way to connect with St. Clair County and give back. Their Orchard on Wheels food truck has appeared at community events like the Goodells 4-H Fair and local horse shows. They also participate in rural education initiatives, teaching schoolchildren about apple growing.

“It’s been really rewarding to be able to give back,” Radatz says. “We pick one organization that brings in a donation request a month, and we fulfill that.”

Taking over a business of this scale hasn’t been without obstacles. 

“Challenges would definitely be the business side of it. I never really ran something like this,” Radatz says. “So I’m still learning as I go. I never took business classes. I applaud people who do, if they choose to go to college and do that, because I could see where that can help you in the practical world.”

But the rewards, she says, outweigh the hurdles. 

“We see so many people from so many different walks of life just come together and they’re just wanting to make memories with their families and they want to be in a positive place,” she says. “It’s just been really nice to see people like that.”

Looking Ahead

The Radatz family already has plans for the orchard’s future. A new apple press is under construction, and they hope to expand the cider pressing room to include a viewing area for school field trips. They also envision building a dedicated event space to host weddings, graduations, and community gatherings.

“We just have done a lot of improvements, and we know that sometimes change is hard, but if you come out and try us out, we are certain that you’re gonna have a wonderful time,” Radatz says.

For now, though, she’s focused on the fall season — the orchard’s busiest time of year — when families come to pick apples, sip cider, and savor the tradition of a place that has stood for nearly a century.

Photos by Harold Powell.