Our Story

Aaron and Kia are the 4th generation of Nystrom's to live on the orchard that Aaron's family started.

Kia has taken on the dream of owning Nystrom Orchard in 2022 and with it comes great responsibility to create something that you will want to visit. From tasting events in the orchard, to artisan story telling dinners indoors - the orchard now has a line up of one of a kind apple products and events showcasing what we think an apple orchard should be and Kia is always creating something new.

Today, you can also find Jean (3rd generation), Sarah (4th generation) and Kip, Cort and Thea (5th generation) out in the orchard on any given day. In addition to that, it is not uncommon for 20+ other extended family members to make an appearance and help with whatever needs to be done.

A few years ago, a house on the Nystrom land was built along with hundreds of more apple trees. In fact, we pick apples from trees that were planted anywhere from 7-100+ years ago!

3 kids and a few years later, time is certainly moving fast. The dream has been there for awhile to rejuvenate the orchard for the next 4 generations and in 2019, these dreams came to life. We went from this:

To this:

No really! We celebrated this achievement in 2022 when we were recognized as the Nobles County Farm Family of the Year. It's not about the nice new building, but rather the heritage that we have fought so hard to keep not just keep alive but cultivate to thrive. The literal sweat and tears and countless long hours filling each morning, night and weekend outside of our "day jobs". If you could see the old aerial photos hanging on our dining room wall from across the generations, you would get a glimpse into how big this accomplishment really was. 

Our new shed allows us to invite you into our story. Simple things such as a bathroom, sinks, and heat allow us to create a more comfortable experience for you when you first visit and extend our season!

We want to share our love for this land, the heritage of this orchard, the trees, and the fruit that it produces with you. We want you to be apart of our story in agriculture. We want you to enjoy the fruits of our labor. 

In 2023 we will open the doors to an addition. What seemed unfathomable 2 years ago has come to reality. The new space features a full commercial kitchen with dreams of expanding our product offerings. From wine and crab apple vodka to ACV and cider vinaigrette - we have big ideas of how to incorporate an apple a day into your lifestyle.

So why do we do all of this? Because when we first met, our goal was to rebuild a family business in farming and agriculture that was on the cusp of dying. Crops for Aaron, apples for Kia, and cattle for both of us that would allow us to teach our kids the value and ethics of work, and would be sustainable enough for a kid to come back to if they choose to.

 

That's our get up and get out of bed each day why. What's your why? Get up and go do it!

Why pick with us?

At Nystrom Orchard, we pick differently. Often the last orchard to release a variety, we patiently wait until it's perfectly ripe before we allow access to pick. Sometimes it's a matter of 2-3 days but it makes all the difference when you bite into it! As a result, you can be assured that when you pick at Nystrom Orchard - you pick the best at the best time. The same goes for apples in our shed pre-bagged. Often going from being picked to bagged in the cooler for you in less than 24 hours at peak freshness.

Other Experiences

  • Tasting in the Orchard

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  • Artisan Tasting Indoors

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  • Cider Weekend

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