Farm Spans Five Generations
- By Karen Gentry
Associate Editor
Permission is granted for reprinting material, except for commercial or advertising purposes, provided The Fruit Growers News is given full credit.
Fast forward 150 years later to his descendants, Fred Pugsley, born in 1925, and his son, Will, born in 1950 - who now grow 90 acres of tart cherries and 58 acres of grapes along with nearby leased acres of grapes. Michigan Governor John Engler recently sent the Pugsleys a certificate designating their farm as a Sesquicentennial Farm - 150 years in the same family. Fred Pugsley was also honored with the Michigan State Horticultural Society Grower Service Award at the hort society’s recent annual meeting in Grand Rapids – an award presented to him by his son, Will.
In August the Pugsleys celebrated their milestone 150th anniversary by inviting friends and family associated with the farm to an afternoon of reminiscing, food and ceremony, modeled after the old-time grape harvest celebrations the family used to have. More than 250 people showed up from points near and far from around the country.
“The Concord grape had to have a source of labor. Neighbors within three-four miles helped pick the grapes and tie the grapes in spring,” said Fred. These grapes are shipped from Paw Paw to all parts of the United States.
Will Pugsley now represents the fifth generation of the Pugsleys after he assumed responsibilities for the orchards and vineyards in 1990. He worked 15 years in the frozen food warehouse business before coming back to the farm. Fred, who grew up on the farm, still resides and works on the farm located west of Paw Paw on County Road 371.
Things have changed over the years for the Pugsleys since Henry Pugsley immigrated from England and used oxen to clear the oak stumps. “There was some open areas - not a massive forest,” said Fred. The 1930s saw the farm switch from horses to trucks for hauling produce. Hand harvesting prevailed until around 1968 when the mechanical harvester was introduced, according to Fred. “The first cherry harvester was built in southwest Michigan by Friday Tractor Company,” said Fred about the company that is now out of business.
Henry’s son, Milton, took over and maintained a successful, diversified farm that included general crops and livestock. Fred’s father, Clifford, who took over the farm in 1924, weathered the Depression by changing to a diversified fruit farm. Fred then took over the farm in 1950 after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in pomology.
“Fruit started showing up in the late 1880s,” said Will. The cherry orchards were added in the 1930s. Today the Pugsleys grow 101 acres of Concord grapes and more than 30 acres of Niagara, along with their tart cherries.
“We have around 90 acres in rotation most of the time,” said Will. They are in a good fruit growing location in Van Buren County in a river valley, on a ridge between two low areas near the Paw Paw River, 25 miles from Lake Michigan.
He said cherries and grapes go well together because cherry harvest is in July and the grape harvest in September. They wanted to produce crops that can be mechanically harvested, although they previously grew raspberries and 30 acres of apples.
“We got out of apples because it was hard to pick them and because of the cost of packing and storage,” said Fred. The Pugsleys don’t rely on migrant help although additional workers assist with the cherry harvest that lasts seven to 10 days.
All of the Concord grapes go to Welch’s in Lawton, Mich., a company that has been processing grape juice since 1918 and is now a grape growers cooperative with four plants. Fred calls the co-op the most successful farm co-op in the country. By contract Welch’s will process grapes grown by members who are a member by acreage.
The Pugsleys’ cherries go to various processors.
“Cherry products in Michigan used to be quite regional. They’re now highly mobile,” said Will. He said cherries can now be moved by truck great distances and are now harvested and stored in water prior to processing. Southwest Michigan represents 20% of Michigan’s tart cherry production.
He said he bought a mesh cherry harvester in 1970 for $25,600 and the same piece of equipment today would cost between $140,000-$160,000.
They pay for the services of a custom harvester to mechanically harvest grapes.
As grapes are harvested late in the season, frost that can hit in spring or fall is one of their chief concerns. Because of their favorable natural location, they have not invested in a wind machine, which is a major expense and a major piece of equipment to maintain, according to Will.
As the number of area centennial farms and growers dwindles as farms change hands, the Pugsleys can be proud that their Michigan Centennial Farm sign now includes the words “owned by the same family over one hundred fifty years.”
Will and Fred are assisted on the farm by Will’s son Scott while Fred’s son Ric works in the seed business for Asgrow Vegetable Seed.
- Copyright 2000 Great American Publishing, Inc.
- The Fruit Growers News
- 343 South Union Street - PO Box 128 - Sparta, MI 49345
- Phone 616-887-9008 - Fax 616-887-2666 - email
- All Rights Reserved
- The Fruit Growers News