Up North Blog

31 Days of Giving: Agriculture, Food & Community

We at Cherry Republic appreciate our customers' support and interest in helping farmers survive and thrive in their careers. There are lots of organizations in northern Michigan working to help our northern Michigan farmers thrive (or at least make a decent living doing this fundamental work that we all depend on). These are the groups Cherry Republic has chosen to support with our 2025 31 Days of Giving:

Crosshatch

Groundworks

Leelanau Conservancy

Lively Farms/Neighborfoods

Little Traverse Conservancy

Legacy Conservancy

GTR Land Conservancy

Leelanau Hort Station

Cherry Marketing Institute

Michigan Farmers Union

Grow Benzie

Bluebird Farm, Empire

Michigan Farm2Neighbor

Sparkling wine being poured into a glass at a holiday table with red candles

Sip-Worthy Cherry Wine Gifts to Toast the Holidays in Style

Gift-giving calls for something a little more memorable than your classic cabernet or chardonnay. This guide explores cherry pours with vibrant color, fruit-forward flavor, and just enough zing to stand out, helping you choose memorable wine gifts for everyone on your holiday list.

31 Days of Giving: Environment

For the past 25 years, Cherry Republic has focused our giving on protecting Michigan's environment. To those organizations working to protect our groundwater, lakes, air, and land. It's truly about supporting good people doing good things and over the years, we've become friends with these hard workers fighting for everything we love about Michigan.

This week, Cherry Republic proudly gives our largest checks to the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. Our President, Bob Sutherland has been a board member for 10 years and loves their work balancing out how our state officials are influenced. We also give a large check to For the Love of Water. FLOW is focused on protecting our ground water, our lakes, our rivers from agricultural run-off, from PFAS, and the hundreds of other threats the Great Lakes basin, the largest resource of fresh water in the world, face each day. A third large check goes to the Legal Team working to stop Line 5. This terrible threat to Lake Michigan and Lake Huron is stuck in the courts; we want to make sure the legal team has the resources to win.

A goal of Cherry Republic's is to be consistent. Once we find a strong organization working in Michigan, we send consistent checks year after year. There are 18 organizations receiving checks again in Cherry Republic's 2025 31 days of Giving Program.

"Please, anyone, everyone, consider giving to these terrific organizations working to protect and even improve the quality of life in our great state." - Bob Sutherland

Here are the organizations:

Michigan League of Conservation Voters

Michigan Environmental Council

National Wildlife Federation

Little Traverse Lake Association

Glen Lake Association

Citizens Climate Education

Great Lake Business Network

Flow

Great Lakes Renewable Energy Alliance

Leslie Science and Nature Center

Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council

TART Trails

Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes

Michigan Climate Action Network

Stop Line 5 Legal Team

Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear

Circle of Blue

31 Days of Giving: Those in Need

--On the Second week of December, Cherry Republic gives to--

Last week, Cherry Republic gave to organizations working toward ending the housing crisis in Michigan. This week, we are focusing our donations on helping our most vulnerable and strengthening the network of organizations that are there to help families caught in a challenging moment.

Years ago, when Cherry Republic didn't have much money to donate, we focused our giving on the environment. It was important, because it didn't feel like any companies were giving to protect the wilds. Today, thanks to so many customers that support our programs, we have much more in our pool of money we've raised over this year. We are able to give to more causes-- a big one today is helping those in need.

This week, Cherry Republic gives to those families in our community that need a helping hand. Here is a list of the organizations that are making a difference here in Michigan. The average donation is $6,500 and there are 22 different organizations. Please consider joining us with a contribution to one of these organizations below.

-Bob

5 Loaves 2 Fish

Goodwill of Northern Michigan

Empire Area Community Center

Leelanau Christian Neighbors

Women's Resource Center

Grow Benzie

Washtenaw Camp Placement Association

Glen Lake Community Schools Boosters and Foundation

Norte

St Phillip Neri Catholic Church

The Leelanau School

Traverse Health Clinic

Northern Michigan Supportive Housing

Helplink

City Rescue Mission of Saginaw

Community Action House

Friendship Community Center

Seeds

Justice and Peace Advocacy Center

Youthwork Core

Lift

Village Focus

Gift box wrapped in brown paper and twine, decorated with evergreen sprigs and red berries

14 Holiday Food Gifts Made with Michigan’s Finest Cherries

Nothing suits the holidays better than food gifts, especially when they’re packed with Northern Michigan’s tart cherries. From sweet treats and savory bites to festive gift boxes, these cherry-filled holiday gifts bring joy, nostalgia, and big flavor to every celebration.

31 Days of Giving: Housing

Dear Customers,

In this first week of December, we give to organizations working to reduce the tremendous shortage of housing in Northern Michigan.

Here is a quick look at the issue-- just in one county-- Leelanau.

Leelanau's median home price is $757,500, which means a household would need a combined income of approximately $197,160 to afford a home in our county. But the median income is only $71,232. Thus, many residents pay more than 50% of their income on housing. And a large portion of the workforce must make a long commute from outside Leelanau because they cannot afford to live in the county.

How does this lack of housing affect us? Our region lacks employees in every industry. Our region lacks an adequate amount of businesses to handle basic services most communities take for granted like putting in docks and running gas stations. Our community lacks a normal amount of families to fill our schools.

What is Cherry Republic's solution? It is simple. 1. Donate money to groups working on housing solutions. 2. Use Cherry Republic's own resources combined with a defined amount of donations to patiently create a pool of rental housing.

Here is where Cherry Republic will write donation checks to in the next week.

Homestretch Non-profit Housing— $20,000
Housing North-- $40,000
Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency--Homeownership Center-- $20,000
Peninsula Housing-- $20,000
Cherry Republic Sugarloaf Project. — $50,000. To create four year round rentals for workers.

Currently, Cherry Republic owns homes that rent to two year round employees with families and 24 seasonal employees. We lose significant money a year on these rentals.

One home we own houses a political refuge family from Nicaragua that the St. Phillip Neri Catholic Church here in Empire introduced us to. At first the church asked if we could hire the husband to work for us, then, we hired Manuel's wife while they lived in the church's quarters for a short time, but now we even house them and their two children.

A second home of Cherry Republic's is rented to a single woman who is a valuable staff member in our headquarters. Her husband died after becoming a paraplegic in an accident that left her estate in debt. She is still recovering financially and unable to pay market value.

I could tell you more stories of need, and data shows that we are thousands of homes short in Leelanau County. Hopefully, over the years, we will be able to share more of more individual stories of Cherry Republic helping people build strong households in Leelanau.

Cherry Republic has never given so much money to housing. We are proud to have housing as a priority in our giving this December.

-Bob

A woman placing a cherry on top of a cupcake Christmas dessert

12 Christmas Desserts That Bring Northern Michigan Cheer

Celebrate the holiday season with cherry-filled Christmas desserts that bring a touch of Northern Michigan to every table. Whether you're baking for family dinners or holiday parties, you’ll find festive cherry treats that make every celebration feel warmer, brighter, and sweeter.

A close-up of a cherry pie Thanksgiving dessert

6 Cherry Thanksgiving Desserts Worth Saving Room For

From classic treats to easy, no-bake treats, these cherry-filled Thanksgiving desserts bring a festive finish to any holiday table. Discover cozy, crowd-pleasing desserts made with Cherry Republic’s most iconic products—each one sweet, tart, and well worth saving room for.

A Thanksgiving gift box next to a cherry pie

10 Cherry Thanksgiving Gifts Perfect for Heartfelt Gatherings

Looking for the perfect Thanksgiving gift? These cherry-filled favorites from Cherry Republic make it easy to say, “I appreciate you,” whether you’re surprising your host, spreading love to friends, or treating your neighbor. Thoughtful, delicious, and made to share, they’re the sweetest way to say thanks this season.

Cozy Up With These Fall Treat Ideas Made for Cherry Lovers

Fall’s better with cherries! Explore Cherry Republic’s favorite fall treats—from homemade cherry-filled bakes to snack-ready bites that deliver instant comfort. Celebrate the season with cozy fall flavors, Michigan warmth, and plenty of cherry goodness, whether baked or enjoyed straight from the bag.

A bowl of Cherry Republic chocolate-covered cherries

Best Chocolate-Covered Cherries for Holiday Gifting & Celebrations

Celebrate the holidays with Cherry Republic’s best chocolate-covered cherries—perfect for gifting, sharing, and savoring all season long. From rich dark chocolate to creamy milk chocolate favorites, these cherry-filled treats bring a little extra Michigan flavor to every present and festive celebration.

Bowl of mixed Halloween candy featuring cherry gummies, sour twin cherries, licorice bites, and other red and yellow treats, creating a colorful candy salad

No Tricks, Just Treats: Best Halloween Candy with a Cherry Twist

Spooky season just got sweeter. Discover the best Halloween candy with a cherry twist—from sour gummies to rich, cherry-filled chocolates. Perfect for trick-or-treating, movie marathons, and spooky parties, these Cherry Republic favorites bring fun, flavor, and a taste of Michigan to every Halloween celebration.

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