Up North Blog

Cherry Boomchunkas are my first food product.  It all began 22 years ago in a search for expanding my business.   I had been selling Cherry Republic t-shirts, but was frustrated because tees were only purchased in the summer—I was looking for something to sell year round..  People eat food year round.  I decided on a […]

A speaker at a TEDx event in Traverse City said that the average child from his African homeland walked to school 10 miles. After I heard this fact, I couldn’t help but think of Steph and I walking to school with our two young boys. Colebrook, a kindergartener and Hawthorn, a preschooler. A couple weeks […]

Cherry Republic started as a one person company.  I didn’t imagine I would ever need to hire help.  I was single and had no other responsibilities– you can get a lot done if you look at everyday as 24 hours.  Well, that lasted about one summer of struggle.  The next summer, I started calling my […]

Here is a short video of cousin Andrew, my boys and I enjoying our time out at the cherry orchard.  Well, until the end, when Hawthorn got….

My boys and I have never had a spring with such a variety of activities.  I thought it would be fun to give you a little photo blog update of Colebrook and Hawthorn playing outside amidst this major power struggle between Spring and Winter.   Here’s a short closing video of Hawthorn and Colebrook sharing some energized […]

My mother created her own song and dance to send good vibes to the farmers.

We have a new employee at Cherry Republic– Amy Eaton, who will be our Innovation Coordinator.Amy worked at Hickory Farms for 16 years.  They are the big cheese and sausage retailer you’ll see in many malls around the Holidays.   We are really pleased to have her as she has plenty of product experience and savvy. […]