FAIRFIELD TWP. — Old Orchard Point, a family-owned and community-oriented farming and retail market enterprise, is beginning its second season in business at 7062 S. Adrian Highway. 

Matt and Hollie Hillard operate Old Orchard Point as part of their jobs as full-time farmers. Also part of the enterprise are David and Jody Hillard and Mark Hillard and Leslie Blaker.  

The property at Old Orchard Point includes the building that is used as the store, a pole barn, and about 50 acres of land, of which about 40 is good for farming, Matt said. It was used as an apple orchard before the Hillards bought it at an auction in November 2023. 

Other previous uses include a trucking business that operated on the property at one point. The building housed a business that sold die-cast toys online.  But the Hillards had one main idea in mind at the time of the purchase.

“We came to the auction because there was farmland that went along with [the buildings],” Matt said.  “Things ended up working out the night of the auction and we were able to purchase it.”

“We weren’t sure what we were going to do with the building.” he continued. “We really didn’t have any plans at all.”

An idea came during a conversation with a local strawberry farmer, Ed Judson, who buys straw from the Hillards to cover his strawberry plants. A retail business at Old Orchard Point seemed like a good way to sell strawberries, and things took off from there. The Hillards opened the retail store in May 2024.

The berries were sold in quarts and flats of eight quarts. Hollie picked the berries up each morning from the Judson farm. The Hillards advertised with signs in front of the building, on Facebook, and by word-of-mouth, Matt said. The strawberry season lasted about 2 ½ weeks.

“We surprised Ed with how well we did,” Matt said. 

“That led into selling produce throughout the summer,” he continued. 

The Hillards grow sweet corn themselves, and they buy more produce from Sadowski’s Produce in Swanton, Ohio, another family business.

“We wanted to stick with small [operations] like that,” Hollie said. 

The most popular produce item was the tomatoes, which customers thought were delicious, Matt said.  In late summer and fall, Old Orchard Point features peaches, apples and cider they purchase from MacQueen’s Orchard, another family operation located in Holland, Ohio. 

The Hillards also sold pumpkins in the fall, as well as Christmas trees in the winter. During the winter, hours are cut back, but Hollie is still in the store selling freeze-dried candy, and honey and maple syrup. Hollie is a beekeeper and makes the honey herself, along with help from her dad, Steve Hallett. The Hillards also make their own syrup from trees they tap themselves. 

Also helping out in the store are Hollie’s mom, Cindy Hallett, and Blaker’s mom, Nancy Cleghorn. 

Old Orchard Point also hosts workshops in the main building. Workshops, which are advertised on Facebook, are typically for 10 to 15 people and feature topics such as Tastefully Simple freezer meals, flower arrangements, soap, tie-dye and crochet. 

“People tell me they want to do something and I try to find someone who can teach it,” Hollie said. 

Old Orchard Point is at 7062 S. Adrian Highway, Jasper. For more information, call 517-605-5961 or follow Old Orchard Point LLC on Facebook.