About VerHage Fruit Farms & Cider Mill
VerHage Fruit Farms & Cider Mill on West ML Avenue, west of Kalamazoo toward Mattawan, was started by Vern VerHage in 1960, and the cider mill followed in 1962. Vern and his wife Nancy passed the farm to their children Kelly and Kevin, and a third generation now helps run it. The cider is made from apples without additives or preservatives and sold unpasteurized.
The market and bakery are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in fall, through December 20, and reopen in May. Donuts are made fresh every day and sold by the piece or the dozen. The bakery's pie list is one of the longest around, and the shelves carry caramel apples, fudge, cinnamon rolls, brownies, cookies, bread and the farm's own apple cider vinegar, plus Michigan eggs, honey, maple syrup and meat. Christmas pies can be picked up just before the holiday.
The farm is also home to what it calls the longest zip line in southwest Michigan. Weekday group tours by reservation, for 10 or more, can combine a 24-minute wheelchair-accessible hayride, a cider-making demonstration with a sample, and a donut, with prices from $4 to $17 a person in 2026. The orchard had a non-yielding crop in 2026, so apple picking was not offered that year. There is a large picnic area and free bus parking.
Shades of Lavender Farm near Mattawan is about 4 miles west, close enough to pair a summer lavender visit with donuts and cider here.
What to do
- Buy a jug of unpasteurized cider
- Get fresh donuts by the half dozen or dozen
- Order from the long list of homemade pies
- Ride the zip line
- Book a weekday group tour with a hayride and cider demonstration
- Pick up caramel apples and fudge
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open May through December 20; closed late December through April
- Hours
- Fall: daily 9 a.m.–6 p.m. through December 20; hours change in November; closed Thanksgiving (their website)
- Admission
- Free to shop; 2026 group tours $4–$17 per person (10-person minimum); donuts $2.50 each or $14 a dozen
Good to know
- Accessibility
- Farm and hayride are wheelchair accessible; portable toilets only
- Reservations
- Required for group tours
- Payment
- Group tours paid by one check; cards carry a surcharge of up to 4%
Tips for your visit
- Apple picking was not offered in 2026 because of a non-yielding crop year; call before planning to pick
- Book group tours by phone with a head count
- Order Christmas pies early for pickup just before the holiday
Pair it with a lavender farm
Shades of Lavender Farm · about 10 minutes away
Shades of Lavender Farm near Mattawan is about 4 miles west, making cider and donuts here an easy add to a lavender afternoon.
Getting there
Questions
Is the cider pasteurized?
No. It is unpasteurized and made without additives or preservatives.
Can I pick apples in 2026?
No. The farm called 2026 a non-yielding crop year, so the orchard was closed except for hayrides.
When is the market open?
Daily 9 to 6 in fall through December 20, closed late December through April, and open again from May.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Kalamazoo & Mattawan, Michigan
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
