A living Legacy
The History of the Farm
Grandpa Marvin Aebig was a WW2 Veteran who started to farm after returning from the war. At the age of 39, he suffered a stroke, deeming him paralyzed from the waist down. That merely slowed him down as he proceeded to farm many years after his stroke. To describe his will, effort & determination would be nothing short of can-do, will-do, or perhaps just pure grit.
At 18 I, Caleb Coulter, was set out to WA to Wenatchee Valley College for year round fruit school focused on apple growing. A few days before going my grandfather took a bad fall & I couldn’t leave. His misfortune again perhaps left me on a better path. My uncle Dan then approached me about a farm recently purchased with me in mind for after college & said why wait?
In the fall of 1996 at 18 yrs old I purchased my first 100 acres. From there I worked for my uncle on his farm and also grew pickles on rented ground for cash flow in the summer while I raised the funds to replant 100 acre piece to apples & peaches.
Fall of 1999 we lost my Uncle Dan at age 48. Later that farm was sold off. My grandpa then approached the new owners who agreed to sell him the 80 acres adjacent to his house, also where our packing facility is today. It wasn’t until the day of closing I found out he made the deal added my name at the local bank with his credit I just had to make the payments. Up another 80 acres but this farm was planted with producing fruit.
Spring of 1999 the first employee Chris Monroe started with the farm. Chris was instrumental in daily activity working side by side to build production but also a friendship. Everyone needs that one friend they can count on Chris is mine. Today he is still employee number #1
Spring of 2002 Grandpa Aebig was killed in a traffic accident riding an electric scooter returning from visiting me trimming peaches in the orchard.
Fall 2002 Sarah & Caleb married, hands down best decision of my life right above purchasing that first 100acres.
American Farmers History & Family
2005
Alissa was born new journey underway learning patience, humbling & humiliation as we wait to understand what is in our abilities to do to help her health.
2006
Cassidy is born then quickly set off that summer to Children’s hospital in Richmond, VA with Alissa for summer feeding therapy. Caleb stayed home to take care of the farm & build new house. Gone a long time built pole barn also.
2007
Infrastructure boxes, buildings for storage.
2008
Purchased additional acreage from neighbors. Planted it all apples & asparagus
2010
Added our first frost fans
2011
Added more fans saw the benefit yr prior, 2012 turned out to be frost of the century our fans paid for themselves overnight, although we ran them 22 nights that yr.
2012
Built controlled atmosphere cold storage to hold our own crop, while also building hydrocooler for asparagus
2013
Started receiving asparagus for other packers & processors
2016
First yr packing asparagus 1,082,000 lbs all by hand. 2016- Fall started addition for more asparagus packing & new apple grader
2017
Spring second asparagus line in new pack rooms, Fall started packing our own apples. Nephew Asa started with the farm
2018
Additional acreage, added another farm
2019
Sister Rachel started with operation. Nephew Eli started as well.
2020
Riley started with farm, his dad Paul Jr works with us today, also his grandfather Paul SR worked with my Uncle & myself. Paul Sr was one of the most genuine influences on me growing up after losing both Grandpa & my Uncle teaching me multiple new task over the years. *Began talks with U of M about a fund raising program for Mott Children’s Hospital.
2021
Spring Added new hydrocooler, Fall started receiving peaches for Titan Farms
2022
60,000 sq ft addition on facility, 5 controlled atmosphere rooms, 2 cold storage rooms, dry storage additional refrigeration capacity. New asparagus pack room -Waterjet cutter that didn’t work out.
2023
Added 2 more asparagus packing lines
2024
Added Cider line worked through permitting process for the yr, purchased apple farm in Hart
2025
Signed first of its kind corporate branding agreement with U-M Mott Children’s hospital, purchased additional acreage from neighbor, large planting of over 120,000 new apple trees , added line #5 to asparagus packing.
