RIBBON CUT ON HILDEBRAND FRUIT FARMS' NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART PACKING FACILITY IN BERRIEN SPRINGS

July 16, 2026

ChamberCommunityEconomicFeaturedFun FactsGeneral News ArticleHuman InterestPress Release

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:

Arthur Havlicek

President & CEO

ahavlicek@smrchamber.com

269-932-4042

RIBBON CUT ON HILDEBRAND FRUIT FARMS' NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART PACKING FACILITY IN BERRIEN SPRINGS

$4MIL Expansion Made Possible by MDARD Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 16, 2026

ORONOKO TOWNSHIP, MI - Hildebrand Fruit Farms, a fourth-generation family farm and packing operation, welcomed community members, local officials, and business leaders to an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of its state-of-the-art packing facility earlier today.

The celebration marked a major milestone for the nearly century-old farm, which completed a more than $4 million expansion of its packing operation with support from a $175,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's (MDARD) Food and Agriculture Investment Program. The completed project doubled the square footage of the farm's packing facility, introduced a more efficient layout, increased processing capacity, and created new jobs.

"MDARD is proud to support Hildebrand Fruit through this Food and Agriculture Investment grant, and we're excited to help cut the ribbon on the new building," said Dr. Tim Boring, MDARD's Director. "Expansion projects like the one we're celebrating today strengthen regional food systems, support jobs, and ultimately drive economic impact. With a rich history and dedication to community, family farms like Hildebrand are the backbone of Michigan's agriculture industry. Congratulations to Mike, his family and the entire Hildebrand operation."

Owner Mike Hildebrand, whose family has grown peaches, apples, and pears on the land for four generations, welcomed guests and shared the story behind the farm's growth; from a 60-year-old packing building that had been added onto six separate times, to the newly built, modern facility now supporting the farm's future and the dozens of other Michigan growers it works with each season.

"We are thrilled to be done with construction, where we literally went from foundation to finished in 5 months, said Hildebrand." We had a great crew of contractors who worked well together and got the job done. We’re excited about this generational investment for our family and for the other families we support--both employees and our farmer network for whom we pack and market. This facility will have a big impact on the Michigan Fruit industry and we are glad to be a leader of that future. We will start packing peaches tomorrow morning!

The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, which connected Hildebrand Fruit Farms with the funding opportunity, was recognized during the ceremony for its role in helping the farm secure the resources needed to grow.

"Hildebrand Fruit Farms is exactly the kind of homegrown success story that our region should be proud of," said Arthur Havlicek, President and CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. "We were glad to connect Mike and his team with the grant opportunity that helped make this expansion possible, and it's incredibly rewarding to stand here today and see the finished facility. Investments like this don't just strengthen one farm, they strengthen an entire agricultural community that depends on operations like Hildebrand's to pack, store, and sell their fruit."

Guests toured the newly completed facility, learned about the upgraded packing and storage capabilities, and enjoyed fresh, locally grown Berrien County peaches following the ribbon-cutting. Hildebrand Fruit Farms, located at 9625 Red Bud Trail in Berrien Springs, will begin packing this year's crop in the new facility. The expanded capacity expected to benefit both the Hildebrand operation and the 25 to 30 other Michigan farms it partners with to pack, store, and sell fruit.

For more information about Hildebrand Fruit Farms, visit hildebrandfruit.com.

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About Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber: The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is a non-profit business advocacy and collective-impact organization serving Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties. Established in 1954, the Chamber works to strengthen regional assets, advocate for regional priorities, and cultivate an economic ecosystem that prepares the region for future opportunities.

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