This year's Romeo Reads is The Recipe Box by Viola Shipman - a story about a woman who learns to understand her family's history and passion for food all while working on their orchard. What better way to celebrate this than to highlight the orchards in the Romeo/Washington/Bruce Township area. Let's start by honoring the Big Red Orchard in Washington.
The Big Red Orchard as we know it began in 1971 when Ben Mossman (co-owner of the Wrigley Supermarket chain) partnered with Sam Franco to purchase the Big Red Apple Orchard. He owned 12,000 acres of land in Romeo to grow apples. At the time, the orchard grew the Jonathan, Red Delicious, and McIntoch kinds.
In 1982, Bernard and Jane Miller - a couple from Sterling Heights - bought the orchard and renamed it Miller's Big Red Apple Orchard. They were well-versed in operating it because they had grown and sold fruit from their garage.
This leads into our photo of the week. The August 31, 1983 issue of The Romeo Observer displays this picture of Sue Miller - Bernard and Jane's daughter-in-law - holding a basketful of apples in front of the Big Red Apple Orchard sign which hadn't added the Miller's name to it yet. Sue was the store manager at the time and was promoting the products that they had. By the time this photograph was taken, the orchard sold plums; pears; peaches; and Jonathan, Red Delicious, McIntosh, and Yellow Delicious apples.
Since then, there has been new management and a wider range of products at the Big Red Orchard. I hope all of you have a chance to go there at some point and have a good time.
To learn more about the Big Red Orchard, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org or call (586) 690-4890.
In addition, I will be presenting on the Big Red Orchard and others in the area for the Romeo Reads: Launch Party at the Romeo District Library, Kezar Branch on Monday, February 5, at 6pm. See you there!
Source: The Romeo Observer, August 31, 1983, p.17, Romeo Goodfellows Edition, 2023, p.2, and Big Red Orchard