BY HANNAH SHILLO HANNAH . SHILLO @ DANCOMNEWS . COM
COVINGTON , Ind . — For more than 110 years , one family has kept the Covington area stocked with one particular fruit .
Coffing Brothers Orchard is a fifth-generation , family-owned apple orchard located about 10 miles south of Covington .
In addition to selling their harvest to local residents , they also commercially distribute to grocery stores throughout the Midwest , labeled as ABC apples .
“ In 1907 , JD Coffing , Homer Coffing and Fred Coffing bought the land near Covington , Ind . with a vision in mind ,” according to the orchard ’ s website . “ This vision consisted of fields full of lush apple trees and crisp , sweet apples perfect for eating and baking . In 1910 , the brothers planted these apple trees and their vision became a reality as our family ’ s apple orchard business got its start .”
The brothers started out growing and selling berries to cover costs until the apple trees produced enough fruit .
Now run by Roger , Greg , Tim , Joe and Mark Coffing , Coffing Brothers Orchard is one of the largest apple orchards in the state of Indiana , with 150 acres of apple trees located on about 1,500 acres of farm land . They harvest about 100,000 bushels of apples each year .
Joe Coffing has been working at the orchard “ as soon as I could reach the pedals on a lawn mower ,” he said , with his brothers Mark and Tim , his father Roger and his uncle Greg . Joe said his two nephews are also working at the orchard now , too .
By the time he graduated college , his great-uncle had planned on retir-
A Coffing Brothers Orchard worker hand picks golden delicious apples during the orchard ’ s harvest season . All of the apples are handpicked each year .
Photo by Hannah Shillo
Joe Coffing is fourth generation in the Coffing Brothers Orchard family . He is the secretary and treasurer of the business , but isn ’ t confined to an office . He spends time out in the orchard , especially during planting in the spring and harvest in the fall .
Photo by Hannah Shillo
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