to 500 people . “ Lines out the door ,” Joe said .
During those years , Colleen ’ s sister , Denise , worked with them , overseeing the pies . Joe says they worked together like a three-legged stool . They were each holding up their part , and together , it all worked .
Eventually , Carlson ’ s Orchard was making pies for approximately 40 other orchards around the state , and many local ones , too . They also developed a popular fund-raising program in which organizations could sell their pies , and make good profits for themselves .
They hit a serious snag in 2014 , when Colleen was diagnosed with ovarian cancer . The doctors with whom they consulted were not overly positive about Colleen ’ s prognosis – and insisted that she would lose her hair no matter what .
Someone suggested the name of a different doctor , this one who was in practice at the University of Minnesota . After a consult with the physician , Joe and Colleen high-fived each other on the way out . They had a better plan of action .
The plan still involved chemotherapy , and surgeries , and radiation treatments , but the Carlsons refused to give up hope . Joe was and remains exceptionally proud of Colleen . “ Her willpower , attitude , faith , and desire to live is incredible ,” he said .
Colleen never missed a day of work throughout her treatments , and Carlson ’ s Orchard grew to be open seven days per week , from the week after the Cokato Corn Carnival in mid-August through Thanksgiving .
They kept that speedy pace until five or six years ago , when they decided to cut out being open on Sundays .
Eventually , they cut out the pork chop dinners , and went to a five-days-per-week schedule .
Shortly after that , Joe says , they “ put the dagger in August and November .”
In 2018 , Colleen told Joe she wanted to retire . Their sons were getting married and starting families , and she wanted to be present for that . That was fine with Joe .
The Carlsons are about to hit another milestone . Colleen will be celebrating six years of being cancer-free . “ She hit it out of the park ,” Joe said . Colleen has been going for check-ups every six months . Beginning in December , she will be able to move to check-ups to just once a year .
Having beaten cancer to the curb , the Carlsons have found COVID-19 easier to deal with than some . It ’ s a matter of perspective , Joe said . They thought carefully about how to proceed throughout the pandemic , and used the Minnesota State Fair as their guide . When the fair was called off , they decided they would not open for restaurant or retail business for the 2020 season .
Their wholesale apple and pie business , and their fundraising opportunities , have continued to boom throughout it all . “ I have enough orders so I have every apple sold ,” Joe said . “ And it ’ s been a good year and a good crop .”
Joe had his four apple pickers begin harvesting the popular Minnesota-born Honeycrisp apples Sept . 14 . He has his own method for apple picking , too . He sends the pickers through the trees four to five times , instructing them to pick only the reddest and ripest fruits . “ The consumer wants color ,” he said .
Joe said the Carlson ’ s Orchard bakery made 25,000 pies last year . And the apple peelers and pie bakers are
Submitted photo
Apple pickers Cecil Horstman , Wade Serfling , and Craig Kusske tackled harvesting Honeycrisp apples on one recent picture-perfect September day .
keeping the pace this year , as well . In fact , Joe is quite sure this year ’ s numbers will surpass last year ’ s , and will stay strong through October .
The Carlsons want their retail customers to know they haven ’ t forgotten about them . They will be setting up an open air retail area near the barn , so people can come out and purchase their favorites , despite the pandemic . ( Items will be available Wednesdays through Saturdays , from 10 a . m . to 4 p . m . through Sat ., October 24 , for apples and frozen take and bake pies only . Cash or checks only .)
They want to make sure their local customers understand they are appreciated , too . “ Everything we ’ ve done ,
Submitted photo
The apple peelers and pie bakers at Carlson ’ s Orchard can make 300 pies per day .
we couldn ’ t have done without the local community ,” Joe said . “ And we hope to see them all back again in 2021 .”
Carlson ’ s Orchard and Bakery is located at 11893 Montgomery Ave . SW , Winsted . It may be reached by calling 320-485-3704 , or by emailing piesfundraiser @ gmail . com . The orchard ’ s website is https :// carlsonsorchardbakery . com /.
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SeniorConnectionsHJ . COM Senior Connections Nov / Dec 2020
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