Growing premium fresh sweet cherries since 1918
Photo Gallery
The
Olmstead Family began farming four generations ago in the fertile Yakima Valley
of Washington State. Fred and Alpha Olmstead moved to Grandview, Washington in
1918 and bought a cherry orchard and home north of town. One of
their three sons, Donald, was just a year old. In March 1923, five
year-old Betty Soot and her family settled into a family farmhouse on 16 acres
of grapes and cherries just south of Grandview.
After spending their school years together, Donald
Olmstead and Betty Soot married in 1938 and
eventually settled on Betty's family farm, paving the way for the Olmstead
Orchards of today. Many trees and vineyards have come and gone since then,
but family has remained strong. Both Peter and Don Jr. joined their
parents on the farm after college, leaving behind careers as a pilot and a landscape
architect. Don Jr., his wife Barbara, and their young daughter moved
into the family farm house in 1971, and son Donnie III was born in 1974.
Upon Peter's return in 1975, father and sons were together again as Olmstead
Orchards. Don Sr. retired in 1980, but only on paper! He has stayed
involved in Olmstead Orchards since then, and today (at 88 years old)
continues to help care for his nine
acres of wine grapes, his horses, and his dog. He and Betty live just over a mile
away.
In 1990, Don Jr. and Peter split up the acreage.
Don Jr. and his wife Barbara assumed Olmstead Orchards, which included 85 acres.
After finishing college, their son Don III (Donnie) also returned to farm with the
family in 1998. Today, Don Jr and Donnie, sometimes with the help of
Donald IV, spend countless hours cultivating and nurturing over 150 acres of
fruit. Cherries are the main crop with approximately 65 acres of Bings and
65 acres of Rainiers. The administration, bookkeeping, and much more are
handled by Barbara. Donnie's wife Molly assists with bookkeeping
throughout the year and works alongside Donnie to operate the
Internet sales and shipping. Don and Barbara's daughter Carrie returned to
help with the family business in 2003. Carrie built the Website and helps
with sales, marketing, and harvest. Olmstead Orchards is truly a family business
that takes pride in what they do!
© 2003-2008 Olmstead Orchards, Inc. 360 Frazer Road Grandview, Washington 98930
Last updated Tuesday June 03, 2008 Website problems: webmaster@olmsteadorchards.com
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