Featherstone Farm

About Featherstone

Featherstone Farm is a 225-acre, certified organic farm located along the Root River in the bluff country of Rushford, Minnesota. The farm grows more than 95 varieties of fresh market fruits and vegetables for distribution to local co-ops, restaurants, grocers, wholesalers, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) members throughout the Upper Midwest. Featherstone Farm is dedicated to building a truly sustainable agriculture system, both environmentally and socially, with features like geothermal heating and cooling in their packing shed and a solar array that supplies about 60% of the farm’s energy. The farm is equally committed to creating a fair, transparent, and respectful workplace by ensuring humane wages and safe working conditions for their employees as a Fair Food certified farm.

Featherstone Farm Acquires Hoch Orchards

Hoch Orchards has been a beloved family farm since the 1950s. From 1997 to October 2024, Harry and Jackie Hoch cared for a wide variety of apples, with a focus on organic farming practices. After the Hoches made the decision to retire in 2024, they began working closely with the team at Featherstone Farm to transition the orchard into new hands sharing the same commitment to local, sustainable food systems.

While the land is currently owned by American Farmland Trust, Featherstone Farm holds a long-term lease on the Hoch’s equipment and machinery, with plans to purchase the property in the future. Today, Featherstone is leasing and managing 17 acres of the orchard, with every intention to carry on its legacy with care.

You’ll be able to find their delicious ciders in our coolers this fall, now branded as Featherstone products with acquisition information on the label. Branded stickers for the apples still need to be decided, but you can know for certain that they’re still coming from the same orchards you know and love.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOODS PROGRAM