Theys Orchards

Generations of Growth

In 1941, a legacy was formed when Bert and Esther Theys started Theys Orchards LLC. Little did they
know that their small orchard would grow into a multigenerational business filled with passion and
heritage. Today, the business is operated by Bert and Esther’s grandson, Jim, and his wife, Judy, with
support from their daughters. The orchard produces about 30 different apple varieties in Luxemburg,
WI, including Honeycrisp, Cortland, McIntosh, Pazazz, and River Belle, among others. 

Jim and Judy took over the family business around 2009, following in the footsteps of Jim’s father, Jim
Sr., and his wife, Jean. Having grown up helping his parents, Jim was eager to continue the family legacy
with his own family someday. 

“It's a tradition,” Judy says. “It's part of who we are. It's part of our family. It's part of our heritage.”

Someday, Jim and Judy hope that their orchard will become part of the 4th and 5th generations,
continuing their goal of providing a good quality of life for their family, growing high-quality fruit, and
welcoming community visitors for years to come.

Ever since Jim and Judy bought the orchard, they've been busy planting new apple varieties, making
delicious apple cider, and creating delectable apple cider donuts along with the locally renowned
gourmet caramel apples. The Theys begin their apple harvest in mid-August and welcome visitors on
Saturdays from mid to late August. From Labor Day onward, Theys Orchards’ shop is open every day of
the week for the rest of the season.

For many years, Theys Orchards sold apples to local organizations with which their family had
relationships, but without additional connections, expanding into new markets was difficult. For
example, restaurants and schools don’t usually have multiple sources for fruits and vegetables; they
usually rely on just one. When Theys partnered with Seasonal Harvest, that problem was solved. 
Seasonal Harvest became the outlet to sell apples to some of these markets they had been trying to get
into.

“Before partnering with Seasonal Harvest, we didn’t have many outlets. We were mostly just selling to
people who stopped at our place,” Judy says. “We joined Seasonal Harvest because we knew they had
good values. They cared not just about the farmers, but also about the people, institutions, and
restaurants buying the products. They have high standards. They only want quality. Through them, we
were able to reach new markets.”

Not only was Theys Orchards able to reach new markets, but they also saw increases in their sales. The
best part? Seasonal Harvest handles the distribution, allowing Jim and Judy to save time and money on
delivering their produce and instead focus on what they do best.

“They're also a very easy group to work with. They have everybody's well-being at heart,” Judy says.

“They understand the work that goes into growing these products because they’re farmers too. They
know why some varieties cost more to grow and really value the effort behind what we produce. Not

only have they provided us with opportunities to sell our products, but we have formed a partnership
between our orchard and Seasonal Harvest and have become friends.”

To the Theys, both producing and buying local food is incredibly important.

“I think local matters because the food is so much fresher. Fewer hands touch it, and there’s less storage
time and transportation. That saves on costs and reduces the carbon footprint,” Judy says. “It’s also
safer and more traceable. When food comes from nearby, any issues can be contained locally instead of
becoming a nationwide recall. Additionally, our fruit isn’t waxed or stored for months like apples from
out of state; people appreciate that freshness. Plus, keeping our food supply local supports local people
and the money we earn gets spent right here in the community.”

The Theys take great pride in being Wisconsin farmers. They genuinely enjoy connecting with their
community and sharing their family’s legacy.

Customers can find Theys Orchards products at their storefront on E974 Hwy 54 in Luxemburg, WI. They
can also purchase products at Ag Heritage Days at Luxemburg’s fairgrounds in September and at the
Luxemburg-Casco High School Toy Show.