Watts Orchards is located in western Montcalm County in west central Michigan. We are a family owned business and have been around about 90 years. We grow 104 acres of several varieties of apples, mostly smaller trees. We also harvest apples for our own farm market.

We hire anywhere from 6 to 12 workers depending on our season. We harvest apples starting in late August through early November. During our peak apple season, we normally work every day (7 days a week), then we may take a day off when our farm equipment is being moved from one orchard to another. We also have work available in our fruit market, getting fruit ready for sale.

Our apple harvesting is paid by piece rate starting at the rate of $12.00 per 18 bushel bin for smaller trees, $15.00 per 18 bushel bin for picking our Spy varieties, and $10.00 per 18 bushel bin for juice apples (Drops). All our general labor or farm market work is paid at minimum wage of $7.40 per hour.

We have approved housing available in both single and family units that is available at no cost to our workers, under the condition that it is kept clean. All of our bathrooms and laundry facilities are located within housing units. Our housing is very new and is being used as model housing for new housing being built. Our workers are covered by workers compensation and there is day care and health services close by.