Tawas Blueberry Farm, located in Tawas City along the shores of Lake Huron in northeastern Michigan, has been cultivating blueberries for over 70 years. Originally known as Czaika’s Blueberry Farm, it was purchased in 2019 by Nathan and Cindi Payne, who took over the six-acre farm from Joe and Sharon Czaika.
The farm grows several blueberry varieties including Northland, Toro, Patriot, and Earliblue, and operates primarily as a u-pick destination in a relatively isolated area.
La nuova gestione
Tawas Blueberry Farm’s Nathan Payne credits networking and relying on the farm’s previous owners as keys to his success. Photo courtesy of Tawas Blueberry Farm.
Nathan Payne had no prior experience in agriculture. He studied at the University of Notre Dame and worked in wildlife biology and forestry across several states before moving to Michigan.
When his wife accepted a job in Tawas and the farm went up for sale, the couple decided to embrace the opportunity and apply their skills to farming. The original fields, planted in the early 1950s by Joe Czaika Sr., are still productive today.
After Joe Jr. inherited the farm in 2003 and managed it for years, he and his wife eventually chose to sell to someone who would continue the blueberry legacy. The Paynes, eager and committed, benefited greatly from the Czaikas’ proximity and mentorship.
With their help, Nathan began improving operations while staying true to the farm's heritage.
Innovazione e comunità
Growing blueberries along Lake Huron, Tawas Blueberry Farm has experienced success with its u-pick operations. Photo courtesy of Tawas Blueberry Farm
To build connections and improve his knowledge, Payne joined the Michigan Blueberry Advisory Committee and eventually became its vice chair. He also became active in local agricultural and conservation groups.
The farm introduced value-added experiences like fresh donuts, chocolate-covered blueberries, and local honey, with plans to expand into products like blueberry syrup and barbecue sauce.
Crescita e sostenibilità
Tawas Blueberry Farm in Tawas City was originally known as Czaika’s Blueberry Farm until the Payne family purchased it in 2019. Photo courtesy of Tawas Blueberry Farm
The farm now attracts around 12,000 visitors per season and yields 50,000 to 60,000 pounds (22,680–27,215 kg) of blueberries annually.
Payne highlights the time challenges of balancing farm work with family life and stresses the vulnerability of small farms to bad weather. Still, he focuses on efficiency improvements like better pruning and upgraded tools to meet demand and maintain quality.
Looking ahead, Payne aims to expand both land and sales channels, potentially moving into pre-picked fruit and farmers markets.
Known around town as “the blueberry guy,” he and his family are dedicated to keeping their farm accessible and community-centered. Their long-term goal is to grow sustainably while honoring the roots of the farm.
Text and image source: fruitgrowersnews.com
A graduate of the University of Miami, Keith Loria is an award-winning journalist who has been writing for almost 20 years. View his recent writing at keithloria.contently.com.
