Dunneback Girls Continue

from MiBrew - Spring 2021

Katie Lynn to the Rescue

There’s more--a lot more--than fruits and veggies growing at the historic Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm Market, located on the northwest side of Grand Rapids, about 10 minutes from downtown. The family-run and operated farm, founded by Edwin Dunneback in 1922, has long been a site of barn dances, weddings and other special events.

Today the Farm continues to bring people together for live musical entertainment, including a popular fall farm concert series, Wednesday evening Team Trivia Nights, an Easter Egg Hunt for the youngsters and a variety of other family-friendly activities. As Stephanie Ginsberg, who grew up on the farm and lives and works there with her family says: “We call it agritainment. We do these things to help support and educate people on where food comes from and carry on a family tradition of farming and fun. Grandma and Grandpa loved music and dancing.”

Dunneback girls continue family tradition

Jon Becker MIBrew Trail

Once a common sight across rural America, family farms have been disappearing like the sunset over Lake Michigan. Yet there is a multigenerational farm, located 10 miles outside of Grand Rapids in an area known as Ridge Country (prime conditions for growing apples), that has stood the test of time. Ed Dunneback and Girls Farm Market will, remarkably, enter centennial territory next year, continuing a family tradition of farming in Alpine Township that began in 1922. “It’s a blessed thing,” said Stephanie Ginsberg, whose great-grandfather was the one who started the farm. “We’re happy to continue the tradition. I’m not saying it’s all doom and gloom because we’ve made it, but it’s not easy to keep farming. There’s only a small group of family farms left.” You don’t have to venture far from the Dunneback Farm to see literally thousands of apple trees. The land’s elevation coupled with the proximity to Lake Michigan makes it fertile territory for apple growing. “About 90% of Michigan apples are grown here,” said Ginsberg, whose mother Suanne has owned and operated the family farm for 40 years. The family recently expanded their enterprise by opening a taproom, Pink Barrel Cellars, located in the taproom inside Ed Dunneback and Girls Farm Market. It sits on the 170 acre, third and fourth generation fruit farm noted for its sweet and tart cherries, apples, strawberries and asparagus. Ginsberg grew up on the farm and has spent the better part of her life there. She has fond memories when, as a young girl, she used to help her grandfather Edward Dunneback out every day, milking cows and doing other chores. “My sister Sarah and I grew up on the north side of the farm, spending most of our extra time packing berries, pulling bush and helping with whatever the farm needed,” Ginsberg said. “I left corporate America 13 years ago and made my way back to the farm. I’ve been full-time ever since, growing the u-pick, activities and memory making in the barn.” The Dunneback Girls-matriarch Suanne and her daughters Stephanie and Sarah not only work together — they all reside on the farm with their families. Sarah is a nurse but, with the addition of Pink Barrel Cellars, it won’t be long before she’ll return to the farm full-time as well, Ginsberg said.