GREENFIELD, Ind. — Tuttle Orchards, a popular harvest-time destination when 45 acres of apples begin to ripen, suffered a tragedy in the recent death of co-owner Tom Roney. Tuttle Orchards is an agritourism business with nearly 100 acres devoted to apples and vegetables, a children’s play area and a year-round farm store, located in rural Greenfield, Ind.

 

Roney partnered with his brother, Mike Roney, to develop their grandfather’s farm from a small apple orchard to one of the largest orchards in Indiana, along with 40 acres of vegetables, pumpkins and award-winning cider.

Tom, 70, passed away suddenly in April when the apple trees were in bloom. He was extremely active on the farm. He could often be found managing administrative duties, supervising apple production or doing whatever task that needed finished. “Tom was the guy who did all of the behind-the-scenes stuff that kept the farm running, from administration, emptying the trash or washing the dishes on busy weekends,” said his niece, Ruth Ann Roney, who manages the store and has assumed the administrative side of the business.

“We are definitely missing all his help and knowledge on growing apples and the history of the orchard. I miss his consistency and the nonchalant sense of leadership he provided around here,” Ruth Ann said.

Apples

After serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War, he put his Purdue University degree in horticulture to good use on the family homestead. His grandfather, Roy Tuttle, had begun to specialize in fruit trees at a time when farm specialization was about as uncommon as indoor plumbing, according to the Tuttle’s website, indianapolisorchards.com

Tuttle planted his first 10 acres of apple trees in 1928 and later sold apples for 50 cents per bushel. Most of the apples were sold wholesale.

Slowly the farm transitioned more toward on-farm sales. Starting in 1967, Roy and Tillie’s only child, Virginia, and her husband, Raymond Roney, hosted up to 500 local school children annually on tours of the orchard. Virginia grew a large garden of flowers and vegetables that contributed to the business.

When Tom came aboard in the 1970s, he planted more apple trees and developed the nationally-recognized cider operation, which last year won third place in the nation. The farm now hosts 10,000 people per year, including school children, who come out to pick apples and pumpkins and buy cider and apple butter from the store.

“Tom was forward-looking. In the 1970s he made some decisions that put the orchard on the trajectory that it is today,” Ruth Ann said.

Now heading up the apple production and cider press, nephew and family namesake, Thomas Roney, said Tom was a man of few words. “He showed me once how to make cider, and I never saw him again. He let it go, trusting I knew how to do it after that,” Thomas said.

Now, as he makes production decisions for the first time by himself, Thomas asks himself, “What would Tom do?” “His work ethic was unbelievable. He never complained. He did the stuff no one wants to do,” he added.

Family

A single man all his life, Tom was devoted to his brother's family. Mike Roney and his wife, Helen, had seven children, who grew up on the farm and were homeschooled by Helen.

The oldest, Ruth Ann, and Thomas, with a diesel mechanics background, have worked at the orchard for several years. The other five are all over the world pursuing various careers but maintain a connection with the orchard.

“He took a lot of interest in the kids, and they enjoyed him a lot,” Mike said.

When Mike, 63, came back to the farm in 1982, having worked as a horticulture teacher in northern Indiana and as a landscaper, he wanted to use his background to develop vegetables and diversify the business. He said Tom was always willing to change with the times. From Roy Tuttle’s U-Pick and wholesale apple business to now, there have been many changes.

“We are more diversified than a lot of (other orchards). It takes a lot of cooperation and scheduling. Some of the big changes over the years have been in the varieties of the apples, increased marketing and production and a transition in the kinds of customers we have,” Mike said.

The apples have changed – from soft cooking apples to crisp varieties that people like to eat.

“My grandfather used to sell apples by the bushel. He didn’t process the apples. People would take a bushel or two home and make apple butter, pies, apple sauce. Now we sell these value-added products in our store, which helps us stay in business. If I still sold apples by the bushel, I’d be out of business,” Mike said. 

Working together

Mike said Tom was hardworking, dedicated and persevering. The family is still finding out about all of his community activities.

For 20 years he served in the Navy Reserves and on the Hancock County Council. He was also active with the Hancock County Economic Development District to make sure farmers had a voice, Mike said, as well as the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Purdue Extension board for a few years Just as it’s always done, Tuttle Orchards continues to expand. This season, the family opened a new café, which serves food made from produce from the farm and other local farms. They have added a fourth high tunnel for vegetables.

Working together as a family has its challenges, but the Roney family respects one another, a topic Tom spoke to Farm World about earlier this year.

“The most important thing is everybody is willing to listen to each other and has an equal vote in what we do,” Tom said in February. “It has its moments. In some ways it’s run as a committee, so we don’t get things done on a timely basis. Nevertheless, we’re all on the same page.”