Red Truck Orchards
Red Truck Orchards is a Northport, Michigan cherry brand co-founded by Phil and Sarah Halstead. The farm produces premium cherry vinegar using a skin-on, double-fermentation process, sourced from local Michigan cherry growers. The brand soft-launched recently and is building distribution through online sales, farmers markets, and a growing retail network across Michigan.
The Story
Red Truck Orchards is a Northport, Michigan cherry brand co-founded by Phil Halstead and Sarah Hallstedt, drawing on four decades of cherry-industry experience and a family farm rooted in Leelanau County agriculture. The brand makes skin-on cherry vinegar through a slow, small-batch, double-fermentation process using locally grown cherries rather than commodity concentrates. Hallstedt Homestead Cherries, the family's first-generation U-Pick cherry farm, serves as the operational base. Red Truck Orchards soft-launched in 2018 and has since grown through farmers markets, local retail, and online direct-to-consumer sales. The company is positioned as a community-focused umbrella that could eventually include multiple local cherry growers.
Key Facts & Metrics
Company Timeline
2015 — Co-founded Red Truck Orchards
Co-founded by Phil Halstead and Sarah Hallstedt, drawing on Hallstedt Homestead Cherries farm roots in Leelanau County, Michigan.
2016 — Developed Cherry Vinegar Process
Created the skin-on, double-fermentation cherry vinegar using locally grown Leelanau County cherries.
2018 — Soft Launch
Soft-launched the brand focusing on local farmers markets and community retail in Northport, Michigan.
2020 — Expanded Regional Distribution
Expanded into additional regional retail and online sales.
2023 — Community-Grower Model
Positioned Red Truck Orchards as an umbrella for multiple local cherry growers.
2026 — Featured on How I Built This Episode 839
Phil Halstead appeared on NPR's How I Built This to discuss marketing a novel product and building a regional food brand.
