ABOUT US
Pre-Sliced Apples
with Caramel Dip
We’re a big farming family, and by big – we mean there are a lot of us. Our family is deeply rooted in the prime agricultural region of Richland Center, Wisconsin where the rich soil and rolling hills churn out some of the best agricultural products in the nation. Richland Hills Farms produces fresh, pre-sliced apples.
Our farm and business have been about family since the beginning. In fact, we’re a multi-generation family business and today even father and daughter work side-by-side to run the company. It’s this sense of family togetherness along with small town ideals that has helped Richland Hills Farms do more than grow apples, it’s helped us innovate.
In fact, our innovative approach enabled us to become one of the first pre-sliced apple producers in the US. Today, Richland Hills Farms is one of the largest Midwest suppliers of fresh apples to the foodservice industry. That dedication to quality products and service comes from the commitment to build a legacy for our family as well as to create jobs and opportunity in our small farming community.
Nestled in the rolling hills of Southwest Wisconsin, the apple orchards of Richland Hills produce some of the world’s finest apples. This region, known for spectacular dairy farms, enjoys the old-fashioned reputation of producing only the best that the partnership of nature and man can achieve. Treat your customers to the best that Wisconsin has to offer apples from Richland Hills Farms. We’re talking about pure fresh apples, no sugar or fillers, never frozen.
How Do Packaged Apples Stay Fresh?
Packaged apples stay fresh because they are treated with an anti-browning agent known as Nature Seal™. Nature Seal™ is a benign compound whose main ingredient is ascorbic acid, otherwise known as vitamin C. The ingredients of Nature Seal™ carry the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) designation from the FDA.
Nature Seal™ does not require a special atmosphere to inhibit browning. Opened packages can be held for future use, up to 21 days, as long as they are refrigerated and code date limits are met. Packaged pre-sliced apples do need to be refrigerated and stored at 32 degrees to 36 degrees ℉. Now you can add another fresh fruit option to your menu planning or add to those delicious apple recipes you may have avoided in the past due to apple browning.
Are Packaged Apple Slices Healthy?
Richland Hills Farms fresh pre-sliced apples are not only delicious, they are healthy and convenient. Great for on the go snacking pre sliced apples help us to get those much needed servings of fresh fruit. Apples are high in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Each 2 oz. portion of Richland Hills Farms fresh sliced apples equals a half cup serving of fruit.
Richland Hills Farms apples are available in a variety of foodservice and retail packages. Including our personal favorite; Apple Dippers. The Richland Hills Farms Apple Dippers package consists of 3 ounces of pre-sliced fresh red apples and a 1 ounce souffle cup of caramel dipping sauce. A wonderfully fun treat to enjoy while still getting in those daily servings of fresh fruit.
From the beginning we have worked closely with school foodservice. We have cultivated wonderful relationships with foodservice distributors, State agencies, School Nutrition Associations, School Food Service Directors, and all the people who work tirelessly to make healthy breakfast, lunch and snack options available to schools everywhere. We are proud to provide fresh pre-sliced apples to school children throughout all of our markets. We offer individually wrapped half cup servings, bulk pre-sliced apples, and the ever popular Apple Dippers for the a la carte line. An excellent choice for special treat days and in some schools, our apples are available for purchase directly to parents for classroom birthday parties. Richland Hills Farms pre-sliced Apples are available through foodservice distributors throughout the midwest. Be sure to ask for Richland Hills Farms sliced apples from your foodservice distributor.
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) & Good Handling Practices (GHP)
We concern ourselves with quality issues from the time of purchase through final delivery to our valued customers. Food safety and quality control are at the forefront of our day-to-day operations. Our in-plant efforts go above and beyond USDA Good Manufacturing Practices, as well as follow our comprehensive HAACP plan. Our dedicated production team conducts microbiology testing by production lot in our on-site lab. Maintaining a 24-hour test and hold policy allows for verification of labs on all products prior to shipping. Sunset Orchard maintains a full time sanitation crew that performs a complete plant clean up and detailed sanitation process every night.
Richland Hills Farms is committed to producing the best product possible at the highest level of food safety. We employ a full time quality assurance staff and have a well developed and comprehensive food safety program. We are a USDA certified processor. We maintain our GHP (Good Handling Practices) and GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certifications. These voluntary programs are used by growers and packers of produce to satisfy contractual requirements with retail and food service customers. Audit verifications are available upon request.
Richland Hills Farms is known by the USDA as Sunset Orchard; we’re one and the same. Sunset Orchard GAP verification or Good Agricultural Practices Audit, conducted by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), ensures best practices of on-farm production and crop harvesting. This audit verifies our entire growing operation is utilizing the USDA standard practices to reduce the contamination of farmed fruit. Sunset Orchard’s most up to date GAP certificate is available upon request.
Sunset Orchard GHP verification or Good Handling Practices Audit conducted by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) ensures best practices of packing, storing, and distributing produce. This audit verifies our efforts to reduce the contamination of fresh fruit at or above the USDA standard. Sunset Orchard’s most up to date GHP certificate is available upon request.
What Does it Mean to be GAP and GHP Certified?
At the behest of the fruit and vegetable industry, the USDA, AMS, and the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Inspection and Standardization Agencies (AFVISA) designed the audit-based compliance program to minimize the risk of contamination for consumers. The standards of conformance were published in 1998 by the Food & Drug Administration with the title “Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.” AMS launched the pilot program in 2001 and then officially adopted the GAP and GHP program in 2002. You can find out about these certifications and more directly from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.
100% Domestic U.S. Fruit
Here at Sunset Orchard, we produce our Richland Hills Farms fresh sliced apples using local apples, including those we grow ourselves. We plant and grow primarily Honey Crisp Apples, Empire Apples, and Gala Apples on our 65 (and counting) acre orchard in Richland Center, Wisconsin.
We also purchase apples grown throughout the United States. We only buy domestic fruit, primarily from the midwest farm community. The majority of purchased whole apples are sourced out of Michigan. We employ independent field agents to examine and approve each lot of apples purchased before it is loaded and shipped to us from our vendors. We utilize 100% domestic US fruit for our slices. Supporting our fellow US Farmers by buying domestic fruit while using the highest quality local apples available.
Sunset Orchard is a working family farm that supports the Farm to Table programs throughout our region. Fresh and local fruit from farm to table means something to us. In keeping with the Farm to Table movement, we are committed to buying local fruit as much as possible. We have also invested in an extensive effort to expand our own apple orchard. We plan to significantly increase our supply of sliced apples made from fruit grown right here at Sunset Orchard.
Buying local fruit allows for fresher product, longer shelf life, higher quality, increased food safety, and sustainability. Supporting local farming maintains the US Agriculture Market while providing jobs and resources to long standing farm communities and families in the United States.
Service Areas and Availability
We are currently delivering throughout the midwest region. Richland Hills Farms Sliced Apples are available at various food service distributors in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri, and Michigan.
Wisconsin
Richland Hills Farms proudly serves the communities of Wisconsin.
Illinois
Richland Hills Farms is happy to serve the state of Illinois.
Iowa
Richland Hills Farms services are available throughout the state of Iowa.
Ohio
Ohio is included within Richland Hills Farms service area.
Minnesota
The communities of Minnesota are within Richland Hills Farms service area.
Missouri
Richland Hills Farms products are available to the state of Missouri.
Michigan
Richland Hills Farms serves all of Michigan including the UP.