On the quiet backroads of River Falls, Wis. lies White Pine Berry Farm. Owned and operated by the Zwald family, farming is in their blood. As a fifth-generation farm, the Zwald’s pride themselves on being stewards of the land, producing high-quality products and creating a welcoming atmosphere for learning. The Zwald family invites you to their sustainable farm to visit in Northwest Wisconsin.
White Pine Berry Farm was purchased in 2012 by Greg and Irma Zwald. Andrew, their son, is the farm manager. The farm grows and sells a wide variety of crops, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, currants, asparagus, apples and pumpkins.
Guests can enjoy a true farm experience with you-pick options including their berries, apples, and pumpkins. Beyond direct sales, White Pine Berry Farm partners with local cooperatives and businesses, supplying fresh produce to a nearby ice cream shop and a kombucha maker—whose finished products are then offered for sale back at the farm store.
The farm also features a commercial kitchen, where they create jams, specialty drinks, and other products made from their own berries. Honey is another specialty, produced in partnership with a local beekeeper. White Pine Berry Farm hosts multiple hives, supporting both crop pollination and honey production, with the harvested honey sold right in the farm store.
Sustainability through agricultural education
Along with their dedication to environmental and economic sustainability, White Pine Berry Farm is a sustainable farm to visit and learn about local agriculture. White Pine Berry Farm has a mission to close the knowledge gap by encouraging people to experience sustainable agriculture at their farm. They carry this mission out in many ways.
During the summer months, they host farm camps, providing children with a day of fun on the farm. Participants are introduced to berry picking, farm animals, games, flower picking and lessons about farming. During the fall months, White Pine Berry Farm hosts fall family days, inviting visitors for a day of fall fun. This brings some of their local customers closer to the farm and lifestyle by providing pumpkin picking, a corn maze, activities for children, raspberry picking, wagon tours and animal interactions.
Having you-pick fruits makes White Pine Berry Farm an experience. Families and visitors can enjoy the educational side of farming while making memories out in the fields, learning firsthand where their food comes from. “We want to make sure people can come out and have an experience,” Andrew said. “It is a great opportunity to teach other people how we grow things and where their food comes from but also have a great time while they are out here.”
What is the difference between organic and conventional food?
The Zwalds sell both organic and conventional foods at White Pine Berry Farm. Neither label means it is more nutritious, healthy or safe; these labeling standards are solely based on agricultural field or farm practices used to grow the food.
Organic food is produced without synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. Pesticides and fertilizers found in nature can be approved to be used in organic production. Conventional (non-organic) food, on the other hand, is grown using more modern methods, which may include pesticides or genetically modified crops. These practices are often used to keep plants healthy and reduce pressure from pests and diseases. All chemical use in conventional farming is strictly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that food remains safe to eat.
Greg said, “Because we offer both organic and conventionally grown produce, we’ve had some great conversations with our customers about different farming practices. It gives us a chance to show both sides of agriculture, then let them choose what they wish to purchase.”
Learn more about White Pine Berry Farm and experience sustainable agriculture at their family farm.
Andrew and Greg Zwald are featured as a part of Gather Wisconsin’s Leaders of the Land® segment, which features Wisconsin farmers moving agriculture forward through their commitment to sustainability.