Michigan producer Bill McMaster of Bill’s Farm Market has provided the greater Petoskey area with fresh fruit and vegetables for over 40 years. Now, he is stepping down and passing the torch to a younger generation.
However, his customers need not worry! McMaster is keeping the business in the family, bestowing ownership to his cousin, Lucas Hoffman, who has been working alongside him at the market since he was a preteen.
“I’ve been working here for as far [back] as I can remember,” Hoffman said. “You know, when you grow up working on the farm, it’s just it’s in your blood. You can take the guy off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the guy.”
While this is a bittersweet moment for Bill, he says he will not be too far away.
“I love my customers, and that’s what I’m going to miss the most, but I will live in the white farmhouse next to the market, so I’ll have a chance to see my customers a lot,” McMaster said.