There’s a feeling of nostalgia when you’re on a farm, a feeling people today traditionally know less and less of -- a connection to land, family traditions, and a simpler way of life.
As fewer people come from agricultural backgrounds, the more enticing farms become to visit. Agritourism, the complex reconfiguration and intersection where agriculture and tourism meet, has farms opening doors to the public and inviting visitors to enjoy their products and services more than ever.
And at the bottom of a hill on Atkins Road, in the rural landscape a few miles east of Petoskey, that’s exactly what local residents and visitors are doing.
Open since 2013 and owned by Brian and Anne Bates, Bear Creek Organic Farm roots its purpose in connecting environmental stewardship and community by delivering the purest products possible from farm to table, while educating on the benefits of local, organic, and pollinator-friendly agriculture and enhancing the region's local economy, environmental sustainability, and access to nutritious food.
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Their approach includes keeping things hyper-local, selling more than 90 percent of their products within just a 12-mile radius. The farm backs up this commitment with sustainable practices like a 30-panel solar array and eco-friendly packaging — reinforcing their dedication to environmental responsibility.
All buildings on the farm — except for the greenhouses — are powered entirely by electricity, to set the farm up for a transition to 100 percent renewable energy when that option becomes available.
Bear Creek features a welcoming on-site market filled with the farm’s vibrant harvest — like leafy microgreens, fresh tomatoes, onions and peppers in the summer, complemented by a curated selection of pantry essentials like local meats, fresh eggs, dairy, and sweet treats all proudly sourced from Michigan producers.
The latest concept to take root at the farm is The Farmside Kitchen food truck, serving up fresh, seasonal fare from May through October. The rotating menu tells the story of what Bear Creek harvests with every bite — think fried onion rings made from fresh-picked onions, grass-fed burgers topped with farm greens, and caprese paninis stacked on bread made in-house.
Organic growth
Bear Creek is also Petoskey’s first-ever 100 percent USDA Certified Organic Farm and the first B Corp Certified farm in Michigan.
U.S. sales of certified organic products accelerated in 2024 with an annual growth rate of 5.2 percent, more than double that of the overall marketplace, which grew at 2.5 percent in the same period. Dollar sales for organic also reached a new high of
$71.6 billon in 2024, according to the 2025 Organic Market Report released in June by the Organic Trade Association (OTA).
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“Organic farming in Michigan has seen steady growth as consumers are prioritizing health, sustainability, and local food systems. This shift has boosted agrotourism, with more visitors seeking authentic experiences like farm stays, U-pick operations, and educational tours at organic farms,” says Brittney Rooney, a Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance (MOFFA) board member.
“The synergy between purchasing organically grown foods and agrotourism supports farms in more than one way, while fostering environmental awareness and community connection," she says.
MOFFA has been promoting nutritionally dense, environmentally sound and socially just farms since 1992.
In Michigan, agritourism has also experienced remarkable growth, with revenue soaring from
$20 million in 2017 to $56 million in 2022 as reported by the USDA. This surge highlights a rising consumer interest in organic, locally sourced food — and a deeper desire to connect with the origin of their meals.
Commitment to local community
When Anne and Brian Bates aren’t at their own farm, they enjoy supporting other farms in Northern Michigan – because that’s how deeply they care about their commitment to a thriving local community and economy.
The couple finds themselves at Pond Hill Farm often, noting the incredible job the Harbor Spring-based farm is doing, along with Knaebe’s Apple Farm & Ciderworks in Rogers City and Lakeview Hill Farm & Market outside Traverse City.
“Area farms and vineyards are just doing such an incredible job -- whether it's organic food markets, woodfired pizzas, or wine, we love being a tourist in our own state and supporting other businesses,” Anne Bates says.
"Brian and I really feel strongly about ‘more minds make it better,' and we definitely have this mindset of community thinking -- sort of Shark Tank-like -- and let the community guide us for what’s working.”
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Anne and Brian Bates and their children.She says Northern Michigan is full of vibrancy and Petoskey, especially, is an incredible oasis of opportunity for families and business owners.
“There’s this joint enthusiasm here and a team mindset that really helps everyone grow together, intentionally,” she says.
"We’re not opposing each other but instead building a unified community together.”
Looking ahead
The farm owners say they are not content with the status quo and want to continue to push the envelope in every way on their farm, from sustainability to resilience, and are committed to shifting the paradigm through their actions as business owners, producers, and responsible stewards of their land.
Despite receiving recognition and accolades from local, regional, and national organizations, Anne and Brian Bates say their greatest honor is, without question, the opportunity to serve their community and contribute to a better world. With eyes on the future, they remain deeply committed to the meaningful work of living and working in harmony with the land — continually drawing joy and purpose from their connection to it.
As consumer demand for organic and locally produced food continues to rise, and as agritourism becomes an increasingly significant economic driver, organic farming in the Petoskey area is poised for continued growth and innovation.
“If we can build a farm that’s sustainable while using best practices, we can help inspire other gardeners and growers in the area to do it too,” Bates says.
Natalie Platt works in commercial real estate marketing and pursues her journalism passion by writing about lifestyle and travel surrounding her love for Michigan. A native of Indiana, she currently lives in Chicago and enjoys boating, golfing, and long weekend trips to the beach.