3400 South Coffing Brothers Road Covington, IN 47932

WHY CHOOSE COFFING?

The History of Coffing Brothers Orchard –

In 1907, JD Coffing, Homer Coffing, and Fred Coffing bought the land near Covington, Indiana with a vision in mind. This vision consisted of fields full of lush apple trees and crisp, sweet apples perfect for eating and baking. In 1910, the brothers planted these apple trees and their vision became a reality as our family’s apple orchard business got its start. Since then, Coffing Brothers Orchard has seen over four generations of change. From a stationary spraying system and storage crates to a tractor-pulled spraying system and controlled atmosphere (CA) storage, our techniques for storing and cleaning the apples have improved over the years. The owners of Coffing Brothers have changed quite a bit too. Family business partners came and went over time to create their own legacies. Fred Coffing, one of the original founders, even went on to build the Coffing Hoist in 1918, a device used for lifting heavy cargo that is still used worldwide today!

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Success and Hardship

As time has gone by, Coffing Brothers Orchard has seen both success and hardship. During the peak of harvest time in 1949, lightning struck one of our storage buildings. A roaring fire started and destroyed most of the tractors, trucks, picking and packing equipment, and all of the apple storage buildings. The only thing that was saved from the fire was a home located next to the storage area. However, with a lot of help from community members, who loaned trucks, tractors and other equipment, a building to store and pack the apples was built within a month of the fire.

Today, of course, you can’t even tell there was a fire. However, other relics of our past are still present at the apple orchard. Two identical brick houses built for JD Coffing and Homer Coffing are still standing at the orchard, and they are still being lived in today! In 1931, a refrigeration system was installed in one of the storage areas, and the remnants of this system can still be seen in some of our new storage systems.

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Our orchard continued to see changes, as another generation of Coffing brothers took the reins. Joe H., Robert, and John Coffing started running the orchard in the 1940s and 1950s. They continued to run the orchard until the 1990s and 2000s, and during their reign many great changes were made. In 1977, a new packing and storage facility was built, and you can still see this building today! As recently as 2012, we got an electronic computerized packing line with advanced sorting technology to ensure only the best apples make it to the grocery store.

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Now run by Roger, Greg, Tim, Joe, and Mark Coffing, Coffing Brothers Orchard is one of the largest apple orchards in the state of Indiana with 150 acres of apples located on 1,400 acres of farm land. We harvest approximately 100,000 bushels of apples a year. These apples are packed under the ABC brand and shipped to grocery stores throughout the Midwest. We strive to grow only quality, healthy apples for our customers, and this is reflected in our USDA certifications and our state-of-the-art methods for apple cleaning, storing, and transportation.

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We are open to sell apples at our store in Covington, Indiana from the end of August to the end of May depending on the size of the apple crop. We grow many delicious varieties of apples, including Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Grimes Golden, Red Delicious, Early Fuji, Mutsu, Jonagold, Ida Red, Rome Beauty, Stayman Winesap, Braeburn, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Cripps Pink.

If you’re interested in our delicious apples or would like to learn more about our orchard, come pay us a visit! We would love to answer your questions, and our store is located right inside our packing facility so you can see how the apples are processed and stored for yourself!

Roger Coffing – President

Roger Coffing has been working in the family orchard since he graduated from Covington High School in 1963. The grandson of J.D. Coffing and son of Joe H. and Sylvia Coffing, Roger now oversees all indoor operations at the orchard, including the controlled atmosphere and cold storage facilities. Aside from running the orchard, he loves to go fishing in Canada and attend his grandchildren’s sporting events. 

Greg Coffing – Vice President 

Like Roger, Greg got his start in the family business after graduating high school in 1965. In 1966, he joined the U.S. Navy and didn’t return to the orchard until 1969. Since then, he has been overseeing equipment maintenance and all outdoor operations at the orchard. When he isn’t at the family business, Greg loves to go golfing and fishing. 

Patti Coffing – Retail Sales Manager

Wife to Roger Coffing, Patti takes care of the apple store at Coffing Brothers Orchard. After marrying Roger Coffing in 1965, Patti worked as a registered nurse for 30 years before she decided to join her husband’s orchard business. Since then, she has become a vital part of the Coffing legacy. If you have any questions about the Coffing Brothers Orchard and its history, Patti is the one to go to! She always loves seeing new faces in the store. When she isn’t managing sales, Patti loves traveling, fishing in Canada, and watching her grandkids’ sporting events. 

Joe Coffing – Secretary/Treasurer

Son of Roger and Patti Coffing, Joe started working in the family business in 1990. He graduated from Purdue University with an associate’s degree in agriculture and horticulture, and he now handles all sales, bookkeeping, and pest and disease management for the orchard. When he’s not working at the orchard, Joe likes to hunt, fish, and coach softball. 

Tim Coffing – Director

Brother to Joe and Mark Coffing, Tim began working at the orchard full-time in 1987. He attended Purdue University, and now manages the packing and cold storage facilities for the apples. Aside from working at the orchard, Tim enjoys hunting, fishing, and coaching football and baseball. 

Mark Coffing – Director 

Mark Coffing has been working full-time in the family business since 1991. Like his brothers Tim and Joe, Mark attended Purdue University and now manages various orchard and harvest operations. When he isn’t managing the orchard, Mark can be found fishing and hunting with his family. 

Tanner Coffing

Son of Tim Coffing, is now the 5th generation to work at the orchard. Tanner is passionate about being a part of the family business and helps with the day-to-day functions as a tractor and forklift operator, as well as a welder for the business. He began working at the orchard full time in 2012 right after graduating from Covington High School. Tanner’s favorite hobbies include fishing and hunting. If you see Tanner at Coffing Brothers, stop by and say hello! He can help you with your orchard questions.

Roger Coffing – President

Roger Coffing has been working in the family orchard since he graduated from Covington High School in 1963. The grandson of J.D. Coffing and son of Joe H. and Sylvia Coffing, Roger now oversees all indoor operations at the orchard, including the controlled atmosphere and cold storage facilities. Aside from running the orchard, he loves to go fishing in Canada and attend his grandchildren’s sporting events. 

Greg Coffing – Vice President 

Like Roger, Greg got his start in the family business after graduating high school in 1965. In 1966, he joined the U.S. Navy and didn’t return to the orchard until 1969. Since then, he has been overseeing equipment maintenance and all outdoor operations at the orchard. When he isn’t at the family business, Greg loves to go golfing and fishing. 

Patti Coffing – Retail Sales Manager

Wife to Roger Coffing, Patti takes care of the apple store at Coffing Brothers Orchard. After marrying Roger Coffing in 1965, Patti worked as a registered nurse for 30 years before she decided to join her husband’s orchard business. Since then, she has become a vital part of the Coffing legacy. If you have any questions about the Coffing Brothers Orchard and its history, Patti is the one to go to! She always loves seeing new faces in the store. When she isn’t managing sales, Patti loves traveling, fishing in Canada, and watching her grandkids’ sporting events. 

Joe Coffing – Secretary/Treasurer

Son of Roger and Patti Coffing, Joe started working in the family business in 1990. He graduated from Purdue University with an associate’s degree in agriculture and horticulture, and he now handles all sales, bookkeeping, and pest and disease management for the orchard. When he’s not working at the orchard, Joe likes to hunt, fish, and coach softball. 

Tim Coffing – Director

Brother to Joe and Mark Coffing, Tim began working at the orchard full-time in 1987. He attended Purdue University, and now manages the packing and cold storage facilities for the apples. Aside from working at the orchard, Tim enjoys hunting, fishing, and coaching football and baseball. 

Mark Coffing – Director 

Mark Coffing has been working full-time in the family business since 1991. Like his brothers Tim and Joe, Mark attended Purdue University and now manages various orchard and harvest operations. When he isn’t managing the orchard, Mark can be found fishing and hunting with his family. 

Tanner Coffing

Son of Tim Coffing, is now the 5th generation to work at the orchard. Tanner is passionate about being a part of the family business and helps with the day-to-day functions as a tractor and forklift operator, as well as a welder for the business. He began working at the orchard full time in 2012 right after graduating from Covington High School. Tanner’s favorite hobbies include fishing and hunting. If you see Tanner at Coffing Brothers, stop by and say hello! He can help you with your orchard questions.

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