The original orchard was owned by a Blue Ridge Pharmacist who planted it at the turn of the century. In 1943 Bill and Adele came to Blue Ridge, in Fannin County, and purchased the orchard. Bill was working as the county extension agent at the time and later worked for the Tennessee Copper Company. The orchard came with 27 acres, a Farm-All tractor and two employees, which Bill agreed to keep on. If you are ever in the area, stop in and you can still see the agreement hanging on the wall in our dining area. The orchard then was mostly a wholesale operation, growing and selling apples only.
The Merciers had three children Tim, Helen (Sis), and Jimmy. Each did their share to help keep up the farm (that story may differ slightly between siblings). Each went to college and then went their separate ways, leaving Bill and Adele to manage the orchard.
In 1972, Tim, the oldest son, returned to Blue Ridge to help his parents and brought his wife Sandra and their two daughters Melissa and Amanda. For the next 25 years three generation of Merciers ran the family business. In that time the small 27 acre farm grew and diversified into a 200 acre fruit farm, retail market, and scratch bakery. In addition to apples the orchard now grows peaches, nectarines, blueberries, sweet cherries and blackberries.
In 1997 Tim's oldest daughter Melissa and her husband David returned to Blue Ridge to continue the family tradition. Today, the orchard still focuses on the basic activity of growing and selling apples, but at an expanded 200 acres we offer a lot more. The orchard now has a "Upick" section for folks that want to get the freshest fruit. We also do school tours, have an online store, and are now welcoming vendors into the market. Over the last 60 years Mercier's has grown into a thriving business but we haven't lost touch with our roots. Even today customers coming to our store may catch up to four generations of family working somewhere in the store. It's this atmosphere of family and tradition that keeps customers coming back to us. In loving memory of Bill Mercier April 17, 1919 - September 14, 2007
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