Nash Nurseries in Michigan Cultivates a Centennial Legacy
In partnership with: Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Celebrating more than 160 years in operation, family-owned Nash Nurseries in Owosso, Michigan, is on its way to a second centennial, blending time-honored tradition with modern agricultural innovation.
Established in 1860 by Bill Nash’s great-great-grandfather, today the farm thrives under the stewardship of the sixth generation, with Nash and his son, Jonathan, running the family farm.
“The house and barn are both over 150 years old, and they’re still in use today,” Nash says. “The barn, with its hand-hewn beams, is where we hold many of our sales.”
The farm, known for its wide variety of perennials, shrubs and trees, is celebrated for its sweet, edible chestnuts and grafted pawpaw trees. Computerized inventory and greenhouse systems, overseen by Jonathan, have modernized operations.
“It’s amazing what we can do now with technology,” Nash says. “My son can monitor our greenhouses from almost anywhere in the world.”
In a Nutshell
Nash is a founding member of the Michigan Chestnut Growers Association and Chestnut Growers Inc, a co-op of state chestnut farmers who work together to process and sell their products.
The co-op works with Michigan State University’s Rogers Reserve in Jackson County, home to the only commercial chestnut peeling equipment line in the Western Hemisphere. Michigan leads the nation in chestnut growers and acreage, and Nash estimates the co-op produced nearly 220,000 pounds of nuts in 2024.
“It’s a minor crop but still quite profitable, and we seem to get more potential chestnut growers all the time,” Nash says.
He’s also a member of the International Chestnut Symposium, which meets every four years in a different location around the world.
“It’s been a joy and a privilege to participate in the symposium,” Nash says. “In other places in the world, chestnuts are a major industry, so it’s always inspiring. We always bring back lots of great ideas and information.”
During the pandemic, Nash Nurseries began offering U-pick chestnuts, and it was so popular it became a permanent part of the farm. Now, U-pick represents 90% of the farm’s chestnut crop.
See more: Find Fresh, Local Chestnuts From Producers Across Michigan
Pivoting to Pawpaw
Native to North America, the pawpaw tree produces fruit that looks similar to a mango and tastes comparable to a banana. Once a staple of early North American diets, the pawpaw fell out of favor because its fruit ripens quickly, giving it a short shelf life that makes transportation difficult.
“But it freezes well,” Nash says. “There’s a decent-sized commercial interest in pawpaw puree, especially for restaurants and bakeries.”
While he sells several varieties of the tree and the fruit, Nash and Jonathan offer workshops for grafting and propagating pawpaw trees – as well as other topics. Nash’s interest is piqued by a project at Michigan State University for a fruit puree extractor being modified for pawpaw puree.
“The extracted pulp, after it’s separated from the seeds, can be transported in frozen form to restaurants, bakeries, ice creameries and more,” Nash says. “Pawpaw could have the potential in the near future as a commercial crop for more farmers and orchards.”
Fruitful Endeavor
The nursery offers persimmons, blueberries, blackberries and an extensive range of other fruiting trees and shrubs. They’ve also cultivated a collection of old-fashioned apple varieties perfect for making hard cider.
“Because hard cider is growing in popularity, we’re seeing a renewed interest in heirloom apple varieties that nearly got lost during Prohibition,” Nash says.
See more: Top Michigan Agriculture Facts From the 2024 Census of Agriculture