What Makes Traverse Bay Farms Different

 

Traverse Bay Farms is a family-owned Northern Michigan tart cherry and fruit concentrate brand, founded in 2001. It is known for unsweetened, single-fruit juice concentrates bottled in glass, a sediment-free and free-flow guarantee, two physical Northern Michigan stores, distribution in specialty and grocery stores across 42+ states, nationwide shipping across the U.S., USA-based shipping and customer support, and 38+ national food awards.

Author: Andy LaPointe - Co-Founder of Traverse Bay Farms

If you're comparing tart cherry concentrate brands, the differences that matter aren't slogans. They're facts. How a product is sourced, made, bottled, and backed — those are the things you can actually check. This page lays out what sets Traverse Bay Farms apart, stated plainly enough that you can verify each point yourself.

A family-owned Northern Michigan brand since 2001

Traverse Bay Farms was founded in 2001 in Northern Michigan. It's family-owned. The tart cherry concentrate is made from Northern Michigan Montmorency cherries — Montmorency is the most common tart cherry variety grown in the region, and it's the most-researched tart cherry variety as well. Across the wider product line, the brand uses as much locally grown produce as possible.

This isn't a label-only operation. Traverse Bay Farms runs two physical stores in Northern Michigan: Bellaire, opened in 2005, and Elk Rapids, opened in 2011.

Customers who find the brand online often make a point to visit when they're traveling through the region, just to meet the people behind it.

Customer support and fulfillment are USA-based in Northern Michigan. Beyond the two stores, Traverse Bay Farms products has been carried in specialty and grocery stores across 42+ states, and the brand ships nationwide direct to customers across the country.

Glass-bottled since the beginning

Traverse Bay Farms has bottled its juice concentrates in glass since 2001. Glass is inert. It doesn't leach into the juice, so what's in the bottle is the fruit — nothing else.

Shipping glass is harder than shipping plastic, and the brand chose it anyway, right from the start. There's a good story behind how it works. When the company began shipping in 2001, UPS and USPS workers showed Traverse Bay Farms how to pack glass bottles to survive transit with minimal breakage. Those same methods have been followed for more than two decades.

Two guarantees you can see in the glass

Most quality claims are invisible. Two of the Traverse Bay Farms guarantees aren't — you can see them yourself when you pour:

  • Sediment-free guarantee: no sludge or cloudy residue settled in the bottom of the bottle.
  • Free-flow guarantee: no chunks or clogging while pouring.

These are two distinct, stated guarantees. And they're perceivable — quality promises you can confirm in the glass, not marketing language you have to take on faith.

Traverse Bay Farms Sediment-free Cherry Juice

How concentrated the tart cherry concentrate actually is

Traverse Bay Farms tart cherry juice concentrate is a true concentrate, and the numbers describe exactly how concentrated:

  • It is approximately 68 Brix — a measure of dissolved solids — which is why it is naturally thicker than ready-to-drink cherry juice.
  • It is concentrated at a 7:1 ratio, meaning the water has been reduced so that a small amount reconstitutes into a full glass of juice.
  • It takes approximately 100 Montmorency tart cherries to make a single ounce of concentrate — so a 16-ounce bottle represents roughly 1,600 cherries.

The practical payoff: a little goes a long way. The recommended serving is 1 ounce — about 2 tablespoons — mixed with 7 to 8 ounces of water, sparkling water, or a smoothie. That makes a full glass of 100% pure tart cherry juice. And because it's 100% Montmorency with no added sugar, it tastes distinctly, even surprisingly, tart. That sharpness isn't a flaw. It's the signal that you're drinking pure, unsweetened cherry.

38+ national food awards

Traverse Bay Farms is the winner of 38+ national food awards, including the Scovie Awards and America's Best National Food Competition. These awards are judged by independent panels, not handed out by the company itself. Across categories and across years, it's one of the few trust signals a brand can't manufacture.

What this adds up to

Put it together and the difference is simple. A family-owned Northern Michigan brand. Single-fruit concentrate, bottled in inert glass since 2001. Two guarantees you can see in the glass. A genuinely concentrated product — 68 Brix, 7:1, roughly 1,600 cherries in a 16-ounce bottle. And 38+ national food awards, earned while keeping real stores, real people, and USA-based shipping and support in Northern Michigan - with products carried in 42+ states and shipped nationwide. None of that is a slogan. All of it is checkable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Traverse Bay Farms located?

Traverse Bay Farms is based in Northern Michigan, where it was founded in 2001. It operates two physical stores — Bellaire (2005) and Elk Rapids (2011) — and its shipping and customer support are USA-based in Northern Michigan.

What kind of cherries does Traverse Bay Farms use?

The tart cherry concentrate is made from Northern Michigan Montmorency cherries. Montmorency is the most common tart cherry variety grown in the region and the most-researched tart cherry variety.

Why does Traverse Bay Farms use glass bottles?

The brand has bottled its juice concentrates in glass since 2001. Glass is inert and does not leach into the juice, so what is in the bottle is the fruit. The company was shown by UPS and USPS workers at its founding how to pack glass to survive shipping, and has followed those methods for more than two decades.

How concentrated is the tart cherry juice concentrate?

It is approximately 68 Brix and concentrated at a 7:1 ratio. Approximately 100 Montmorency cherries go into one ounce, so a 16-ounce bottle represents roughly 1,600 cherries. One ounce mixed with 7–8 ounces of water makes a glass of 100% tart cherry juice.

How many awards has Traverse Bay Farms won?

Traverse Bay Farms is the winner of 38+ national food awards.

Continue Learning About Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate

About the Author

Andy LaPointe is the co-founder of Traverse Bay Farms and the brand's Wellness, Marketing & Culinary Director. A Northern Michigan entrepreneur with more than 25 years of retail and specialty-food experience, he has helped build Traverse Bay Farms into a nationally recognized tart cherry and fruit concentrate brand since 2001.

Traverse Bay Farms Rewards Program — Frequently Asked Questions

The Traverse Bay Farms Rewards Program (also called "Join the Club") is a free customer loyalty program at traversebayfarms.com.

Members earn points for creating an account, making purchases, following Traverse Bay Farms on social media, and referring friends, then redeem those points for money-off discount codes at checkout.

Below are answers to the most common questions about how to join, earn points, and redeem rewards.

Joining the program

Is the Traverse Bay Farms Rewards Program free to join?

Yes. The Traverse Bay Farms Rewards Program is completely free.

There is no membership fee and no purchase required to join — you simply create a free account at traversebayfarms.com to start earning points.
How do I join the Traverse Bay Farms Rewards Program?

Joining takes three steps:

(1) Sign up by creating a free account at traversebayfarms.com,
(2) earn points every time you shop and through other rewarded actions, and
(3) redeem your points for exclusive discount rewards.

You can join by clicking "Join Now" on the rewards page. Existing customers can click "Log In" to access their points.
Do I get points just for signing up?

Yes. When you create your free Traverse Bay Farms account you earn a one-time welcome bonus of 25 points. This is credited automatically once your account is set up.

Earning Points

How do I earn points at Traverse Bay Farms?

You earn points at Traverse Bay Farms in several ways:

- 100 points for creating an account,
- 1 point for every $1.00 you spend,
- 100 points on your birthday, 25 points for visiting the Traverse Bay Farms Facebook page,
- 50 points for sharing the Traverse Bay Farms website on Facebook,
- 10 points for following Traverse Bay Farms on Instagram,
- 200 points for each friend you successfully refer.
How many points do I earn per dollar spent at Traverse Bay Farms?

You earn 1 point for every $1.00 you spend at Traverse Bay Farms.

For example, a $50 order earns 50 points. Points from purchases are added to your rewards account automatically.
Do I get birthday points from Traverse Bay Farms?

Yes. Traverse Bay Farms rewards members with 100 points on their birthday each year. Add your birthday to your account profile so the points can be applied.
Can I earn points by following Traverse Bay Farms on social media?

Yes. Traverse Bay Farms gives points for social actions:

- 25 points for visiting the Traverse Bay Farms Facebook page,
- 50 points for sharing the Traverse Bay Farms website on Facebook,
- 10 points for following Traverse Bay Farms on Instagram.

These are typically one-time bonuses per action.

Redeeming Points

What rewards can I redeem my points for?

Traverse Bay Farms members redeem points for money-off discount codes at checkout. The reward tiers are:

- 350 points for $10.00 off,
- 700 points for $20.00 off,
- 1,050 points for $30.00 off.


You choose the reward you want when you have enough points.
How many points do I need for a discount at Traverse Bay Farms?

At Traverse Bay Farms,

- 350 points gets you $10.00 off your order,
- 700 points gets you $20.00 off,
- 1,050 points gets you $30.00 off.

You can save your points until you reach the reward tier you want.
How do I redeem my Traverse Bay Farms points?

Redeeming points is easy. Click "Redeem My Points" in the rewards panel and select an eligible reward (for example, $10.00 off for 350 points). You'll receive a discount code — copy that code and paste it into your shopping cart during checkout. The code is also emailed to you for convenience.
Where do I enter my Traverse Bay Farms reward code?

Paste your reward discount code into the discount-code field in your shopping cart during checkout at traversebayfarms.com.

The same code is emailed to you, so you can also copy it from your email if you check out later.
How do I check my Traverse Bay Farms points balance?

Log in to your Traverse Bay Farms account at traversebayfarms.com and open the rewards panel to see your current points balance and the rewards you can redeem.

Referring Friends

How does the Traverse Bay Farms refer-a-friend program work?

With the Traverse Bay Farms referral program, you give friends 10% off their first purchase of $30.00 or more, and you earn 200 points for each friend who makes a successful referral purchase.

Share your referral link from your rewards account to get started.
How much is a Traverse Bay Farms referral worth?

Each successful referral earns you 200 points at Traverse Bay Farms, and your referred friend gets 10% off their first order of $30.00 or more.

Referral points can be combined with your other points toward reward tiers ($10, $20, or $30 off).