In the late 1800s, the Schuring family came to the United States to start a new life in Portage, Michigan.

They discovered the surrounding soil was rich and fertile. This was perfect for growing celery and came to be known as “Muck Farming.” Using their knowledge, the family established a successful celery farming company. During those early days, the harvest was gathered, loaded onto family pick-up trucks and then driven to the Chicago area to be sold.

The Schuring’s used a few glass greenhouses to start their celery seedlings in before they were transplanted into the fields. John Schuring Jr. saw an opportunity to use these greenhouses, which lay empty most of the spring, to grow flower and vegetable plants and sell them to their outlets in Chicago.   

In the late 1950s, many of Michigan’s celery growers were losing business to the much sweeter celery grown in California, and by the early 1960s, the Schuring family had stopped farming celery entirely. They were one of the first farms in the area to focus exclusively on growing bedding plants in their greenhouses. The Schuring’s also took advantage of their large storage coolers, continuing to broker produce for farmers until 1980.

The 1980’s were a time of steady growth and expansion within the bedding plant industry. Many of the greenhouses used to this day, at John Schuring Jr. Co. Greenhouses, were built in this era. At one point in time, the Schuring’s operated the longest free standing greenhouse in the Midwest.

The Schuring family also wanted an outlet to sell flowers and vegetables directly to the surrounding community. This sparked the idea to open a retail store. The idea came to fruition in the early 1990’s when Schuring’s Retail Greenhouse first opened its doors.

Presently, the Schuring’s are in their fifth generation of ownership and management. Although many things have changed through the years, the Schuring family still strives to grow quality products at affordable prices.