Mackey's Orchard in White Township, N.J., opened a new bakery open all year.
Many apple pickers and cider doughnut lovers in the Warren County area know Mackey's Orchard as an autumn food destination.
Those that would like sweet treats in the other seasons can now visit the new bakery at the orchard year round.
Owners and married couple Devlen and Holly Mackey rearranged their farm stand and opened up the bakery March 5.
Several months ago, they were approached by 83-year-old baker Arles Varela, from White Township, with the idea of the bakery and things took off quickly.
Devlen Mackey represents the eighth generation in his family to run the farm located at 284 South Bridgeville Road, also known as Route 519, in White Township, N.J.
Mackey's ancestors bought the land in 1847 and planted the first fruit trees in the early 1900s. The family opened a seasonal bakery around 1980, which has been selling apple pies and turnovers since then.
Devlen Mackey, a 1982 Belvidere High School graduate, bought the farm from his father Robert Mackey Jr., who still works there, in 1998.
The couple added an ice cream stand in 2001 and a greenhouse in 2004. Holly Mackey said they have always looked for ways to diversify in order to lessen the effects of bad growing seasons. However, her husband tells a different tale.
"Holly likes ice cream, so we opened the ice cream stand," Devlen Mackey said. "She likes flowers, so we got a greenhouse and she likes cupcakes, so we have a bakery now."
Varela said his baking skills were developed while working for a German baker in Uruguay, the country of his birth. He said he also traveled to Germany where he learned more and was further inspired for his dessert creations.
He moved to the United States from Uruguay in 1970 with his wife and two children and has worked in and owned various bakeries through the years.
Though he is in his eighties, Varela said he keeps very active and he is not content to sit on his couch all day, which is why he approached the Mackeys with the bakery idea.
"I'm not a TV guy," Varela said.
The bakery features a wide variety of treats, including tiramisu, chocolate mousse, carrot cake, napoleons, tarts and cookies. Holly Mackey said they feature pastry size portions at the shop and bake cakes to order.