SHELBY TWP., Mich. – Peterson Farms, a large fruit processor on the west side of Michigan, has faced problems with having enough employee housing even as the company expands its operations.

Just over a year ago, Peterson Farms announced a plant expansion project that requires a multi-year capital investment of $22 million, but was expected to garner 50-70 new jobs for the rural community that surrounds it. Peterson Farms is already the largest employer in Oceana County, with up to 900 full time and seasonal employees.

In order to deal with the lack of affordable housing for workers in this heavily tourist area, a few years ago the company decided to build a small housing complex, Oceana Acres Apartments, to place some of its seasonal and migrant workers. Some of the residents may receive a subsidy for their rent and Peterson Farms hopes that at some point it will be able to provide the ability for workers to own a home at the company’s campus.

A housing taskforce set up last year by the state highlighted Oceana Acres as a progressive example of a housing solution for farm workers, who often work at various locations throughout the year and may have trouble getting adequate housing for themselves and their families. The complex was approved in 2017 and built in 2018. Oceana Acres currently has 56 units, which are able to house up to 280 individuals.

“Oceana County is an excellent place to live,” said Richard Raffaelli, chief operating officer of Peterson Farms. “Creating a holistic work environment that supports individual growth follows Oceana’s history of helping others for the betterment of all residents.”

According to a statement from the company, Oceana Acres residents are offered subsidized child care enrollment fees at the Oceana County Early Learning Center, which is a childcare center built through a partnership between Peterson Farms and Shelby public schools. The center has four age-specific classrooms for children ages 0 to 12. There are both two-bedroom and one-bedroom units at Oceana Acres. Besides providing apartments, the company offers residents a playground, a full-size soccer field, as well as a picnic area. The company also started a small library for residents who are free to borrow books, some for children, as well as adults, both fiction and nonfiction.

Farms, where they can, make every effort to help their employees and to meet their needs, said Craig Anderson, agriculture and farm safety manager at the Michigan Farm Bureau. “A lot of our housing is seasonally based, and it’s more typical for a tenant to want to stay in that housing beyond the season,” Anderson said. “That’s understandable, because a lot of times the employer-provided housing is either free or at a reduced cost.

“Peterson’s did a very wonderful job of investigating what did or did not work across the county,” Anderson explained. “What’s different about Oceana Acres Apartments is that this is designed for year around occupancy; Peterson’s spent a lot of time and effort to do this right. They really need to be applauded for it. Peterson’s has laid the groundwork so that hopefully others can see what they’ve done and use it as a model.”