Door County Wildwood Market

Come visit the Carlson’s on their farm located just one half mile north of Sister Bay, WI, at the intersection of Highway 42 and Wildwood Road.

We are a traditional small operation with a variety of local fruits and produce. Our family has harvested cherries since the first trees were planted by John C. Carlson in 1915. Over the years our small farm has expanded to include strawberries, plums, tomatoes, pumpkins, and more.

Pick-Your-Own cherries is a Door County tradition that we are happy to carry on. Cherry season usually runs from mid-July through August. 

We may not be the biggest, but we have a good selection of local produce, fruits, and specialty foods processed by local entrepreneurs. We pride ourselves on our fruits and vegetables always being fresh and always being local; much of it grown on our own property.

If you’re looking for a fun day picking produce, learning some history, shopping, or just having a chat come on in and see us. We can’t wait to meet you!

For five generations the Carlson family has called Carlson’s Island View Orchard home of the Door County Wildwood Market their own. 

In 1846 at the age of 19 Adolf Carlson came to the United States from Sweden. He settled in Sister Bay Door County shortly after his arrival.  He fell in love with the land instantly and decided to settle down. Since then, the land originally bought by Adolf Carlson has belonged in the Carlson family; making Door County Wildwood market a true century farm. 

Cherry trees weren’t always the main focus here. Adolf originally homesteaded the land for cattle. He planted crops to feed his family and his cattle. It wasn’t until 1915 when Adolf’s son John C. planted the first cherry tree. He had heard of the success the Reynolds brothers had in Sturgeon Bay and decided to try this new crop himself. The trees were a huge success! Soon all the cattle were replaced by cherry trees. Five generations later cherries are still being produced right here on the Carlson land.

When the cherry harvest had to be picked completely by hand farmers needed all the help they could get. Workers from across the country and around the world flocked to Door County by train and steam boat to help in the fields harvesting cherries or working in the canneries. 

During World War Two there was a huge shortage of workers due to rations of tires and fuel.With nobody able to harvest the  whole cherry crops rotted on the trees. To solve the problem in 1945 German prisoners of war were brought to Door County to help with the cherry harvest. Many of these workers including the prisoners of war were housed in the very building our store sits in today. 

After the war ended it became apparent that we could no longer depend on workers to hand pick the cherries every year. Soon the limb shaker was invented to make harvesting quicker and easier. Over the years the shaker was improved and today a whole tree can be harvested in less than thirty seconds. 

Although the cherry harvest has changed over the years here at the Door County Wildwood Market in Sister Bay we do what we can to preserve history. All the cherries are still harvested by hand by the Carlson family and seasonal workers.