Hillary & Dane Diede of Blossom Hill

Bright, crispy, field-fresh apples are the stuff of fall. Fresh baked turnovers, a perfectly browned lace crust apple pie slice, and a golden-hued afternoon are all part of what make apple orchards a special place in our book! Hillary and Dane Diede foster exactly this kind of fall haven at Blossom Hill Orchard in Preston, Minnesota.

It was a “Triumph” that, even with roots in Rochester, Minnesota, these orchard keepers found their “First Kiss” in Colorado. Though they graduated from the same high school, they didn’t get to know each other until they were both spending time in Colorado after college and educational pursuits. Call it a “SweeTango” of the Universe that brought the two together a thousand miles from home (OK, we also promise to let up on the apple variety puns…).

Hillary and Dane at Blossom Hill Orchard. / Photo courtesy Blossom Hill

Dane attended the University of Minnesota, and during his time in Colorado, he “really put that history degree to work,” taking a job on a vegetable farm. After his first season he was hooked and knew that growing good food for people was his passion. Hillary attended the Apicius School of International Hospitality in Florence, Italy, where she earned a culinary degree before returning to the states and working in restaurants in both Rochester and Colorado.

Fast forward to a chance opportunity when a small orchard just outside of Preston came up for sale. The couple jumped, purchased the property in 2015, and dove in – first living in a fifth wheel camper on the property that spring, getting married in June, and closing on the property in July. The learning curve was real, and the challenges stacked, but the young couple was up for it!

A thousand early morning Farmer’s Market starts later, throw in a couple kiddos, a whole bunch of community involvement, countless 50lb bags of popcorn, a little “Pazazz” (sorry we can’t give it up) and what you have is an absolute “Keepsake” of a family-run apple orchard.

Baked goods are a specialty at Blossom Hill Orchard (and apples, of course)!

Blossom Hill Orchard grows over 30 varieties of apples, including First Kiss, B-51, SweeTango, Triumph, Kudos, Evercrisp, and Honeycrisp. The retail shop and (awesome!) bakery holds fresh apples, as well as local jams, cider, maple syrup, and honey from bees that are kept in their orchard to help pollinate apple blossoms each spring. The bakery showcases Hillary’s decades of restaurant experience, with an assortment of delicious, freshly baked pies, turnovers, muffins, kolaches, and more. (Benji says the caramel apples can substitute an entire magazine distro run lunch, well, maybe with a chocolate chip cookie as well.) The Blossom Hill shop also has a variety of local gifts like handmade soap, pottery, candles, and more.

To top it off, this sweet family has ramped up the regular fall fun with their annual “Apple Jam” music festival and celebration – October 3rd this year, with five bands, fresh brews, delicious food, and All the Fall Feels! Do not drive by without stopping the next time you are going by on Highway 52, just south of downtown Preston.

The Basics:
Name: Dane and Hillary Diede
Age: 41
Business: Blossom Hill Orchard
Year Business Established: July 2015
Business address: 645 highway 52 east Preston MN
Website: blossomhillapples.com

1. Tell us about the “leap” moment. When/how did you decide to jump in and become your own boss?

In 2014 we found out the apple orchard just outside of Preston was for sale, and we started pursuing the opportunity immediately. Dane was working at a vegetable farm, and Hillary was a chef at a restaurant in Fort Collins, Colorado.

2. What’s the best thing about being your own boss?

Taking chances on different ideas and having those ideas turn into something really great. Not having anyone breathing down our neck. Creating our own path in life.

Muffins at Blossom Hill. / Photo courtesy Blossom Hill

3. How about the worst?

When one of those ideas we had doesn’t work and loses money after putting blood sweat and tears into it.

4. Was there ever a hurdle where you just thought, “I can’t do this?” How did you overcome it?

The first few years were tough. We lost the crop our second and fourth years owning the orchard due to late frosts and hail. After the second time losing the crop, we knew something had to change, and that is when we partnered up with another orchard in Lake City, Minnesota. This helped to spread out risk and ensure another source of revenue for the farm.

5. Any mentors/role models you look to/have looked to?

Dane has always looked up to his former bosses at the farm he worked at in Fort Collins – Nic and Katie – for their dedication to their farm and their insane work ethic. Chuck Bremer (long time orchard owner in Lake City, Minnesota), has been instrumental in mentoring Dane in growing apples.

Hillary’s former employer at ZZest in Rochester, Leeann Zubay, is always someone Hillary has looked up to. Also Cynthia Daube – original owner of Daube’s bakery and the restaurant in Rochester, as well as Jaspers – had a huge influence on Hillary, which also made her decide to go to Culinary School.

Blossom Hill grows over 30 varieties of apples. / Photo courtesy Blossom Hill

6. What’s the one thing you wish you had known before you started?

How to grow apples! Seriously.

Dane knew how to grow 50 different types of vegetables, how hard could apples be? Turns out, hard! Very hard. The learning curve is steep, with many tasks in the orchard. We get one shot a year and if timing is off or whatever, the damage to the crop can be significant.

The Diede family poses for a photo. / Photo courtesy Blossom Hill

Also, how to run a business. We knew that this business could work but had never run a business before, we were learning as we went and we are still learning.

7. How do you manage your life/work balance?

We try to make it a point to not work on the weekends and keep that time for family. Sometimes, though, there are things that need to get done. We also have a much lighter workload in the winter so that gives us much needed time to rest up from a busy season.

8. What keeps you inspired?

The future. We know there is so much more that we want to accomplish.

Caramel apples are a fan favorite (Benji agrees!). / Photo courtesy Blossom Hill

Don’t miss the Apple Jam at Blossom Hill Orchard

More Bands, More Beer and More Apples!
October 3, 2026, 12-9:30 pm

Grab your friends, bring the family, and get ready for a day packed with live music, local food and drinks, kid friendly activities, and tons of apples!

Pistol Whippin’ Party Penguins are headlining, the Little Dipper Sauna will be on site with slots available to be booked in advance, and Los Padrinos food truck will serve up the best Mexican food in the area. Blossom Hill Bakery will be open until 9 pm serving slices of pie, ice cream sandwiches, charcuterie boxes, and more, and there will also be another food stand serving brats and hotdogs.

Mark your calendars and then get tickets in advance at www.eventbrite.com (search Apple Jam).

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