Local Farmer Known For Her Asian Pears Is Star Of Short Documentary

Oriana Kruszewski, an immigrant from China and Hong Kong, began farming Asian pears in her Skokie backyard nearly 30 years ago out of nostalgia for her home country. Over the years, she expanded her operations to a 40-acre lot in Winslow, Illinois, cultivating unique fruits like pawpaws and persimmons. A short documentary titled “Oriana’s Orchard,” produced by Krista Kane, will premiere on Monday, focusing on Kruszewski's story and her deep commitment to her work. Kane hopes to convey the infectious passion Kruszewski has for farming, which she believes makes growing food accessible to everyone. Currently, Kruszewski sells at two farmers markets in Chicago and has test grown over 60 varieties of unusual fruit trees.

She is the sole worker on her farm, which features nearly 500 trees, and is experiencing increased demand for her products. Kruszewski also creates accompaniments made from her fruits, such as Asian pear raw vinegar and pawpaw lassi, in collaboration with chef César Murillo. As Kruszewski looks for a successor for her business, her story continues to resonate within the local community.