Michigan Fine Herbs closed its doors abruptly Friday at its location just off the Shelbyville exit on U.S.-131.

Word on the street is that its closure by corporate is permanent in the wake of its biggest customers, Gordon Foods, Meijer and Kroger, choosing a different supplier.

It has been reported that 78 jobs are affected.

According to information on the company’s web site, Michigan Fine Herbs in the fall of 2008 partnered with Tuinstra Greenhouse, a Martin-area family-owned business operated by the Tuinstra family for more than two generations. Vince Tuinstra, owner and grower, had more than 30 years of bedding plant experience, and used his knowledge to grow and cultivate organic culinary herbs.

The Tuinstras’ farm has 40 acres of land and more than two acres of climate controlled growing area, including a hydroponic section producing living basil and a variety of lettuces.

The Michigan Fine Herbs business moved into a larger, state-of-the-art packing facility in 2010 “that ensures best practices and major growth potential well into the future,” the site said. “Michigan Farm to Family carries their organic sage, basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, chives, dill, lemon grass, bay leaves, sorrel, and tarragon, as well as their living basil.”

Michigan Fine Herbs is part of a larger corporation known as HerbCo, which has four other centers of production and processing in the United States with headquarters in Duval, Wash., with a 40 acre, 100 year old organic farm and has expanded with certified organic farms in Denver, Colorado, Walanae, Hawaii, and Rice, Texas.

HerbCo maintains GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) certifications at all of its facilities to ensure high quality and safety standards for their customers.

Cherry Capital Foods stocks a limited inventory of fresh herbs from Michigan Fine Herbs.