When in Lancaster County, do as the Amish do.

Our stop to Bird-in-Hand Village gives us a sense of what Lancaster County is all about – simple, community, sufficient.

Back in 1734 when the Old Philadelphia Pike became a well-established route of transportation for those Conestoga Wagons traveling west to the Allegheny Mountains, Lancaster became known as the Gateway to the West from Philadelphia and much of the mid-Atlantic region. Inns were built every few miles as convenient rest stops for the travelers. The businesses are owned and frequented by Amish, Mennonites and English. Over the years this convenient location satisfied each type of traveler that came along. Today, it remains a trendy business area frequented by the locals, and sought after by tourists too.

As we travel through Bird-in-Hand you’ll see the famed horse and buggies that are simply a way of life for the 26,000 Amish people who live in Lancaster County. You’ll get a feel for the seamless interaction between the varied micro-cultures living here. The only thing you won’t see during our visit is the huge crowd of tourists. Roughly 11 million tourists visit Lancaster County each year, mostly in July, August, September and October. Barely half a million people call Lancaster County home.

For our time in Bird-in-Hand, the bus will stop in one location and you can walk to any of the nearby businesses that will be open. Choose the one or two you’d like and enjoy. This is real. You haven’t stepped back in time you’ve just stepped into Lancaster County as it is in February 2010. There’s Nothing Simple About This.

Locations you’ll choose from include:
 
Bird-in-Hand Bakery - Our own PA Dutch Baked Goods baked fresh daily                    

Bird-in-Hand Candle & Gifts - Locally made items including soy candles, clocks and music

Bird-in-Hand Farmers’ Market - Over 30 local stakeholders

Ruthie's Tee Company - Tee shirts, teddy bears, gifts and more

The Old Village Store - Unique and nostalgic inventory. 
                                                                                                                   

 Brown's Orchards & Farm Market

This one is certain to be talked about for years to come by all of the NAFDMA folks on the 2010 bus tour. It is hard to imagine what you will not see at Brown’s Orchard and Farm Market. The market includes a large predominantly-scratch bakery with some specialities that you will only find here. Also included in the market is a deli, café, gift section, gift basket sales and preparation area. Of course the nucleus is the produce department led by sales of apples and other fruits grown on the large orchard located along the beautiful Susquehanna Trail. A brand new wine store was added just this past summer. An outdoor pavilion and ice-cream area with covered seating area provides plenty of space for customers to enjoy the great outdoors and free seasonal entertainment at this picturesque York County orchard. Did we mention apple cider? In 2003, Browns’ cider was recognized as one of the best on the continent by our own distinguished NAFDMA judging panel.

Brown’s Orchard and Farm Market Started in 1948. It is a multigenerational business that is steeped in history, very active in the community and prides itself for its dedicated extended family of employees. We will be joined on our visit by both Stanley and Nona Brown. They have been dedicated NAFDMA members and regular attendees of the convention throughout the 90’s. Together with their son David and several of their key managers, they take us on a 62 year journey of their remarkable farm retail business.

Brown's Farm Market & Garden Center (Brown's "North")

If you’ve ever wondered what comes next when you have a mature business and are searching for the next big thing -  How about opening another location? That is exactly what the Brown’s have done by sub-leasing the former retail garden center portion of an area landscape company located 18 miles north of their original operation.  They call it Brown’s "North". (Both stores are located in the scenic York County, PA) David Brown spearheaded the opening of this outlet this past spring and will describe in detail the changes that have been made to transform the space into a "mini-Brown's" market and nursery, offering their complete produce line, bakery products, a full deli, and coffee bar, and venturing into the full-service nursery business including trees and shrubs. 

This is not an expansion strategy for the light-hearted or the weekend farmer. It’s been a major undertaking. The business expansion strategies by Stan, David, Nona and their team are as much the purpose for this stop as the market and nursery themselves. For our NAFDMA, the stop and the story will help formulate the discussions that take place on our Group 1 Busses throughout Day 2 of the tour. This is guaranteed to be advanced learning for serious multi-generation producers and retail operators.

There is so much to learn from these brilliant business operators that we’ve asked Stanley and David to give presentations on Innovation Day too. So pay attention during the tour, and attend their sessions the following Thursday to get a thorough understanding of this business model that features local food and community at its core. The lessons learned are likely to help elevate your business to the next level.

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm

Jack and Donna Coleman began farming in New Jersey where they produced grain. In 1987 they sold that farm and moved to Lancaster County where they ran a dairy until 2003. They currently raise beef cattle, broilers for Tyson Foods and crop farm 300 acres.

And then there is our focus – Cherry Crest Adventure Farm! It’s the recipient of NAFDMA’s 2006 Farm Direct Marketer of the Year Award.

With over ¾ of a million adventurers, this, our final stop on the 2010 NAFDMA Tour in Lancaster County is guaranteed to WOW anyone that brings folks to the farm. From the dynamic and interactive 5-acre corn maze with over 2.5 miles of paths, scenic bridges, to the jumping pillow or Jack’s personal favourite this year – his new washroom facilities.

We will then check out the barnyard, boasting of 36 fun farm activities, to see the singing chicken show, obstacle course, giant hay chute slide and other mazes and interactive children’s games areas. Other events that go on throughout the season include corn and potato festivals. New activities are added every year and this year geocaching using handheld GPS units has been keeping the adventurers entertained.

NAFDMA members who have visited Cherry Crest in the past have said, “There’s so much to see… They have one of everything we’ve ever seen at NAFDMA!” But they highlight some originals too. Be sure to stop into the unique Make a Friend Workshop Shed.

The only challenge with this stop will be trying to get everyone back on the bus because of the number of activities and overall quality contained on this site. Yes, there are hours of learning at this stop. But you don’t need to take it all in here. Send a representative of your farm to listen in when Jack and Donna join with John and Sue Roba for their concurrent session on Participation Day entitled, How and Why We Reinvest in Our Agritainment Business.

 Cherry Hill Orchards Outlet

Cherry Hill Orchards is owned and operated by Richard and Tom Hass. Phyllis Shenk manages the retail farm market. They have all been long time NAFDMA members. Their expertise and attention to detail reflects their many years of picking up great ideas on previous tours and incorporating them into their farm market.

Our industry has seen a massive shift in consumer interest toward locally produced foods in the past few years. Cherry Hill Orchards will be the stop to learn how that has affected business. Over 1/3 of it’s 100 varieties of fruit are sold as pick your own and another 1/3 sells through their retail outlet. The Hass family has run this farm for over 40 years and it is one of the oldest pick your own cherry orchards in the state producing about 10 % of the state’s entire sweet cherry crop. These, together with apples, apricots, peaches and plums and the hallmark of this outstanding production and retail operation. But there’s more.

Cherry Hill Orchards is open year round. Phyllis takes pride in the details incorporated into their simple building structure that enhance the produce shopping experience. Notice the design of the sliding doors, the banana display, the color scheme blending the orchard boxes with the market, and so many other details that make Cherry Hill Orchards so successful and popular with the local clientele.

Country Barn Market 

If you know our host, and NAFDMA member Jim Stauffer, then you know passion for our industry. Over the past decade, Jim has transformed this old farm into one of Lancaster County’s hidden jewels. He’ll be the first to say it’s still a work in progress, but we’re in for a real treat when we visit. Jim, his partner Lonnie Thomas, and his parents Jay and Miriam will give us a warm welcome. So warm in fact, we’ll actually stop here on two different occasions.

One stop will be for a dinner event on Sunday evening when all busses converge for a good old Lancaster Country American hoedown. Food, football, fun, fancy footwork and festivity will be in the air. ‘Nuff said about that for now.

The second visit will focus our attention on the many facets of the Country Barn Market and the Barn itself. In peak season, the country market features many different organic and conventionally grown fruits, vegetables, baked goods, jellies and jams, salad dressings and a wide variety of bulk foods. The family also raises their own all-natural beef, free-range chicken and pork.

The Barn was first built in the 1800’s. It is constructed with brick and stone and captures the charm of old Lancaster County. The Barn features a great room with a large hardwood dance floor. With 4000 square feet of indoor space, it is capable of holding 300 people. And that’s just the ground floor! It’s popular for weddings, school groups, special events of all kinds, and regularly scheduled Country Line Dancing every Tuesday and Friday.

The catering kitchen is another building many NAFDMA members will need to see. There is much to discuss about this little building when we get there. For now we’ll use just one word – efficient. A few others may want to take this time for a small group visit to Jay and Miriam’s Manor View Inn bed and breakfast.
We could go on and on about the Country Barn Farm Market and all the different venues that intertwine to build a successfully diversified farm direct marketing and agritourism business. But we won’t do that now. We’ll see you on the bus.