Wehr's Fruit Stand and Farm

This week's Business Spotlight is on Wehr's Fruit Stand and Farm. Located at 3245 Route 309 in Orefield, Wehr's has been in the fresh produce business for more than 35 years.

Last week, Patch caught up with Delores Wehr, who owns and operates Wehr's with her husband, Elmer, and conducted a little Q&A:

Q – Type of Business

A – Fresh Produce

Q - Number of years in business?

A - 35 + plus years. Elmer Wehr’s father, Elmer Sr., opened the business and lived in the house next door until he passed away. It was closed for about 10 years after Elmer's death but Delores and Elmer started it back up after they bought the property in 1970.

Q – Number of employees?

A – Two + plus lots of occasional help from family.

Q – What is your specialty?

A – Fresh produce and cider without preservatives. Wehr's is the only place that processes cider without pasteurization - it’s freshest in town!

Q – What or who is your biggest competitor and how do you provide better services/products?

A – Grocery stores. Everything at Wehr's is fresh from Pennsylvania. Delores said, "I love it when first-time customers stop in and ask where the oranges are. If it's not grown locally, we don't have it."

Q – What is your mission statement or philosophy behind running your business?

A - Good customer service. Delores said she likes to treat customers as she would like to be treated.

Q – Can you share a story about your business? A triumph or obstacle you’ve overcome, perhaps?

A- The open gate festival is always very well attended. Delores said she hears lots of positive feedback about the free pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll and fresh apple cider.

Q – Is there a history regarding your business you’d like to share?

A-  When Elmer and Delores restarted the business, Delores said, money was handled out of a "little fishing tackle box." Her children were small and could often be seen alongside her or in a playpen behind the cashier's stand.

"Years ago, almost everything we sold was from here. Now it's all locally grown but it's brought in," Delores said. 

Q – What are your plans for the future?

A - Delores said her children aren't interested in taking over so she plans to "hang in there as long as she can."

Q- Is there anything else you’d like to share about your business? History, etc….

A - Delores is responsible for sales at the front of the store and Elmer keeps the shelves stocked. He usually restocks three times a week.

In the summer, sweet corn and tomatoes are best sellers and in the fall, Macoun and Honeycrisp apples are popular.

Wehr's opens the third week in July and stays open until just before Christmas.

"Elmer brings me a propane heater when it gets cold and I huddle around it," Delores said. "We don’t do a lot of adversting; we've managed to maintain a loyal customer base.