Why is Old Homestead Leaving the Farmers Market?

The Old Homestead stand at the Lancaster County Farmers Market in Wayne is being replaced, but it's not entirely clear why.

Good Harvest Farms, which is located about one mile from the Old Homestead Farm in Lancaster County, is taking over the prime space.

"Bob Wiker, the owner of Old Homestead, has transitioned his time over the last several years away from the farmer’s market to focus on the family farming operations. Given Old Homestead’s history in the market, stepping away from the stand holders and customers they call friends will not be easy," reads a press release from the farmers market.

Not easy, indeed. Nothing about this situation seems "easy."

According to a series by Main Line Media News, the longtime farm stand was evicted from its space, the market, citing legal reasons, is not saying exactly why.

“Bob and Dawn have not been told in writing or verbally why they have been asked to leave,” Sam Peters, manager of the Old Homestead farm is quoted as saying in the article. He was referring to Bob and Dawn the Wikers, his future in-laws and the owners of Old Homestead.

“I’ve met with Bob and Dawn many times — I just met with them Tuesday night,” responded Dave Delp, the market's manager.

The newspaper article continues:

“But I was there, wasn’t I?” Sam interrupted. “They kept asking you to tell them why they were asked to leave and you wouldn’t tell them. So you’re telling me that Bob and Dawn know and they staged that Tuesday night? … I would just think that after 60 years in business, the two families – the Neffs and the Rikers – that they’d be able to come up with some amicable agreement if they [the Neffs, the market’s owners] decided they wanted someone else to come in, “ he continued. “We’re still not happy, obviously. But we would understand. But not being told anything is pretty cold after 60 years,” his voice rising.

Read more from this exchange and a review of emails and a reconstructed timeline by clicking here.