For a taste of classic PA agriculture, PA Preferred® Soergel Orchards is a must-visit. This 450-acre farm and orchard in Allegheny and Butler counties offers a bit of everything, from pick-your-own apples to artisanal cider, homemade pies and fresh farm produce.
“We grow 25+ varieties of apples as well as berries, melons, pumpkins and many vegetables,” says General Manager Eric Voll, whose family has farmed the Soergel fields for generations. Soergel’s apple orchard dates back nearly two centuries and has seen many iterations over the years. These days, Soergel Orchards grows old favorites like McIntosh and Stayman Winesap plus newer varieties like SnapDragon and SweeTango and its own sweet, crisp Soergel Special.
Soergel’s also offers a robust pick-your-own schedule, an extensive garden center, fresh pressed apple cider and a selection of other tasty products..
Voll sees great value in being a PA Preferred member farm. “The PA Preferred program has helped train our customers to look for the PA Preferred logo, as they can trust that the freshness and quality will be consistent and meet their expectations,” he says. “This results in an overall increased awareness and support and purchases from locally owned farms.”
Voll shares more about this multi-generational agricultural enterprise in our Q&A below:
PA Eats: What sets your business apart?
Eric Voll: Our family has been farming the land that the market is located on since 1850. Family members of the fifth, sixth, and seventh generations actively work in the business, in addition to 225 staff members in the peak season.
What are the greatest challenges the farm faces, and how do you respond and evolve?
Weather is always the biggest uncontrollable impacting factor on our business, which is why we have diversified our business so significantly over the years. We are constantly evaluating our departments and analyzing business to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers and helping create new traditions and memories.
What do you love about your work?
Our family business is quite diverse. Not only do we farm, but we have a bakery, deli, garden center, greenhouses, gift shop, wine shop, hard cidery, cider press and an allergen-free/gluten-free specialty foods store. Those departments combined with our many events, festivals and activities throughout the year make every day interesting and exciting.
Where can people get your products?
We retail all of our fruits and vegetables from our roadside stand, and our apple cider is available in 20+ regional grocery stores.
Find Soergel Orchards at 2573 Brandt School Rd., Wexford; (724) 935-1743 and follow it on Facebook to stay in the loop on seasonal offerings and events!
This series was created in collaboration with PA Preferred.
PA Preferred® is Pennsylvania’s statewide branding program that promotes locally grown and processed food and other agricultural products.
- Photos: Soergel Orchards
