To support your local farmer in north central Pennsylvania, head to PA Preferred® Foxdale Farms in Lycoming County. This fourth generation, family-run farm offers fresh produce all growing season long and a variety of homemade treats to go with it. We chatted with Matthew Henderson about his busy life tending to the farm, managing a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and connecting with the local community.
As winter thaws, Foxdale Farms springs to life. The season ahead first appears with the light green of sprouts and the return of the fields and pastures with the final snow melt. In June, Foxdale Farms hits full swing with its CSA and roadside stand, offering ucchini, beets and strawberries to kick off the summer. Sweet corn, tomatoes, berries, peppers, squash and other seasonal crops follow before a flourish of flavor and color in autumn. “We grow mums, gourds, pumpkins, Indian corn and popcorn for the fall,” says Henderson.
There are a few ways to enjoy the seasonal bounty of Foxdale Farm. We think the ideal way to enjoy what Foxdale Farm has to offer is through its CSA, with full and half share options including five or six varieties of produce like sweet corn, melons, berries, tomatoes, potatoes and lettuce. The CSA ($30 per week for the full share) runs 16 weeks, from mid-June through late September. You can also visit its self-serve roadside stand, open from dawn to dusk daily (seasonally) for shopping. You can also shop for fresh produce and homemade goods on the online store.
Of all its delicious produce, Henderson says “sweet corn during the summer and mums and pumpkins in the fall” are the most popular. Foxdale Farms grows the same variety of sweet corn every year, and people love the flavor and quality for freezing.
Henderson appreciates how PA Preferred helps the community identify local farms and farmers. It also helps Foxdale Farms stand out as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), letting customers know that they are getting PA-grown produce.
Though farming is a famously demanding line of work, Henderson revels in what it offers his family. “It enables us to spend time together,” he says. “Working the land enables us to continue family traditions and keeping the land productive and spending time in nature can be peaceful and relaxing. Farming is an ongoing learning process, and we love seeing the successes of the crops.”
Going forward, he is excited to engage the next generation with farming. “I’m excited to discuss how or what we used to grow, successes or bumper crops, and find out what parts of farming the newer generations like – and do not like!”
Find and purchase Foxdale Farms produce and goods at 4259 Kehrer Hill Rd., Montoursville; (570) 244-1128. A note on its location: follow route 86 a few miles past Walmart, turn onto 864 for 2.5 miles and turn left onto Kehrer Hill Road for 4.25 miles and the farm will be on the left. Learn more about its CSA options here, and follow Foxdale Farms on Facebook to see what’s fresh.
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: Foxdale Farms
