When it closed its doors potentially for the last time Wednesday afternoon, Schwartz Farm Produce Stand ended 102 years of history and service to the community.
Since 1915, the little produce stand on the side of Bristol-Oxford Valley Road in Bristol Township (next to the sports fields at the Municipal Complex) has offered top-notch produce. The stand has the reputation amongst long time Levittowners for having the best corn, as well as high-quality produce of all other kinds from numerous regional farms.
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Due to a shift in the family that owns the land and upcoming property sale, it is likely that Wednesday was the produce stand’s last day open.
“I would rather shop here than shop at the grocery store,” explained Alfred Fetterolf, who came to the produce stand shortly before noon on Wednesday.
Fetterolf and his wife, Elaine, visited the produce stand on Wednesday to pick up some tomatoes and sign a petition to keep the stand operating after the sale of the land is finalized.
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Living in Middletown’s Levittown section, Elaine Fetterolf has been coming to the stand since she was a little girl.
Paff Davis has been coming to the stand since the late 1980s.
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“I really look forward to these guys opening up every season,” Davis said, explaining how all of the produce is always fresh and delicious.
“I’ve been coming past here for years, but it just won’t be the same after this,” said John Mellor Sr., who stopped in on Wednesday to sign the stand’s petition.
Being managed on loose leaf paper, the petition has already garnered page after page of support. Names are accompanied by towns of origin. Names from nearby towns like Bristol Borough, Bristol Township and Falls Township are accompanied by those of customers from Northampton, Philadelphia and places even further.
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The uncertain nature of the future of the produce stand began to take shape in 2016, when the original owner of the stand passed away. Patty Beese had been running the stand for a little while before the original owners became unable. After their passing, a family member suggested that Beese purchase the land and keep the produce stand running.
However, the family ended up coming to an agreement to sell the land to Bristol Township.
Credit: Erich Martin/Levittownnow.com
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According to Craig Bowen, Bristol Township council president, the space the municipality is set to purchase will be used as open space. The space will act as an extension of the existing township recreation land nearby.
The produce stand proprietors said they do not have a totally clear plan regarding what they want to do with their petition. The idea that current stand could be used, with agreement by the township, to sell produce was floated on Wednesday. Otherwise, Beese will work to find another location for a produce stand.
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Bowen was unable to speak on whether that type of agreement with the produce stand could be pursued.
The sale of the farm and produce stand was expected to close sometime in the next week.
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