Supervisors Speak On Styer Deal

Days after the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors voted to have only one operator run the Styer Orchard farm and market, backlash from the public has been harsh.

On Monday evening during a virtual meeting, the supervisors approved leasing the orchard and market on the township-owned, 109-acre property to Tim Field, whose family has operated the orchard and farm for 20 years. The current Market At Styer Orchards is operated by Dave and Sharon Barberides, who have run it for 20 years.

The decision came after a committee of supervisors reviewed proposals from Field and the Barberides and interviewed both parties. Both parties were sent certified letters in late 2019 noting their leases were set to expire in the coming year.

The agreement was approved Monday evening and the paperwork was signed Wednesday.

In public statements, both the Barberides and Field families have said they’ve each invested at least $500,000 in the portions of the property they’ve controlled and built their businesses at over the years. Field took over running the farm and orchard from his parents in 2019.

An hour or so after the supervisors made their decision, Sharon Barberides told this news organization the family “disappointed” by the outcome of the supervisors’ vote.

Many people upset over the decision took to social media calling out the supervisors and questioning the township’s motives.

A Change.org petition garnered more than 14,500 signatures in support of the Barberides.

The petition calls for the township to give the family at least 90 days to liquidate the store, provide financial compensation for the business, and financial compensation for store employees during the transition period between operators.

Township officials did not state Thursday whether they were considering extending the 30 day period that the Barberides had to vacate the market.

Township officials have said the municipality sought to have one operator for the Styer property for years.

In interviews with LevittownNow.com, Field and the Barberides both said they were aware the township wanted one operator for both parts of the property. At one point, there was even discussion on the topic between the two parties.

The supervisors vote showed that they felt Field had the better proposal.

In a statement earlier this week, the township said the Field proposal called for the market selling fresh food, baked goods, and grocery offerings, including produce coming directly from the farm. It also called for first-hand opportunities for customers to see the production cycle of food, the addition of new holiday events, additional “agri-tainment” opportunities, and the planting of new modern apple varieties and pick-your-own crops that may include blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries.

Supervisor Amy Strouse told LevittownNow.com that the Field proposal, in her opinion, was more forward looking and offered something different.

“Both proposals agreed that farm and store should be operated as one,” she said, adding the supervisors knew their decision would “break hearts” for one of the families.

“This farm and store are an asset for the township … this is supposed to be an asset for all of us to enjoy. It was never the asset of one or two families. I hope people give the Fields’ vision a chance. They want to retain the character of what people love about Styer’s,” she said.

Strouse said she thought the supervisors could have done a better job relaying the decision to the Barberides after Monday evening’s vote.

The Barberides were upset with what they felt was little communication from the township.

“Personally, I felt like both the Barberides and the Fields had ideas for the future of Styer’s, but the Fields’ plan had more concrete goals and a plan for realistic, attenable projects and modest improvements to both the farm and store,” Supervisor Dawn Quirple said in a statement posted on social media.

“As difficult a decision it was to not renew the lease for the Barberides, I feel it was the right decision to offer the new lease for the farm and store to the Fields. I wish the Barberides all the best and I hope their employees apply to work at the new market and continue to work for our wonderful community,” she added.

Supervisors Chairperson Tom Tosti put out his own statement on Facebook. He said both parties talked with township officials about their plans and had months notice that a decision would be made.

“Tim Field had a clear vision with detailed plans for both the farm and store. The Barberides offered a proposal that called for no changes to the store and a vision for the farm that was open-ended,” Tosti said.

He noted that although the Barberides said in their proposal Field could run the orchard if they were granted control over the entire property, Field was submitting his own proposal.

“This was very hard on all of us and we understand the Barberides’ disappointment, but I believe our community should know this was not something that just happened Monday night, but has been in discussions with all parties for more than a year,” he said.

Earlier in the week, Township Manager Stephanie Teoli Kuhls said officials only sought proposals from the Barberides and Fields but that both sides have known for months, if not longer, that the leases were expiring. She said the township made clear they wished to only have one family operate the property.

Both the Field and Barberides families have received public support in the wake of the decision.

Field noted in a social media post that he was “appalled by the harassment and violent threats that have been made directly to my wife and family,” but appreciated the outpouring of support from many.

“We recognize that the Fields are also a family who have undoubtedly worked hard at their own small business. We know very well how hard it is to make a living,” the Barberides said. “We want to be abundantly clear that we in no way condone harassment, threats or acts of violence toward the Field family, the Township, or anyone involved in this decision.”

The Barberides have said they also appreciate the support they’ve received.

The farm on Woodbourne was purchased to protect the site from development. The property was bought from T. Walter “Pop” Styer for $2.2 million in 1999 using funds from the township, Bucks County, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

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