Way Fruit Farm

Make Your 'Way' to the Farm

by Kristin Bushong

Fresh. Green. Local. These are all words that accompany the overall movement of being aware of what we eat and where it came from. But since 1959, local landmark and sixth-generation family-owned Way Fruit Farm has provided Port Matilda-nites and beyond the "fruits" of their labor. 

Brooks Way and his wife Sharon run the farm. I had the pleasure of meeting with Sharon the Saturday morning before the Central PA Farm Tour, while Brooks himself was readying to lead visitors on tours around the farm's impressive new setup.

Now, if you have visited before, it is now totally transformed. If you're heading over for the first time, well, it's unlike any country, family-owned farm you've ever visited! What was the store room up front is now packed with country-themed gifts and décor. Put together your own gift basket of imported Italian pasta and sauces or check out their candles and authentic Polish pottery!

Now the rest of the facility has come such a long way and impressed anyone who’s walked through the doors (I’ve witnessed it several times!) When they were working on the renovation, they were pleasantly and humbly surprised when there were perfectly preserved wood boards already lining the ceiling from the original build 50 years prior. Talk about “green”!

The real story is the evolution of their store room and selection. They can honestly take place of your grocery trip, with local meats, dairy, baking products, local veggies and Way-produced fruits and so much more. Tailgaters – stop by for fresh cider and fruit to add to your gameday spread!
Brooks & Sharon’s daughter Megan, her husband Jason Coopey and the whole Way team's hard work has paid off, as their new café is open! Stop by for freshly baked pies, cookies, muffins and more; or for salads, meats and cheeses from their deli case! Another new add-on is the larger apple-sorting area.

Students and other vehicle-less Downtown Farmers Market patrons can now take advantage of the CATA “G” route that stops right in front of the farm, As noted by Sharon, those hooked on the apple cider and other products no longer need to fret over how to get more once the markets close for the fall!

Speaking of fall, it is truly a special time at the Farm, as they maintain their 20-plus year tradition of hosting trio of events on October Saturdays. On the 3rd, visit for Cider Demo Day and wagon rides to pick pumpkins at the patch!

Then, on the 10th and 17th (and always the second and third Saturdays of the month, regardless of the home football schedule) the Fall Festival is celebrated! Come for homemade apple dumplings, pies and other foods, crafts, wagon rides, games and more - so much more with the great new facility!

Their popular apple bin sale will begin mid-September. While the bins used to be outside (and slave to the elements), they now have their spot in the new sales room. They’ll continue selling apples as long as they last, as well as potatoes, cabbage and other cooler crops. As it is also a great place to grab some gifts (how about sending carefully packaged Way apples across the country?) the Farm will be a fine place to stop all through the winter.

Way Fruit Farm, a partner of HappyValley.com for years, has been truly a joy to watch, well, “grow.” Isn’t it nice to know that in these times a local, family-owned business is thriving? Plan your visit today.

Hours:
M-F: 8am-7pm
Sat: 8am-5pm
Closed Sunday

Cafe Hours:
M-Sat: 7am-2pm

Location:
Route 550 near Stormstown; on CATA “G” Route
2355 Halfmoon Valley Rd.

For more:
814-692-5211
Web site