Our History
In 1955, brothers George and Carl Rohrbach opened Rohrbach's Farm Market as a self-service roadside stand. They sold apples, cider, eggs and potatoes. Over the years, the business has grown and gone through several additions to the existing structure that was once a dairy barn. George, along with his wife Margaret, operated the business through the 1980s. Their son, Ronald and his wife, Cathy, then purchased the family business. Ron's sister, Kay Brecht, co-manages the market. Ron and Cathy's son, Mark and his wife Ashley, are the youngest generation of Rohrbach's. Mark operates a major part of the farming end of the business.
The market continued to expand in 1987 when the Apple Core Gift shop was added. It has grown over the years to represent over 100 gift companies. In the spring of 2000, the original barn floor and loft of the barn were converted into a unique gift shop to meet the growing demand for more gift shop space. This provided 3,000 square feet of selling space. To stay on top of home decor and fashion trends, the staff attends gift shows in Philadelphia and elsewhere. Gift shop customers will find an enjoyable and spacious shopping experience. Gift-wrapping is free!
The original gift shop was converted into a gourmet food area with items such as jellies, salad dressings, Pennsylvania Maple syrup, apple butter, honey and prepared mixes. The additional space also provided for a dedicated workspace for gift baskets. These are a specialty at Rohrbach's, and include gourmet, gift items and/or bakery items. Overall, it allowed for bigger fruit and produce displays and a needed expansion in the bakery.
The bakery staff continues to introduce new products. Rohrbach's signature apple pies and apple dumplings are two of the top selling items. Fresh breads, sticky buns, and whoopie pies fill the air with mouth-watering aroma in the store.
The market is open nine months of the year, April to December and closed on Sundays. Many people ask us why we are not open on Sundays. Sunday would be one of our busiest days, especially during the summer months with Knoebels Amusement Resort being just five minutes away. We firmly believe that God has given us six days to labor and one day to rest and to worship Him. God has blessed us with a beautiful family, a successful business, and wonderful employees. We have had some difficult trials in this business, including several bad years due to drought, hail, etc. However, we believe God has placed us here so we can continue in what we enjoy doing!
From the market there is a scenic view of the surrounding mountains and the rolling farm fields. Rohrbach's grows over 18 varieties of apples, along with peaches, pears, nectarines, cherries, strawberries, red and black raspberries, apricots, pumpkins, string beans, and sweet corn.
In 2005 the Rohrbach's celebrated their 50th year of business. Fifty years in business has certainly presented its share of ups and downs. Challenges have included struggling through the droughts, excess rain, hailstorms, killing frosts, and declining profits for field crops. The Rohrbach's have gradually added Entertainment Farming. Festivals have become a major part of the Rohrbach's annual schedule, providing a focus on family oriented events. See our Schedule of Events for dates and descriptions.