The family-owned and -operated Plum Creek Farm Market and Creamery, nestled in the rolling hills of rural Bernville, is a surprising mix of old fashioned farm stand and modern outdoor family cafe.
The Market, which opened in the spring of 2016, is both a labor of love and a leap of faith for the Zimmerman family — Keith, his wife Kendra, and their four children: Kassidy, Karson, Kaleb and Kiah.
Creating A Legacy
Kendra’s father, Nevin Rutt, began selling home-grown fruits and vegetables in the early 1990s from wagons in the Bernville Fire Company’s parking lot.
However, in 2010 Rutt was tragically killed in a farming accident, and the stand ceased operation in 2012.
In 2014, Keith — the adventuresome one — saw an opportunity to purchase a farm along Plum Creek Road, near Kendra’s father’s farm. Along with Kendra’s mother, Mary Ann Rutt, the Zimmerman family committed to building upon what Nevin started.
Community Labor of Love
Plum Creek Farm Market opened in the spring of 2016 with seasonal fruits and vegetables. That stand is enclosed and now offers a variety of fresh items such as candies, dried fruits, baked goods and Keith’s smoked pulled pork.
But customer demand for ice cream was so high, notes Kendra, that the Zimmermans decided to add the Creamery in 2017. “Then, we added a small playground to keep children happy while parents sat and visited. We had it in our minds just to add a swing set, and we realized that wasn’t enough!”
Creamery, 2.0
Plum Creek Farm Creamery presents visitors with a seamless integration of old-fashioned service and digital technology.
There are no printed menus, but rather three overhead digital screens that alternate between displaying tempting photos of the Creamery’s ice cream, sandwich and pretzel offerings.
Customers line up on the right side of the open stand, place an order using a first name, and then wait to the left for service. A bustle of activity within the stand signals that all items are made to order.
When orders are ready, staff members call out names and deliver what can only be described as very generous portions to waiting customers.
Mix and Mingle
“This place took off like wildfire last year,” say Kevin and Donna Zimmerman (no relation) as they finish their ice cream at one of the round picnic tables they shared with visiting strangers.
“There is nothing else like it here,” Kevin notes, “and you wouldn’t believe the lines that form, especially during the summer.”
Donna’s favorite menu item is the hand-rolled soft pretzels. “You think it’s just any soft pretzel until you taste it — it’s that good,” she says.
As the sun set on a Saturday afternoon in Bernville, Plum Creek Farm and Creamery bustled with a mix of Nevin’s old customers and new young families.
“I love it when people can come and hang out, enjoy the food and enjoy each other,” Donna says.
Nevin would be proud.
