Ed Weaver has roots as deeply planted in his ancestral land as any of the multitude of fruit trees growing there. As president and general manager of Weaver’s Orchard, Robeson Township, he has helped cultivate both the farm’s plants and business operations since the mid-1970s. Weaver is also working to educate the public about our connection to nature, despite our ever-increasing technology, and to foster a balance that respects both. Although a modern farmer’s life doesn’t allow for much time off, he and wife Anne try to travel at least once a year — for nearby family ski trips or as far away as New Zealand, where they enjoy visiting vineyards.
Q: When did you officially join the family business?
I’m the third generation. After I finished high school in 1975, I decided not to go to college and mentored under my father and grandfather. My grandfather was a fruit grower in Delaware and moved to Berks to start on our land in 1932.
Q: And you have children who are continuing the tradition?
Yes, our son Justin is the production manager and our daughter Kimberly, who has a culinary degree, runs our café. It is truly a family business. Anne does our accounting and payroll. Our other two children, Janell and Eric, live out of state – Janell in Mexico and Eric in California.
Q: Over the years, what has changed most in what you do at the orchard?
People are often amazed how much — more than previous generations — we rely on science and technology. We have resources available to us like Penn State’s research facilities and the state agricultural extension to assist with updates in the field. When we encounter insects, disease or a virus, we typically go to them.
Q: And although the market sells all kinds of amazing produce and other edible items, the orchard really just grows fruit, right?
Yes. Apples make up our greatest acreage, with peaches in second place and cherries in third, but we have many other tree fruits as well. Our picking season starts in May with berries – strawberries, blueberries, raspberries – and ends with the final apples in November.
Q: Science can help with a lot, but how about weather?
Weather can lead to disappointment, but we’ve learned to roll with the changes. Some nights I don’t sleep well, but there’s never been a year in which we had total crop loss. This year cherries and pears were hit with a spring frost that led to some loss, but being diversified helps – apples and other fruits can balance things out. Hail is the worst scenario because of the amount of damage it causes, but fortunately we haven’t been hit here.
Q: What are you most excited about for the orchard’s future?
We will have more to offer, thanks to the purchase of 35 acres from the Updike family farm. We had leased the parcel for some time and will continue to use it for production. The Updike estate is happy too, since we will preserve the land. I’m also always pleased about our ongoing educational programs, which help the public learn how food gets to their tables. We’re always educating in some way, but fall is our busiest time of year. Programs really get underway, with Johnny Appleseed Day and our 5K Mud Run on Sept. 10, and will continue through October.
by Michelle E. Biggerstaff | photo by John A. Secoges, Secoges Photographics
