Aug 2, 2024

The success of Burger’s Farm stems from generations of a hands-on approach 

Burger’s Farm is a 135 year- old working farm in Drums, Pennsylvania, owned and operated by the same family for five generations. The first generation to settle here started as a carpenter, general merchant and farmer. The next four generations focused on producing the best quality fruits and vegetables possible for their local community and we still do to this day.

There is a team of us that operate more than 300 acres. I, my wife Julie, my father Lenny Jr., farm managing partner Andrew, and a lot of great seasonal help are involved. Our three children each help with daily tasks: Lydia (7) helps with customers in the market, Leo (5) tends to the animals and Tucker (2) keeps us in smiles all day.

We also have a roadside market and “pick your own” operation.

Roadside market offers diversity

In addition to seasonal fruits and vegetables, the market offers a variety of products such as bedding plants in the spring, a large selection of home-grown animal feed year- round and winter storage crops such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, cabbage and apples. We also carry honey from several local apiaries and a large selection of canned goods, jams and jellies.

During the summer months, the market is packed with all kinds of fruit and vegetables — especially our sweet corn. 

Plus, our pick your own operation has adapted crops to meet the needs of local residents and now consists of a variety of peppers, corn, eggplant, tomatoes, beans, cabbage and squash.

Business does matter 

Over the years, we have learned that being able to juggle the paperwork that comes with running a business — payroll, accounting and current regulations — along with the daily general farm work, is a task in itself, and that keeping all of these things current and organized must be a priority.

Keeping up with current guidelines and requirements is also essential for the value seen by both inspectors and customers alike. 

Staying ahead and being prepared for what is to come helps keep things running smoothly. We have found that the ability to properly manage all aspects of the business could be a determining factor for success or failure.

Customer satisfaction 

We know that listening to customer requests plays a large role in the retention and expansion of our customer base. Making customers believe that they have been heard and their needs met helps bring them back frequently and leave with a positive experience they want to share with friends and family. Our ability to supply an ever- changing demand in the fresh produce industry has led us to more customers and a larger market.

Collaboration 

Working with neighboring farmers as friends is also a crucial part of our success. There are plenty of mouths for all of us to feed in today’s world that we need to lift each other up when we can.

Share in hard times and plentiful times. Large or small, conventional or organic — we need to work together for a better future for agriculture. 

We believe that the future for agriculture, both large- and small-scale, is bright if you are willing to maintain the important old traditions and keep an open mind to modern advancement and changes in your operation.

Burger’s Farm was settled on our land in 1889. So much has changed since then, except our dirt. That will remain while our generation is here to farm it, and hopefully many generations to come

Written by Leonard Burger, Burger’s Farm 

Lenny Burgess III is part of the five generations of success at Burger’s Farm and a member of the Fruit + Vegetable Class of 2023 40 Under Forty honorees. For more information, visit Burger’s Farm at burgersfarm.webnode.page.