Family owned and operated since 1948.

For over 70 years, people have been coming to Scholl Orchards in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania not only for its homegrown fruits and vegetables, but the unmistakable aromas of ripe peaches and apples. What began as a table stand of apples on the side of Center Street, has now transformed into a full-fledged business with a wide array of fruits, vegetables and other locally-made products.

George Scholl’s great uncle and aunt, Harry and Mary Nonnemaker, planted the first fruit trees in the 1930s on their Bethlehem property. George’s parents, Reginald and June Scholl, took an interest in agriculture and decided to expand, planting the main apple orchard in 1948. In 1968, George and his future wife, Faith, took over the responsibility of running the orchard in Bethlehem, and the farm market on Center Street. A second farm in Kempton, PA was purchased in 1982.

Scholl Orchards remains a fourth-generation family business run by the Scholl family. Jake and Ben Scholl maintain the fruit orchards and vegetable fields. Fruit is picked daily, when nature dictates. A special blend of apples is pressed into cider in the fall and winter months.

The Scholls are continuously improving the quality of their produce and expanding their reach. You can find them at the Easton Farmers’ Market, and in various restaurants and institutions (Bolete, Meals on Wheels, Lafayette College, Lehigh University) throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Scholl Orchards, like many orchards on the East Coast, practices Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It’s an environmentally sensitive approach that focuses on pest prevention through means that are natural, synthetic and, at times, organic.

IPM minimizes the use of insecticides and when they are incorporated, they are targeted and not applied in a broad spectrum. IPM involves regular inspection and monitoring of the plants to prevent the infiltration of pests. It’s not uncommon to use pheromones to disrupt mating cycles and incorporate good bugs, such as ladybugs and preying mantises, to get rid of the bad bugs that threaten crops.

In recent years, Scholl Orchards has expanded its apple offerings by planting newer varieties such as EverCrisp®, Ludacrisp® and CrimsonCrisp™. These trees are grown in a more progressive manner by using trellises and wires for support, which are easier to maintain and produce higher yields per acre.