Three springs fruit farm

Three Springs Fruit Farm is a seventh generation family farm located in Adams County, Pennsylvania. The farm produces a variety of fruits and vegetables, including tree fruit, berries, tomatoes, vegetables, and pantry items. It has been recognized by the Food Alliance as being the best in their field for their commitment to progressive, sustainable growing practices and land management.
History
Three Springs Fruit Farm has been owned and operated by the Wenk family since it was founded in 1901. The family originally began farming in this area in 1842, after the immigration of John Wenk from Riehen, Switzerland, in 1817.
Sustainability
Sustainability is an essential aspect of Three Springs Fruit Farm food production and policy. In 2010, the farm was evaluated by the Food Alliance, becoming the first farm of its kind in the region to obtain this certification. The Food Alliance bases its evaluation on a farm's execution of integrated pest, disease, and weed management, soil and water conservation, wildlife habitat and biodiversity conservation, and safe and fair working conditions for employees.
Educating the Community
Three Springs Fruit Farm offers many opportunities for the local community to learn about small business farming. Guided educational tours of the farm and farming facilities are available by appointment throughout the year. The farm is also involved in several local organizations that educate and empower local food production.
LEAF Project PA
Three Springs Fruit Farm is a partner farm of LEAF Project PA, an agricultural based educational program for youth. The project works to connect students with all aspects of food production, from the food they eat to the land it grows on. The LEAF Project works with local farms to motivate youth to think critically about personal and social issues relating to locally raised food. Participants of the program are invited to learn and engage in day to day activities that take place on a farm.
Collaboration with Gettysburg College
In 2015, Three Springs Fruit Farm partnered with Gettysburg College to teach a first year Introduction to Phage Biology class about fire blight and its impact on the local apple farming community. Fire blight is a bacterial disease that will damage fruit trees and can result in losses of between $1,000-$20,000 an acre for farmers. Students in the class learned how bacteriophage, found naturally in the orchard, can be used to wipe out the bacteria that causes fire blight.
In 2014, Three Springs fruit farm participated in the Food Justice in Adams County student immersion project at Gettysburg College. Food justice is the belief that every human has a right to healthy food, regardless of income. Students learned about food gaps in society by exploring how local farmers produce food, where local foods are sold and eaten, examining emergency food systems in place, learning about the local food movement, and promoting a food system that supports both local food production and its surrounding community.
Participation in the Young Growers Alliance
The Young Growers Alliance was created in 2005 to support members of the horticultural community at the start of their careers, and is affiliated with Pennsylvania State University Extension office. The alliance serves as a professional career development association for the local growing community, and activities include educational field trips, orchard tours, luncheons with guest speakers, leadership opportunities, and the Scott Brown Memorial Scholarship. Educational trips that Three Springs Fruit Farm have participated in include New Zealand, South Africa, and Nicaragua, where members of the Young Growers Alliance learned about local horticultural practices as well as shared their own expertise.

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