The Market at Delaware Valley College by Shady Brook Farm

A Natural Partnership Homemade in Bucks County
By Maryanna S. Phinn

It is one perfect match homemade in Bucks County.

Shady Brook Farm of Yardley and Delaware Valley College in Doylestown have partnered and re-opened the college’s former farm market now called, “The Market at Delaware Valley College by Shady Brook Farm” or “The Market” for short.

In 2004, the college built and managed a farm market on campus but closed the business by 2007. It conducted a search for a new management team and selected Shady Brook Farm as its managing partner.

“It’s exciting to have two home-grown organizations jointly offering many great locally produced farm products of both Shady Brook and Delaware Valley,” explained David Fleming, Jr. who co-owns and manages Shady Brook, a family-owned and operated farm and market, garden and agritainment center founded in Andalusia, Bucks County in 1913.

A Home Grown Team
Delaware Valley College, or “DelVal,” is a small private liberal arts college founded in 1896 as a farming school. It is best known for its exceptional agribusiness, animal, dairy food sciences and environmental undergraduate programs. About half of the school’s 2,000 students major in agriculture. Students gain production and marketing experience by working directly for the school’s crop, dairy and livestock farming and production facilities on campus.

David, Jr.’s father, David, Sr., who recently retired from Shady Brook to run the family’s winery, graduated from the college in 1963. David Sr.’s brother, Ed Fleming, graduated in 1953.

DelVal students and alumni make up about half of The Market’s current staff and are depicted working on the farm or at the market in enlarged photos hanging throughout the spacious, sunlit farm market building.

David, Jr.’s brother, Paul Fleming, runs the Shady Brook farming operation, while their mother, Beverly Fleming, their sister, Amy Lamb, and their cousin, Wendy Allen, manage different aspects of the farm and market operations at both locations.

Guaranteed Fresh and Local
The Market offers a huge assortment of organic fruits and vegetables—from apples, peaches, and raspberries to sweet corn, tomatoes, lettuce and peas. In addition, fresh milk and dairy products, eggs, beef, pork and poultry, honey and apple cider are for sale.

“The DelVal students and farmers plant, grow and harvest so much of what sells,” Fleming noted, adding that by early summer, customers will have the opportunity to pick their own strawberries at the new location. Assorted fresh plants and flowers, produced by DelVal’s horticultural program, are available for sale at The Market’s outdoor garden center.

In Yardley, Shady Brook is a popular place during the holiday season, known for its light show and haunted hayrides. The Market will also host agritainment events such as a corn maze and a pumpkin patch, horse-drawn and tractor hayrides, seasonal food tastings and fun-filled family programs.

The Market’s full-service deli features Boar’s Head and Deitz and Watson products for hot and cold sandwiches or prepared foods, soups and salads. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering outside and inside seating. Catering services are available for any kind of event. The Market provides breakfast and lunch options for casual or business affairs to complete menus for weddings or formal galas.

“We plan to offer wine for sale from Rose Bank Winery in Newtown, which my father is now running,” Fleming added. Rose Bank Winery recently won awards at two national competitions for its blueberry and mulled apple wines.

The Market’s on-site bakery is filled with cookies, cakes and fresh pies that can be customized for any occasion. Or customers can stop anytime and enjoy DelVal homemade ice cream, sundaes and milkshakes or Shady Brook’s fresh peanut butter and delightful specialty items including its ever-popular guacamole and salsa.

In addition to the fresh farm products, The Market carries several gourmet brands including DiBruno Bros. Cheeses, Stonewall Kitchen, and Rothschild dips and sauces.

“Our family is proud of this new partnership with Delaware Valley,” said Fleming, “we’ll have many great products to offer at The Market produced directly by DelVal students and our local farms.”

The Market at Delaware Valley College by Shady Brook Farm is located at 2100 Lower State Road in Doylestown. It is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (215) 230-7170 or visit www.shadybrookfarm.com or www.delval.edu/themarket.

Maryanna S. Phinn is a freelance writer from Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania.