Duffield's Farm Serves Up Fresh Produce and Family Entertainment

Every fall, Duffield's Farm Market welcomes more than 10,000 people to its apple orchards and pumpkin fields.  

The family-owned-and-operated farm, on Chapel Heights Road in nearby Sewell, has been producing fresh fruits and vegetables since the 1930s. 

"I bring my children to Duffield's every fall for apple-picking," said Keren Fitzgerald, a Duffield's regular from Sewell. "And again in the spring for a hayride to the Easter Bunny. We love it there. It is a great, economical way to spend a Saturday."

Duffield's offers a variety of family activities throughout the year—visits with the Easter Bunny, strawberry- and pea-picking in the spring, peach-picking in the summer, apples and hay rides to the pumpkin patch in the fall, and winter hay rides to visit with Mrs. Claus beginning in late November.

Throughout the year, the farm grows more than 50 varieties of produce, including their famous sweet corn, tomatoes, green beans, peaches, apples, strawberries, melons, pumpkins, sweet peas and pumpkins. At Christmastime, the market has fresh-cut Christmas trees and throughout the spring, summer and fall, the greenhouse is open with flowers, fruit and vegetable plants for home gardeners. 

The Duffield family farms more than 400 acres of land, which includes 175 acres of preserved farmland (which means it will always be farm). 

Duffield's is truly a family business—it is owned and operated by Dave and Mary Duffield, their three children and two daughters-in-law. All eight Duffield grandchildren work at the farm—some part-time and some full-time.

And everyone either lives on the property or close by.

Daughter-in-law, co-owner and market manager Tracy Duffield says the key to Duffield's longtime success has always been their dedication to their Christian values. The market is closed on Sundays, as a day of rest and reflection. And, says Tracy, Dave and Mary have always believed everything they owned and farmed belong to the Lord.

"We could have a bad year; but then the next year we are blessed beyond measure," Tracy said. 

In its 90-year history, Duffield's has sustained major damage from a tornado, a hurricane and, in 2011, a hail storm, which destroyed all the farm's strawberries. 

"After the destroyed strawberries last year, we were still picking this year's crop through July—which is unheard of," Tracy said. Strawberry-picking typically ends in June. 

Tracy said they also work to keep prices low: a hayride is just $4 and bags of apples start at $10 for about 10 pounds. The bakery and deli also help keep the business profitable in the winter months, when Debbie Duffield, the deli manager, creates homemade soups and hot sandwiches. 

The farm started out small in the 1930s. 

The original owner, Claude Duffield, grew peaches that were packed and shipped to Philadelphia for sale. After Claude's death, his son David took over the farm. As the farm struggled, David's wife, Mary, began to sell strawberries on her front porch.

Demand grew and so did Duffields. The actual market began as a small lean-to structure and grew into its current facility in the 1980s.

Now, families, birthday parties and school groups come to farm for fresh produce, pick your own crops and to pick up homemade bakery goods, fresh soups, and deli items.

Apple-picking runs through September, every weekday from noon to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pumpkin-picking starts Saturday, Sept. 15, and runs through Halloween. Saturdays in October feature loads of fall fun, including scarecrow-making for $16 (they supply the clothes!) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On Sept. 22, Duffield's will host the annual Feast in the Field, a four-course meal prepared by local chefs using local produce. Tickets are $35. 

For an updated schedule and more information, visit the Duffield's website.