After 38 Years, Landmark Orchard Closes Its Doors

It started as a hobby for Milton Shuman, owner of Shuman's Orchard in Lower Milford. He purchased the large hillside property in 1974, wanting to turn his hobby into a business. 

But now, that chapter is closed for Shuman and his wife Florence, after more than 38 years of farming.

Shuman planned on growing for one more season but became ill and retired last year. He has since recovered and decided to stay on the property, leasing it to a dairy farmer.

The orchard sold apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, and at one time strawberries, Shuman said. His produce was sold at roadside markets and grocery stores, selling a majority at the orchard. “We sold 70 to 80 percent of our produce right here at the farm,” he said.

The orchard grew its crop with the help of the Penn State spring schedule. Vegetables and fruits were picked ripe, not when they were still green, according to Shuman. “We had people telling us they can’t find the quality of food they got here anywhere,” he said.

“They came as far as Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Jersey, and New York… from all directions,” he added.

In 1974, Shuman bought the 50-acre orchard in Lower Milford, moving from Price Avenue in Coopersburg. Before moving, he owned a small orchard and worked as a carpenter. “I did it more or less back then as a hobby,” Shuman said of farming.

Shuman decided to look for more land and found the Lower Milford property. “My grandparents had a dairy farm and I worked there most of the time. … I was raised around a farm,” he said.

He was born in Pennsylvania and worked at his grandparents' farm when he was young. He and Florence have three married daughters.

Shuman and his wife still live in the house on the property. “We’ve retired and decided that we are going to stay here… as long as we have our health,” he said.