One Hundred and Eighty Five Years of Farming for the Community
Clark Webster purchased the land that would become the Delaware homestead of Highland Orchards in 1832. At that time it was mostly rocky pasture. In 1835, Clark's son, Isaac, began clearing the ground of the multitude of rocks, and thus began the Webster farming of this land.
John Webster gave the farm the name Highland Orchards, officially when he was registering his Guernsey milking herd in 1940. But, by then he had been farming successfully for 26 years and everyone informally knew it as "Webster's". In 1941 John purchased the Pennsylvania farm outside of West Chester, which he also named Highland Orchards.
As the father of five daughters, John Webster used to say, "All my boys are girls!" So, when his daughter Elizabeth married Robert Hodge, they became managers and then owners of the Pennsylvania farm. They and their six children expanded the plantings, buildings, and property to the prosperous, efficient business of today. Elizabeth and Bob have now turned over the farm to their children.
Meanwhile, John's daughter Elaine had married Jack Linton and they enjoyed six children. By 1970, John, Elaine, and the Linton grandchildren were working the remaining five acres of the Delaware homestead. Now in 2011, Elaine, her daughter Ruth, and son Matthew, plant, harvest and sell their produce, including some fruit from trees planted by John Webster forty years ago.
In March 2013 we expanded into Hockessin and became the new owners of Henretty's Market. we are continuing to offer Henretty's famous crab cakes along with a selection of our local produce. Make sure you stop by and visit!
Come visit the homestead during operating hours, or join us at the farmer’s market in Fitler Square (23rd and Pine) on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm.
We offer weekly CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) pick up at the farm and throughout Wilmington and Newark, DE and in Philadelphia at Metropolitan Bakery (19th and Manning) on Wednesdays, Betty's Speak Easy (23rd and Grays Ferry) on Thursdays, and at Fitler Square (23rd and Pine) on Saturdays. Visit our website for a complete description and listing of all pick up locations.
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