We sat down with orchard owner and operator, Pat O’Hara, to get all the inside information on this local gem! Located right in Bloomsburg, OHF Orchard is a seasonal, family-friendly orchard where you and your children can pick your own apples in the fall.
The History Behind OHF
Growing up in Dorrance, PA (Luzerne county), Pat’s family owned a small, one-acre orchard and a roadside stand where they grew and sold their produce. Rooted in this agricultural foundation, O’Hara is no stranger to growing, nurturing, harvesting, and selling fruit. In 2012, his father, Joe O’Hara, saw that an orchard in Bloomsburg was for sale, and suggested Pat buy it. Now OHF is co-owned by Pat, his father Joe, and Pat’s best friend, Gino Ardo.
Over the past 11 years, the guys-along with their families and staff-have poured their hearts and souls into the orchard. They’ve expanded it, added to its amenities, and plant and cultivate much more than just apples. Besides the 15 varieties of apples they grow and offer both at farmer’s markets and as pick-your-own, they also grow a variety of peaches, nectarines, pears, cherries, apricots, and plums. For now, the only fruit you can pick yourself is apples, but Pat hopes to expand upon these offerings as time goes on.
Newer additions to the orchard include a farm-stand style building where they sell their own apple cider, apple dumplings, honey from their own bees, locally made soaps, and other seasonal items. The building was funded by a grant from The Pennsylvania Veteran Farm Organization, for which Joe O’Hara- a Navy veteran- was qualified and received as a benefit for his service to our country.
OHF also helps to operate their neighboring farm, The Stonehouse Berry Patch, which offers pick-your-own strawberries and raspberries seasonally.
Pat and his family and staff are active members of our community. They are involved in lots of events and organizations, including Healthy Kids Running Series (for which they donate cases of apples for hungry runners!), The Bloomsburg YMCA Trunk or Treat event, and many others. They consistently donate to Bloomsburg’s local food pantry and try to generously support local businesses and causes.
Planning Your Perfect OHF Visit
OHF is open Saturdays (10am-5pm) and Sundays (10am-3pm) for pick-your-own apples. There are wagons available to help you haul your bounty, and you can purchase various sized bags to fill up in the fields. Make sure to wear proper footwear, and remember the mornings are often dewy and wet, so be sure to come prepared! You can check out their bee hives where the honey comes from before or after you pick your apples.
The orchard also features a small playground and fun places for souvenir-style photo opportunities. Their ‘you-pick’ season begins in September and ends late October. This year, October 21 is their last day, and they will be hosting a local vendor, D-Squared Concessions, who make amazing “apple fries” and who were also at the Bloomsburg Fair this year!
OHF also offers their orchard for private events, such as parties and field trips, so be sure to contact them for more information!
Homemade Applesauce Recipe
Once you’ve got all your apples picked, here is an easy, healthy recipe for applesauce that is parent and kid approved!