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Growing Warren Ag |
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25 years of fruit and veggies
Wenzel's Hatch Patch grows it and for 25 years "they have come" from not only Warren County, but Jamestown, N.Y., and Forest, McKean and Elk counties. "People realize we have something unique and special here," said owner Scott Wenzel. "It's been very gratifying." The Hatch Patch "started small and we have just kind of evolved from there," said Wenzel. The Wenzel family has been farming in Warren County since Wenzel's grandfather arrived in the predominantly German Dutch Hill community in 1863. Scott Wenzel's father, Richard, returned home after World War II and "started small," growing strawberries on rented farmland. In 1983, Warren State Hospital decided to sell surplus property in North Warren and the Wenzels were able to purchase the land on Hatch Run and the Hatch Patch was born. Compared to farming on Dutch Hill, said Wenzel, the prime, level land on Hatch Run "is like a piece of paradise. We were very lucky Warren State Hospital sold us the property. This is a wonderful location, prime farm land with lots of water. We're near the mall, but segregated. We couldn't ask for a nicer location." Because of the growing season required, strawberries could not be offered that first year and the Wenzels turned to sweet corn and fruit. They quickly learned, "People in Warren County like fresh and they know quality," said Wenzel. For instance, if a spotted tomato happens to make its way onto the stand at the Hatch Patch store, Wenzel said, "It's just going to sit there. People know quality." Wenzel said the Hatch Patch owes much of its success to his mother, Elaine, who "spent years answering the phone and doing the books." And the popularity of the Hatch Patch has grown steadily. The "pick your own" strawberries and pumpkins concept has caught on, said Wenzel. "There is a savings for everyone," he said, "and there's also a lot of enjoyment." The Hatch Patch has effectively "eliminated the middle man" from the agricultural business. "We're fortunate that ninety-five percent of what we grow, we retail here," said Wenzel. "We don't have to fill up a semi and deal with a middle man." But as any farmer knows, "Mother Nature is always in charge," said Wenzel. "What people don't understand is that a five-minute hail storm can be devastating," he said. Because of a dry spring this year, Wenzel said, "We had to irrigate for twenty nights in May and June. That can be very expensive." Summer proved to be "a wonderful season for growing but that can make harvesting, especially potatoes, very difficult. So you always have Mother Nature to contend with." The Hatch Patch is only part of the Wenzel operations. The family now owns more than 1,110 acres in Warren County, half of which is woodlot. Livestock is raised at the original farmstead on Dutch Hill and beef and pork are sold to the public. In addition to strawberries and sweet corn, Hatch Patch offers raspberries, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, peas, beans and squash. "We go from May to the week before Christmas," Wenzel said. "Christmas trees and wreathes are our finale. There's always something in season." |
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Questions or problems regarding
this web site should be directed to
info@warrenag.org |
The
Hatch Patch is open every day May through December 8:00 am - 6:30 pm.
Located at the
corner of Conewango Ave. and Hatch Run Road, one half mile behind Warren
Mall.
It's
the ultimate "home-grown business."