EMMAUS, Pa. — The Seed Farm partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania and Community Action Lehigh Valley for its fourth annual plant sale Aug. 16-17, aimed at supporting food security in the community.
The Seed Farm, a program of Second Harvest, offered cold-resistant crops and other plants during the rain-or-shine event. Second Harvest works with more than 200 organizations to distribute food in Lehigh, Wayne, Pike, Northampton, Carbon and Monroe counties.
This year’s sale featured turnips, spinach, swiss chard bright lights, bottlebrush grasses, lettuces, cabbages and other plants grown in the farm’s greenhouse, along with about 10 types of native plants from another greenhouse in the area.
“We had a smaller variety of fall crops,” said greenhouse manager Hannah White. “This year we’re really trying to expand our diversity of varieties and the different types of crops that grow well here in the fall. On top of that, we are also providing a lot more native plants this year.”
The sale also highlighted products from local farmers in the farm’s Business Incubator Program, which provides land and support to new growers. Blue Sun Growers and Doe Mountain Produce operated stands to promote their products and share information on farming and gardening.
Blue Sun Growers, which has taken part in the event for four years, specializes in herbs such as lemon basil and Italian scallion grown behind the Seed Farm barn.
“The mission of Sun Growers is to bring higher quality local culinary herbs to market and people in the area,” said owner Billy McCullough. “As an avid local food fan and farmers market goer, I felt there was a lack of high-quality herbs to add to the amazing produce that is grown here.”
Veronica Rosenberger, social media assistant at Blue Sun Growers, said the farm helps fill a gap in the local food scene.
“You can go to the farmers market and get a bunch of awesome local meat and vegetables, but we’re filling the gap to be able to put local spices from your spice cabinet on the local offerings,” she said.
Doe Mountain Produce also offered fresh produce outside the Seed Farm barn.
Playa Bowls, a regional restaurant chain, joined the sale for the first time this year, serving mini bowls and coffee.
“My favorite part of the event today is being able to give back to an organization like the Seed Farm, which benefits Second Harvest Food Bank,” said Angalyse Keyock, Playa Bowls’ marketing and communications director for Eastern Pennsylvania. “For every bowl that we’re selling today, we are giving money back to the organization. We love working closely with Second Harvest.”
The weekend also included a season extension workshop hosted by White on Aug. 16, offering tips on preparing crops for colder weather. Registration was $15, with an optional seasonal gear kit available for $30.
The Seed Farm, located at 5854 Vera Cruz Rd., Emmaus, will host its fifth annual plant sale in 2026.
“I think it’s really just about refining what we’re able to offer here,” White said. “We’re selling through quite a bit today, so I think next year we need to grow more.”
