About Us
Frecon Farms takes great pride in a way of life that begins and ends with a deep connection to the countryside we’ve grown and farmed on for three generations. As all of us “rush” toward the future with its intermingling complexities of technology and stress, we often find ourselves missing that time when the fruits of nature and the pride of hand craftsmanship dominated our existence. Frecon Farms wishes to remind us all that this sometimes forgotten experience is alive and well in Boyertown, PA. For this reason, we invite you to learn about our heritage and our future in the following narrative about our farm.
The Frecon Family, led by Henri L. Frecon (the first), first moved to the United States in the early 1900s, bringing with them a unique trade that was very popular at the time. Using raw material from the silk mills of Hanover, PA, his hand made silk scarves carved the Frecon Family name recognition. The scarves were distributed to department stores in New York, Philadelphia and other major cities. However, as business started to grow, the Great Depression wiped out much of the Frecon’s fortune in America. An even greater tragedy was the passing of Henri. Although the head of the family was lost and the money was gone, the creative spirit and entrepreneurial drive survived through Henri’s family, especially in his youngest son Richard S. Frecon. After many treks across country during the great depression, working in 5 and 10s and other small general stores, Richard landed in the Produce Inspection business. Here, Richard Frecon learned a new and very valuable trade observing the farmers of the day; namely, the production of fine fruit, specifically apples and peaches. Soon thereafter, Richard settled with his family in the rolling hills of Berks County Pennsylvania and established Frecon Fruit Farms in 1944.
The Boyertown area made perfect sense to Richard, once known as the “Apple Basket” of the East, many fruit growers in the area collectively created a great location to merchandise and distribute wholesale and fresh direct fruit and products. With the help of his loving wife Martha, they purchased Boyertown Fruit Farms, and changed the name to Frecon Orchards. They then proceeded to raise 6 children in a typical farm family structure, Dick, Suzan, Jerry, Henry, Jeannie, and Terri- all whom over time have worked in and around the family business throughout its journey over the past 65+ years. For several years Frecon Fruit Farms grew and expanded, and in 1948 added an orchard supply business, selling tools and materials to the many other farms in the area. Eventually incorporating as Frecon Orchards, Inc. he transitioned that business to his oldest son Dick, who currently operates it today.
With an overflow of quality fruit and the purchase of the Gilbert farm in 1951 an idea soon sprung to life with the creation of the first Road Side Outlet stand in Boyertown, PA, in 1952. Mary Frecon, Richard’s mom, had been running a small stand next to the main farm where people could stop by and purchase fresh produce at a retail level. This business was growing fast and so Richard and his mom converted a restaurant on South Reading Ave., now the Juke Box Café, to the first retail farm market in the Boyertown area. It was a great location, since it rested on the main route from Boyertown to Mt. Penn, Reading, and Pottstown. This became the first Frecon Orchards Outlet. Mary ran a tight ship selling the fruits of the farm to the local population. Over the years, Mary noticed people stopped in and purchased this good fruit as a gift to others who were not always able to make it to the store. People would buy for those who lived in the cities or too far from the Outlet, or even those too elderly or sick to make it into town. The “Fruit Basket” idea was born. The Frecon’s reputation blossomed over the years, attracting new customer after new customer.
By now all three of Richard’s sons had been honing their talents in the trade, and his youngest son Henry had been demonstrating exceptional talent at growing and managing the orchard. It was then that Henry L. Frecon II decided to major in agriculture at Delaware Valley College, following in the foot steps of his older brother Jerome. The two brothers worked closely together and eventually in 1970, they decided to expand the retail operations and the NEW Frecon Orchards Outlet opened with additional parking and space to support all of the new products and people. Soon the store became a dedicated endeavor for Henry. While working away at his new endeavor, Henry met a pretty girl named Mary T. Soper. Mary had applied at the new store as a sales clerk, and eventually the two fell deeply in love. Eventually Mary Soper became Mary Frecon and the two started raising their own 4 kids, Hank, Laura, Steve, and Jenny.
Under Henry’s direction, Frecon’s Orchard Outlet began expanding its product lines using its own produce to create items like fresh apple cider and apple butter. These goods soon became attractive gift ideas and were added into the Fruit Baskets, expanding beyond just fruit and creating the foundation for the ever-popular “Gift Baskets”. Henry launched and expanded the gift basket portion of the business and guided the Outlet in a new direction. Corporate clients began to use the baskets as gifts for their clients, family and friends exchanged them during the holidays. By 1985, Gift Basket had become a major component of the Outlet’s business. While all of this growth was going on at the retail store, the same was true of the farm, and Henry having proved himself as one of the most talented horticulturalists in the area, was required to focus more time on the core farming business. During this time Henry pioneered with the help of his two other brothers, new methods in agriculture production and operations and eventually landing a seat on the board of Red Cheek, (now owned by Motts), who was at the time one of the largest juice and processing plants in the country.
It was during this time that Henry’s wife, Mary became the second Mary Frecon to manage the store. By the mid 90’s, Mary was completely dedicated to shaping the Outlet’s creative direction. Mary (a.k.a. Torrie) Frecon, expanded the product lines to focus on gourmet foods for healthy living, arts and crafts to enrich the mind and body, plants and gardening items to beautify personal environments, and many other product lines that all focus around one common idea; the idea of providing products built by the fruits of nature and the pride of hand craftsmanship. Mary quickly established a reputation amongst the other regional markets as a superb manager and operator, and Frecon Orhcards Outlet grew as a model store for other farm markets.
In the meantime a dramatic shift in farming was occurring all across the United States. With the economic climate turning downward as our nation signed new treaties that opened up the borders for internationally grown fruits and vegetables, many of the long standing farms faced a grim future (the struggles of which continue today). The farm not only went through economic changes but significant family changes as well. As Richard and Martha got older, they welcomed the return of their youngest daughter Terri, to the farm. Terri arrived just in time to pitch in and work hard to assist her ailing mother and take over the farms book keeping and financial management.
Eventually Richard’s days came to pass, and spurned by a passion to keep the family legacy alive, Henry’s two sons Steve and Hank turned to Chris Adukaitis; a long time friend and employee of the farm, and who like many of their friends, was someone who grew up “at the farm”. The three made a decision that if Farming was going to have a chance in the US it needed to refocus its energy locally and fresh direct. They also believed that farming retail could be revitalized as people took interest in knowing where their food came from and desired products that enriched their lives and their health. And finally they believed that by extending their own experiences growing up to the general population that this business could not only survive but flourish. They quickly launched freconfarms.com in 2004 focusing on e-commerce for gift baskets, in 2005 launched the family’s first official pick your own apple and pumpkin operations. Then they submitted their business concepts and were approved by the states grant for revitalization and economic development of agricultural and tourism operations, and in 2007 purchased Frecon Orchards Outlet from Henry and Mary (Torrie), changing the name to Frecon Farms.
What does the future have in store for Frecon Farms? Well lets just say that there will be loads of fun, hard work, and creative endeavors as these three, assisted by their family and youngest sister Jennifer (who manages the day to day operations along side her mother) focus on bringing festivals, educational events, new products, expanded operations, and eventually a future restaurant to the area for your own family to enjoy as much as they did.
Whether you’re looking for the ingredients to create and develop your own gourmet, handcrafted items or simply enjoy the finest ingredients, events and shopping experience available, Frecon’s has it. We hope you enjoy our little spot on the web, feel free to browse our selection of online signature products and gift baskets or peruse photographs and details from one of our past or upcoming events. Welcome to FreconFarms.com, the new way to go “just around the corner” for that little something that brings the simple spirit of hand craftsmanship to your doorstep.
Frecon Farms brings the simple spirit of hand craftsmanship to your doorstep
