About Strites' Orchard
Strites' Orchard is a Harrisburg farm whose family history goes back to 1843; Joseph C. Strite planted its first fruit trees and vegetables in 1914. His son Earl sold produce at Harrisburg markets and door to door in Hummelstown, Earl's sons Joe and Tom added vegetables and greenhouses, and Jon and Matt lead the farm today, with a fifth generation working in the fields, market and bakery. The farm has grown to about 300 acres.
The on-farm market opened in 1950, and the current market and bakery were built in 1994. It sells the farm's vegetables, some of them organic, along with fruit, flowers, honey, dairy and baked goods, and in fall it adds fresh apple cider, cider slushies and pumpkin donuts. An early spring freeze meant no apple picking in 2026, so the market carried New York-grown apples instead. A CSA program has run since 2011.
Pick-your-own covers flowers, sunflowers, grapes, blackberries and pumpkins in their seasons, and a corn maze opens in fall. U-pick hours differ from market hours: weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 8 to 4 and Sundays 11 to 3. On weekdays you check in and pay at the market; on weekends you go straight to the picking area. Pumpkins are already cut from the vine, and pre-picked ones are sold daily. Pets are not allowed in the pumpkin patch or the maze, and children must stay with an adult.
Lavender Brook Farm in Hummelstown is about 10 minutes east but is not open for farm visits; its distilled lavender goods are sold online, at makers markets and in local shops.
What to do
- Pick a pumpkin in the fall patch (already cut from the vine)
- Walk the fall corn maze
- Pick sunflowers and flowers in season
- Try fresh apple cider, a cider slushie or a pumpkin donut in fall
- Shop the farm market and bakery, open seven days
Season, hours and prices
- Hours
- As posted October 2026: market Mon–Fri 8–7, Sat 8–5, Sun 11–4; U-pick and corn maze Mon–Fri 8–6, Sat 8–4, Sun 11–3
Good to know
- Dogs
- Not allowed in the pumpkin patch or corn maze
Tips for your visit
- Call 717-564-3130 before picking to check field conditions
- U-pick closes earlier than the market
- Weekend pickers pay in the U-pick area; weekday pickers check in at the market
- Growing dates can shift two to three weeks, so email or call before a trip for a specific crop
Pair it with a lavender farm
Lavender Brook Farm · about 10 minutes away
Lavender Brook Farm in Hummelstown is about 10 minutes east but isn't open for visits; look for its goods online and at local makers markets.
Getting there
Questions
Can I bring my dog?
Not into the pumpkin patch or corn maze; pets aren't allowed there.
Is there apple picking in 2026?
No. An early spring freeze ended apple picking this season; the market sold New York-grown apples.
Are the U-pick hours the same as the market's?
No. U-pick runs weekdays 8–6, Saturdays 8–4 and Sundays 11–3.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Mechanicsburg, Hershey & Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
