About
How it all began...
Hess Brothers Fruit Company is a family owned and operated business located in the heart of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The company began as a side venture by Edward and Arthur Hess, Lancaster county vegetable farmers; the brothers sold fresh apples from an old tobacco shed on Arthur’s farm to supplement their winter crop of homegrown celery. Eventually their apple distribution outgrew the tobacco shed and they moved their operation down the road – a short distance between the brothers’ two farms.
The business transitioned to Arthur’s sons Fred and Jerry who, along with their sister Cathy, took over operations. By building a network of exceptional growers, investing in a world-class packing facility, and never forgetting their roots as a customer focused business, Hess Brother’s Fruit Company blossomed into a respected leader in the global supply of premium apples.
Currently, the company is owned and operated by the 3rd generation of Hess family. Jerry’s son Ryan and son-in-law Zach, along with Cathy’s son, Andy, oversee day-to-day operations of the now 2 million bushel strong apple company. The company continues to lean on its strong, decades old relationships with some of the best growers in the world.