Rineer Family Farms, owned by Daryl and Kate Rineer, is nestled in the rolling hills of southern Lancaster County along the banks of the Pequea Creek.  Lancaster County has some of the most fertile farmland in the United States, earning it the title “The Garden Spot of America.”  The Rineer farm covers 110 acres of this fertile ground and includes tilled fields, grazing pastures, and watershed.

The Rineer family is particularly proud that their family farm is a Preserved Farm in Lancaster County. This program, run by the Lancaster Farmland Trust, assures the farm will remain in agriculture forever and will be available for future generations of farmers. The Rineers raise a wide variety of products on their farm including fruits and vegetables, beef, and eggs. The available products change with the seasons, providing delectable treats throughout the year.

Rineer Family Farms, a PA Preferred grower, is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. They provide farm fresh products to the consumers of Philadelphia year round including six farmers markets, several local restaurants, and at the Fair Food Farmstand at Reading Terminal Market.

Products

The most popular spring fruit crop is strawberries. The Rineers plant thousands of strawberry plants each fall so that they can provide these scrumptious berries to their customers.  Following strawberries, cherries and blueberries are ready.  Then Peaches and red raspberries begin to ripen about the fourth of July followed quickly by blackberries.  Next come watermelons and cantaloupes to fill the late summer tables.

The Rineers also raise a diverse selection of vegetables.  Spring provides asparagus, red beets, radishes, spring onions, and a selection of peas.  These common offerings are enhanced with Swiss chard, spinach, and other leaf vegetables like red and green leaf lettuces.   Some of the midsummer treats include purple and white eggplants, summer squash, cucumbers, zucchini, potatoes, sweet and hot peppers, a variety of beans, and succulent sweet corn.

To help their customers prepare these table treats, the Rineers also grow fresh herbs including basil, chives, cilantro, mint, and parsley.

Tomatoes

The queen of summer vegetables has to be the fresh tomatoes. No other tomatoes can compare to the taste of these vine-ripened, field grown tomatoes picked at their peak of favor for the markets. Tomatoes are high in vitamins A and C, and provide a wide spectrum of amino acids. But few people are aware of the many options they have to get their tomato “fix” each year.

The Rineers grow a wide variety of tomatoes to be used for different purposes.  Grape tomatoes, both red and yellow, make great bit-sized additions to salads.  “Romas” are meaty tomatoes for sauces and tomato paste. The Rineers also grow red and yellow slicing tomatoes for salads and sandwiches. Yellow tomatoes are less acidic and have more sugar than red ones but they don’t store as well.

Philadelphians have a growing interest in non-hybridized heirloom tomatoes. To fill this need the Rineers grow four of these unique heritage tomatoes.  The most popular heirloom tomato is the “Brandywine” variety, introduced in 1889 right here in Philadelphia by Johnson & Stokes. The Brandywine is large and very flavorful.

The Rineers also grow the unique “Mr. Stripey,” a green indeterminate tomato with yellow flesh striped with red.  A second bicolor heirloom is “Old German.”  Their fourth heirloom, “Cherokee Purple,” is pinkish-purple inside and out.  This sweet variety is credited to native Americans.

Just remember that if you decided to try an heirloom tomato they have very different appearances and often seem quite unlike the bright red rounded fruits to which we are accustomed.  Heirloom tomatoes have odd shapes, colors, and textures, qualities which endear them to their fans.