Spring is the perfect time to embrace the season of renewal by shopping local. As the weather warms and flowers begin to bloom, supporting local businesses not only helps strengthen your community but also allows you to discover and savor fresh, seasonal products that reflect the spirit of spring. No matter what produce and products you’re looking to find, shopping locally offers a personalized experience and a chance to connect with the people behind the products. One such place full of great things to buy and great people to meet is Deep Roots Valley Farm and Kitchen in Mohrsville, Pa!
Meet the Deep Roots Valley Family
We had the pleasure of speaking with Will Smith, one of the owners of Deep Roots Valley. The farm, he told us, has been in his wife’s family for five generations now. Originally, it was a dairy and crop farm, but over the years it has transitioned to focus on grass-fed and pasture-raised beef, chicken, and pork. The operation is fully family-based, and Will and his wife Kelly work on the farm with their children! “The majority [of what] we sell is retail cuts, but we also offer quarters or halves when available,” Will said. “We typically don’t butcher over the winter – we process in the spring, summer, and fall.”
On top of raising and producing their products, the Smith family also sells their goods at multiple markets throughout the area as well as deliver, including homestyle farm-to-table meals, the recipes for which are developed by Kelly.
“[It’s a] small operation,” Will told us. “I’m doing the farming and she’s doing the cooking. We try to change [the specials] a couple times a month.” The family also sources ingredients for the pre-made meals that aren’t produced at Deep Roots Valley from other farms in the area– such as Birchrun Hills Farm for cheeses and farms in Chester and Montgomery counties for vegetables.
A Full Community
The beauty of Deep Roots Valley Farm and Kitchen is that when you bring your business to this operation, you’re not just supporting one farm, but an entire economy, ecosystem, and community. The Smith family sells at multiple markets in the region, including the West Reading Farmer’s Market from May through October, as well as the Eagle View Farmer’s Market, the Phoenixville Farmer’s market, and the Lansdale Farmer’s Market. Along with their ingredient sourcing from other farms in the area, shopping for Deep Roots Valley products means you’re spreading your support out over a wide swathe of the local agricultural community!
“When you’re buying from us you’re supporting numerous other farms in PA that we’re buying from,” said Will. “Your money is going towards supporting a lot of good things.”
Farm-To-Table Delivery
One of the best offerings available at Deep Roots Valley Farm and Kitchen is their delicious home-delivered meals, easily ordered right on their website. The farm sees a wide range of delivery customers, from busy families with kids in sports to elderly couples. These meals can include everything from comfort foods like soups and macaroni and cheese to delectables like pot pies, quiches, and much more. Cooked in large batches and sold frozen, these meals offer options that are wholesome, healthy, and delicious while also being easy for anyone with demanding schedules and not much time on their hands. It’s something that the busy Smith family, with their bustling business, understands completely!
Supporting Farmers and Supporting Yourself
There’s a benefit to be had from shopping from local farms that’s equally as important as supporting your community, and that’s taking care of yourself and cultivating your own health. Locally grown and pasture-raised food products often have higher nutritional content than their mass-produced counterparts. Simply put, eating local is often better for you! “Typically the nutrition will be a little different,” Will said. “We raised the animals that way because we want to eat those animals for our family. [They can be] higher in omega 3, lower saturated fat, etc. What you put in your body is going to affect your own health.”
Growth and sustainability are crucial for any community, and in order for these things to flourish, everyone needs to partake. Will Smith and his family are doing their part, supplying their friends and neighbors with nutritious, locally grown products, and their loyal customer base is giving their support in turn! If you want to do your part as well, consider making family-owned farms a regular part of your shopping routine this spring to nourish both your community and your well-being. You can start by checking out the Deep Roots Valley Farm and Kitchen website to see what they have to offer!
