Our Story…..
Paul Hartz and Erica Bowers Lavdanski 2008. Image credit: Yvonne Sauder
B & H Organic Produce is a multi-generational, family run farm located in the heart of Morgantown, PA. The farm’s thriving produce production operation began as the combined effort of Erica Lavdanski and Paul Hartz. B & H is now run by Mike and Erica Lavdanski.
B & H Organic Produce is dedicated to providing the community with fresh organic produce, geared to a smaller more community-based consumer. Your farmers, Erica and Mike, believe you should be able to support local food in your community and in doing so also preserve pristine Lancaster County farmland. Through their combined efforts they hope to provide this service to people who are looking for nutrient rich, fresh, local, and organic produce.
B & H is certified organic by Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO) and the USDA.
We believe it is extremely important to remain organic in order to address ecological sustainability and health concerns and to enhance the security of our food system. It is our commitment to build and maintain high quality soil at our farm in order to provide a nutrient dense final product to our customers.
Mike and Erica Lavdanski 2016. Photo credit Erika Ruiz.
Paul Hartz was born and raised on the 150 acre farm in Morgantown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Paul has been experimenting with organic agriculture for more than 30 years. He was a member of some of the founding organizations for organic certification in Pennsylvania. In 1997 the farm was officially certified organic by Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO).
Paul Hartz
Erica Lavdanski worked for Paul at Hartz Natural Foods in 1996-1999. There she gained a knowledge of the importance of organic agriculture and farming. She then traveled to several farms around the country doing internships and learning to farm.
Paul and Erica maintained a friendship throughout this time and decided to partner up to create B & H Organic Produce. In 2008, Paul Hartz asked Erica to join his farm by adding a produce operation.
B & H began as a 1/8 acre produce garden serving the West Reading Farmer’s Market, Hartz Natural Foods and a 10 member CSA. Currently the produce operation is 3 acres serving 2 farmer’s markets and 2 restaurants.