Tait Farm is a diversified family farm in central Pennsylvania located 7 miles east of downtown State College, home to Penn State University. Tait Farm Foods Inc. is a multi-faceted company occupying a portion of the farm property, as well as our production facility located just a few miles away in the village of Boalsburg.

History

Marian and Elton Tait purchased the farm in 1950. They were both Penn State graduates working for Agricultural Extension. Their hobby farm was the perfect place to raise their three children (Sandy, David, and John), as well as sheep, chickens, hogs, horses, a few Basset Hound dogs, and Christmas trees.

By the mid-1980’s, Tait Farm was the local place to come for pick-your-own fruits and vegetables, Christmas trees, and dogs.

The Birth of Tait Farm Foods

In the summer of 1986, a bumper crop of raspberries was hanging on the canes while it rained buckets for nearly two weeks. Rather than allow the fruit to spoil, it was picked and frozen for winter sales. After several unsuccessful attempts to sell the frozen raspberries, a family friend reminded David Tait of an old colonial beverage called Raspberry Shrub.

Shrub is made by preserving fresh fruit in vinegar and sweetening it with sugar. Most often this concentrate is mixed with sparkling water, iced tea, lemonade, or distilled spirits to make a delicious sweet, tart beverage.

It was the perfect solution! The first bottles of Tait Farm Foods Raspberry Shrub were made in David’s kitchen in 1987. Since that time, Tait Farm Foods Inc. has grown into an award winning specialty food company.

Tait Farm Foods Today

Today, our culinary development team is comprised of company president, Kim Tait and product development manager, Cindy Tait Law. This dynamic duo has successfully envisioned, developed, and curated each product we make with careful attention to the sourcing of every all natural ingredient. Additionally, our team has stayed true to the holistic process of making each item in small batches by hand, preserving the unique, artisanal quality that people have come to expect from Tait Farm Foods.

Up until 2014, manufacturing was done on the farm in the original bank barn. Our products continue to be made the same way at a dedicated production facility just 2 miles down the road in the nearby village of Boalsburg. Tait Farm Foods products are sold at our farm destination, through this website, and to hundreds of specialty food retailers and restaurants across the country.

The Harvest Shop & Greenhouse

The Harvest Shop is a unique destination throughout the year. In addition to being the showcase for Tait Farm’s specialty foods and other Pennsylvania-made food products, we represent the work of many regional artisans. Along with seasonally inspired goods and gifts for the kitchen, home and garden, the shop is always changing and promises to be fresh and new with each visit.

Tait Farm’s seasonal Greenhouse is truly the “secret garden” for our region. An ideal stop for the cottage and kitchen gardener, we strive to be recognized for the quality of our plants, products, and customer service. Choose from a great selection of seeds, herbs, vegetable seedlings and other backyard edibles, as well as unusual annuals and unique perennials that include heirloom roses, pollinators and native plants.