Sub Rosa Stories

Ryan’s Fruit Market

Patrick and Rebecca Ryan are ninth generation family farmers of the 250-acre property on North Mountain Road in Rockingham County. Our dinner in the hoop house just before planting season, paid homage to the anticipation of things to come on their farm–blossoms from the cherry and redbud trees, freshly cut watercress, preserved peach and pepper jam, apples, Virginia trout, hints of summer tomato, spring lamb, watercress, greens, and root vegetables. 

The history of the farm itself is a fascinating one. The original 500 acre plot was acquired by Patrick’s ancestor in 1780 as a land grant for serving as a captain in the Revolutionary War. He fell in love with the Shenandoah Valley when he traveled through it on his way to Yorktown and vowed if he survived the war, he would move his family from Philadelphia to the Valley. He did just that, building a log home from local timber, and raising cows and pigs.

In 1890, the family began selling commercial fruit as Hepner’s Specialty Peaches. By the end of the 1940s, the family business was christened Ryan’s Fruit Market. Patrick’s grandparents sold produce out of the shed next to their house until 1981 when Ryan’s father built the current market stand. Patrick and his father Carol each own about half of the property, but Patrick purchased and runs the business–the youngest family member to do so.  

You can find Patrick and Rebecca at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, at the Fruit Market most other days, and on the tables of many downtown farm-to-table restaurants. Rebecca is an artist and you can find her art (and sometimes watch her paint) on market days. Right now it’s pick your own cherry season at the farm where you can load up on sweet Bing cherries while the trees are full. Up for more adventure? Patrick and Rebecca have two  tent camping sites in the orchard listed on Hipcamp!