In 1983, Amos and Fannie Stoltzfus moved from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to a small farm on Ridge Road in Penn Yan, New York. As they made friends with the growing Mennonite community in Yates County, they realized there was a need for a bulk food store like the one they were accustomed to in Pennsylvania. Later that year, they established Oak Hill Farm.
More than just a business, Oak Hill Farm began in the front room of Stoltzfus’ house and grew from dry goods and baking supplies to candy and snacks. With the help of their daughters, the family re-packaged products in their kitchen and hand wrote labels. Amos frequently delivered groceries to their neighbors in the Penn Yan area.
In 1990, after experiencing years of steady growth, the Stoltzfus family purchased land and built a 40' x 80' building at the current location south of Penn Yan on Route 14A. At the time, the new building seemed quite sizable. To match the growth of the local economy and the tourism industry, Oak Hill Farm continued to broaden its product selection, offering deli and bakery items.
When Amos and Fannie decided to retire in 1999, their daughter LaReta and son-in-law Phil took over the
management of Oak Hill Bulk Foods. Nonetheless, Amos and Fannie stayed involved, offering continued
support and encouragement for what they had started years before.
For more than 15 years, the business in the original gray building operated smoothly. Oak Hill became renowned for its specialty food selection and its anniversary sales, which were hosted under big tents and featured product sampling and carriage rides from Amos. Visitors were drawn to the delicious samples and unique products, and the store became a popular destination for both locals and tourists.
In 2009, after careful planning and design, the Riehl family, now in charge of Oak Hill, embarked on another expansion project. They built a new retail area, allowing for an even larger product selection. The original store was transformed into the Oak Leaf Café & Bakery, which became an integral part of Oak Hill Bulk Foods.
To meet storage needs, the warehouse underwent expansion in 2012 and 2022. In December 2017, Oak Hill acquired Masters Touch Coffee Roasters, enabling them to manage the entire process of sourcing, roasting, packaging, and selling coffee within the same building. This coffee has been available in the store and served in the café since its inception. Oak Hill rebranded Masters Touch Coffee Roasters to Canopy Coffee Roasters in early 2023.
In 2018, the retail area of the store was expanded to create wider aisles and increase product selection. The bakery also moved into a new space that is more than five times larger than the little café kitchen they started with in 2009.
Oak Hill has come a long way from the living room storefront on Ridge Road. Yet it remains a specialty food store providing quality foods in a positive and friendly environment, with a continued focus on the values of improvement, generosity, community, and growth.
Special thanks to our parents and our customers who are part of our story!