Gould’s Produce and Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley

How deep-rooted tradition and emergency funding are keeping locally-grown produce on the plates of Pennsylvania families.

The story of Gould’s Produce began generations ago with a small roadside stand in the front yard of Luther and Arlene Dorshimer, nestled along Route 209 in the rolling landscape of Monroe County. Over the decades, that humble stand grew into the family business and passed down from generation to generation to current owners Russell Gould, the Dorshimer’s grandson, and his wife, Denise.

The Gould family continues to operate the farm with the same dedicated spirit that defined its beginning. Their sons, Jamie and Matthew, alongside Russell’s brother Chuck, all contribute their unique efforts to sustain the family legacy that makes the farm so special. For Russell, the farm represents more than a business; it was a way to remain rooted with his family and carry on a multi-generational tradition. Now, that commitment to family is extending to thousands of neighbors in need across the region.

A Reliable Market in Uncertain Times

The relationship between Gould’s Produce and Second Harvest is built on a foundation of mutual benefit. The Goulds sell their apples wholesale to the food bank, which then allocates the bushels to partner food agencies and pantries across the charitable food network. For a local farmer, this partnership provides a critical sense of security.

“Selling wholesale is very helpful to my business because it’s a reliable market that helps me to keep the crop moving,” Russell explains. This reliability became even more essential between December and January, when Second Harvest utilized funds from the Emergency Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (E-PASS).

E-PASS was a $5 million state investment designed specifically to help food banks purchase fresh, Pennsylvania-grown food from local farmers during a period of increased need. With these funds, the food bank was able to purchase 451 bushels of apples—totaling more than 20,000 pounds—along with 90 bags of potatoes from Gould’s Produce. In just one month, this locally grown produce served 2,000 households throughout Monroe and Carbon Counties.

Strengthening the Charitable Food Network

The impact of these apples is felt most deeply at the local pantry level, where the connection to the farm is often personal. At the Palmerton Food Pantry in Carbon County, which serves approximately 350 families per month, the staff has developed an excellent working relationship with the Goulds.

However, maintaining the consistency of fresh offerings isn’t always easy. During a recent state budget impasse when PASS funds were unavailable, the pantry had to rely on donated community funds to continue purchasing produce. While this was doable, it was far from ideal.

“When working with donated funds, we are constrained quite a bit,” says John DeSousa, Co-Director of Palmerton Food Pantry. “We can only purchase out of donated funds half to one-third of what we’d like to have. We have to cut back on what we can give to people. Instead of giving a family of four twelve apples, we can only give eight, or even six.”

DeSousa emphasizes that without the support of programs like PASS, the volume and frequency of what they can provide to families are dramatically cut back. The pantry often has to reduce the number of distributions they hold when funding is uncertain. Despite these challenges, the Goulds remain committed to the partnership.

“Russell and Denise make sure we have high-quality product,” DeSousa adds, noting that the pantry is able to pick up the produce directly from the farm.

Choice, Nutrition, and Community Dignity

Further north in Stroudsburg, the Christ Episcopal Church Food Pantry also relies on the Goulds for fresh fruit. In this case, Russell and Denise deliver the apples to the pantry themselves. This pantry operates on a choice system, allowing neighbors to select items as they would in a grocery store—a practice that preserves dignity and reduces food waste.

The apples from Gould’s also find their way into the “Blessings in a Backpack” program. Through this initiative, children receive free, fresh food to take home every Friday to ensure they have nutrition over the weekend.

“Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential to neighbors because they can be so costly in the store,” says Debby Campbell, Co-Director of the Christ Episcopal Church Food Pantry. “Receiving fruits and vegetables from farmers helps us in offering a balanced diet to our families.”

A Shared Mission

For Russell Gould, the motivation to participate in the charitable food system is straightforward. He sees the PASS program as a vital bridge.

“If you have fresh produce like fruits and vegetables, and you have the ability to feed people in need, why wouldn’t you want to do it?” Russell asked. “If people aren’t able to afford healthy food, this program helps them to access locally-grown food at their local food pantry.”

The success of the E-PASS program and the longevity of Gould’s Produce highlight a fundamental truth about Pennsylvania’s food system. When the state invests in local farmers, it does more than just sustain a small business; it ensures that every neighbor, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the fresh, healthy, and nourishing food they deserve. It is a reminder that when local food banks can say “yes” to a farmer, the entire community grows stronger. From a small roadside stand on Route 209 to a regional lifeline, the Gould family continues to prove that some of the best solutions to community challenges are grown right in our own backyard.