Dan Schantz, one of the most recognized farmers in the Lehigh Valley known for the greenhouse outlet stores bearing his name, has died.<\/p>\n
Schantz died Thursday at the age of 92, according to an obituary<\/a> posted by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service.<\/p>\n \u201cAgriculture was not simply Dan\u2019s livelihood \u2014 it was his passion. A lifelong fruit and vegetable grower, he spent many years raising quality produce and selling it at farmers markets throughout the Lehigh Valley and surrounding communities,\u201d according to the obituary.<\/p>\n \u201cHis greatest pride, however, was building Dan Schantz Farm & Greenhouses into one of the region\u2019s most respected horticultural businesses. Known throughout the Lehigh Valley for its outstanding seasonal plants and flowers, the greenhouse operation supplied both retail customers and major retailers across the region.\u201d<\/p>\n The obituary also highlighted Schantz\u2019s work for the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association\u2019s board of directors, his appointment by the governor to the Pennsylvania Produce Marketing Board, and his founding of the Great Eastern Antique Shows.<\/p>\n \u201cDan will be remembered for his integrity, vision, generous spirit, and tireless work ethic,\u201d the obituary read in part. \u201cWhether nurturing crops, growing a business, mentoring others, serving his church, or spending time with his family, he approached every endeavor with dedication and humility. His legacy lives on in the family he cherished, the businesses he built, the organizations he strengthened, and the countless lives he touched throughout the Lehigh Valley and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n The former Dan Schantz Farm & Greenhouses in Lower Milford Township was sold in auction for $4.5 million in November 2024<\/a>. The 95-acre property at 8025 Spinnerstown Road included a 16-acre greenhouse that was the heart of Schantz\u2019s wholesale plant business.<\/p>\n