Rice Fruit Company is a family run business, which was founded in 1913 by Arthur Rice. The Rice Family has been growing apples in Adams County since Daniel Rice arrived as a young German immigrant in the 1790's. Like the other small farmers in the area, Daniel Rice and his descendants grew apple trees in the scenic foothills of the South Mountain, the eastern-most ridge of the Appalachians. The region has ideal soils and topography that forms effective micro-climates for growing many kinds of fruit. With these valuable qualities, a commercial fruit growing industry began to develop in the 1900's. The company's first packing house was built in 1913- in Biglerville, PA- and throughout the twenties or thirties, Rice Fruit Company shipped apples all over the world. In 1955, Arthur Rice, Jr., built a new packing facility located in Gardners, PA. This remains the site of operations today. Arthur Rice, Jr. also formed a partnership with William Lott, to form R & L Orchards Co, and grow high quality fruit to be packed by Rice Fruit Company. The partnership between the Rice and Lott families continues to this day.
