WEST CHESTER, PA – This summer Giant’s 12 Chester County grocery stores are putting more than 75 area farmers in the spotlight, including three from Chester County –  mushroom growers Buona Foods of Landenberg, Phillips Mushroom Farms of Kennett Square, and Highland Orchards of West Chester.

Giant is also featuring Buona Foods in a “Here we Grow” video on its web site, along with maps to local farms.

This Saturday, July 26, each Giant store will have a special children’s “Here We Grow” event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  During the event each child will receive a free apple, farm activity sheet, produce samples and a canvas bag, as supplies last.

There are also photo cutouts in store produce departments where customers may take photos of themselves to post to the store Facebook page for a chance to win a $25 gift card and canvas bag.

Buona Foods’ matriarch is Rosemarie Ferranto, the daughter of Italian immigrants. She grew up working on her family’s mushroom farm near Buona Foods’ present location in Landenberg.  In 1972 she began supplying local grocers and restaurants with mushrooms, and began to grow her business.  Her husband Robert “Bear” Ferranto helped with expansion, and their children Robert, Peter and Gale also joined the company, helping to grow it into a regionally prominent concern.

Bella Farms is the primary mushroom-growing farm for Buona Foods, which annually grows 3.5 million pounds of white and brown mushrooms.  The farm was founded in 1989 by Pete and Rob Ferranto, and now has 16 mushroom houses and more than 20 employees.

While it’s just one crop for Buona Foods and Phillips Mushroom Farms, fruits and vegetables change with the seasons at Highland Orchards in West Chester.  Lodi apples, apricots, blueberries, blackberries and plums are in season right now at the farm. Highland’s petting zoo, pick-your-own events, and fall apple cider harvest tours and hay rides make it a popular destination for families and school groups.

Highland Orchards, founded in 1941, also sells its fresh produce in its own store and runs a bakery which is famous for flavorful apple cider donuts and fruit pies.