‘We Will Farm’ — Hollabaugh Family Mourns Loss of Son Bruce
March 15, 2022 Bruce Hollabaugh, a third-generation fruit grower in Pennsylvania, died Sunday following a previous medical emergency, according to the Gettysburg Times. He was 41.
The newspaper reported that hundreds of people later that day participated in a candlelight vigil in front of Hollabaugh Bros. Fruit Market, north of Biglerville, PA, in a show of support for the Hollabaugh family.
Hollabaugh Bros. posted the following tribute on its Facebook page Monday:
“Our hearts are in pieces as we mourn the sudden loss of Bruce Hollabaugh, our husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, and colleague. Please hold the entire Hollabaugh family close to your heart in thought and prayer as they navigate this unimaginable journey. Nothing will ever be the same, but for Bruce, we will farm. The market will remain open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Please be patient as we mourn with our Hollabaugh family during this most difficult time.”
On Tuesday night the Franklin County Free Press published an obituary.
Bruce Hollabaugh
Hollabaugh’s father, Brad, was named the American Fruit Grower® magazine Apple Grower of the YearSM in 2000.
Two years later, son Bruce, upon graduating from Penn State University with degrees in horticulture and Spanish, was hired as the Production Manager at Hollabaugh Bros. He held that title until his death.
Hollabaugh was the third generation to grow tree fruit at his family’s farm and was instrumental in the introduction of small fruits, including blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and vegetables.
In 2007, he became an owner and member of the company’s board of directors. A fluent Spanish speaker, he was often found in the field with the crew.
In February 2014, Hollabaugh was named to the first-ever Advisory Council of the GenNext Growers Initiative. The program had been founded in 2013 by American Fruit Grower, American Vegetable Grower®, and Florida Grower® magazines as a cross-produce-industry “umbrella” initiative to help identify, inform, and inspire the generation of growers born after 1970.
Hollabaugh Bros. has been a Family Farm Corporation since March of 1982. From 1955 to 1982, Hollabaugh Brothers was a partnership started by twin brothers Donald P. and Harold J. Hollabaugh. Brad Hollabaugh and his brothers, Steve and Neil, officially joined the business when it incorporated in 1982.
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