Bond. Kevin and Morgan Bond.

The iconic introduction of James Bond in his classic movies works for Kevin and Morgan Bond of Ringtown, too. They are all Intelligence Officers of a sort.

Kevin, a Lehighton High School wood shop and technology education teacher, and his wife, Morgan, a research and development technologist for Mrs. T’s Pierogies, help operate B & R Farms in Ringtown, owned by Morgan’s parents, Schuylkill County Commissioner Boots Hetherington and his wife Robin.

Recently, the couple won the 2023 Young Grower Award for successfully growing strawberries with methods that have contributed to promoting and advancing the berry industry. The award given by the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association recognizes members who are 35 years and under in age and have been successfully growing vegetables or small fruit.

Smart moves

When he’s not teaching, Kevin is a key “Intelligence Officer” at the farm. He has upgraded the fruit picking crew’s wooden and wire racks to composite carriers that wash easier and keep the quarts of berries cleaner. Kevin has also modified bakery racks to use in cold storage for prolonging the quality of the picked strawberries. His research into weed control, irrigation and cultivation methods, along with pest management have made berry farming much less labor intensive and has helped improve overall customer satisfaction.

“What Kevin has done is make our jobs on the farm easier for the crew, my parents, and us,” said Morgan. “We’re not physically capable of doing some of the heavy physical work that’s been necessary in the past and he’s always trying to come up with new ideas to make everything better for everyone who works here.”

People in need come first

Kevin was raised on a dairy farm in Jim Thorpe and graduated from Jim Thorpe High School. He met Morgan when she came to a 4-H Club meeting. “One time Kevin was five hours late for our date and I thought he was going to drop me,” she said. “We had no cellphones at the time and when he finally showed up, he explained that he was helping a farmer with his hay storage. That’s Kevin. He will drop his schedule to go and help someone in need.”

That someone in need also includes his brother who also owns a farm. “If he calls me to come help milk his 80 cows,” Kevin said, “I’ll be there.”

He acquired his desire to help others while attending Millersville University. He learned how to adapt his classroom for students with physical disabilities. “He’s always concerned about helping people and what he has accomplished in school and on the farm has been life changing,” said Morgan.

It takes a ‘village’

Kevin, Morgan, their 2-year old daughter, Evelyn, and a recently born son, Kellen live in Ringtown on a farm located about a mile down the road from her parents’ 400 acre farm. They manage their busy lives with work, child care, and farming with assistance from the “village” as Morgan calls it, help from her parents and from members of the church they attend.

When the time is right, they plan to transition into full ownership and operation of B & R Farms that has a history of producing asparagus, peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Only asparagus from that group is grown for retail now as the farm is steering toward mostly cultivating small fruit.

Doing berry well

According to Vegetable Growers News, the Bonds have invested in new equipment for the retail strawberry business. They belong to the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association Exchange where they seek insights on how to improve their farming operation. The prize for winning the Young Grower Award is free registration for the Mid Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention plus lodging at the Hershey Lodge.

Once strictly a vegetable growing business, the farm now concentrates on strawberry and flower retailing along with hay and grains that are wholesaled to local horse farms and a zoo in New Jersey. “Growing berries requires a lot of soil preparation and the peak time for selling the strawberries lasts about 24-27 days” said Morgan, whose responsibilities include customer service, Facebook page management, product marketing, and worker crew leadership. She also organizes the scheduling for the summer harvest.

The Bonds expect to add to their production of small fruit that they hope will increase their retailing business. “We have plans to grow black and red raspberries and blueberries,” said Morgan. “Ground preparation for these berries takes two to three years before we can begin the growing process.”

They have converted a tunnel on the farm in preparation of growing raspberries, rhubarb, and blueberries under bird netting. “Kevin is all in on finding new ways and methods to improve our u-pick operation,” said Morgan.

Passing the torch

When asked what he enjoys most about farming, Kevin said, “You start with nothing and you turn it into something. It’s great to put food on the table for our customers. It’s a challenge for sure because there are things like the weather that you can’t control. You have to have faith in what you are doing.”

“The farm is a labor of love for us,” said Morgan. “It’s meant so much to my parents through the years and Kevin and I intend to do our very best to continue what they have accomplished.”

While they tend to their jobs and to their growing family, the future is now for the Bonds. They’re ready to take the “gamble” as Kevin calls it to see that his wife’s parents’ farm remains a vital part their family heritage.

B & R Farms is located at 129 Strawberry Lane in Ringtown.