Daniel W. “Dan” Schantz, the Lehigh County farmer and entrepreneur whose greenhouse and antique shows became fixtures of Lehigh Valley life for more than six decades, died peacefully on July 9, 2026. He was 92.
A Farm Built From the Ground Up
Born March 29, 1934, Schantz launched what would become one of the region’s most recognized horticultural businesses in 1957, when he and his wife Mildred purchased a farm in Lower Milford Township, Lehigh County. Over the following decades, Dan Schantz Farm & Greenhouses grew into a beloved institution, supplying seasonal plants and flowers to retail customers and major retailers throughout the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Generations of valley residents marked the coming of spring by stopping in for hanging baskets, tomato seedlings, and summer annuals.
Antiques, Agriculture, and State Service
Schantz’s entrepreneurial spirit extended well beyond the greenhouse. He founded and promoted the Great Eastern Antique Shows for 36 years, staging successful events in Allentown and several other cities that drew collectors and dealers from across the region. He was equally committed to Pennsylvania agriculture at large, serving on the board of the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association for more than 40 years, including three terms as president. The Governor of Pennsylvania appointed him to the Pennsylvania Produce Marketing Board, where he served as chairman for nine years and as secretary for multiple terms. In 1987, he received the Mid-Atlantic Master Farmers Award in recognition of his contributions to the industry.
Dan Schantz at the greenhouse and cut flower outlet that carried his name for decades.
A Legacy Continued Under New Ownership
The greenhouse that bore his name changed hands in late 2023, when the Schantz family closed the operation. Lancaster County’s Herr’s Fruit Farm subsequently acquired the Dan Schantz name and property and reopened the Allentown location in spring 2024, adding farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, and homemade goods alongside the plants and flowers the site had always been known for. The greenhouse at 2031 29th St. SW continues to operate under the Dan Schantz name.
Faith and Family
At the center of Schantz’s life was his Christian faith. He was a lifelong, active member of Swamp Mennonite Church in Quakertown, where he faithfully served as a trustee for more than 50 years. He is survived by his son Thomas Schantz, his daughter Connie Schantz, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
At a Glance
- Daniel W. “Dan” Schantz died July 9, 2026, at age 92.
- He founded Dan Schantz Farm & Greenhouses in Lower Milford Township in 1957.
- He ran the Great Eastern Antique Shows in Allentown and other cities for 36 years.
- He served on the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association board for more than 40 years, including three terms as president.
- He was appointed by the Governor to the Pennsylvania Produce Marketing Board, where he served as chairman for nine years.
- He received the Mid-Atlantic Master Farmers Award in 1987.
- The greenhouse at 2031 29th St. SW, Allentown, continues to operate under Herr’s Fruit Farm ownership.
- He is survived by two children, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
