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Bedner’s voted best South Hills business

By Rick Shrum rshrum@observer-Reporter.Com 3 min read
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Bedner’s Farm Greenhouse

As if owning and running a destination operation weren’t intensive enough, Russ and Melanie Bedner expanded their workload.

“I make wine as a hobby and got my winery license,” Russ said. “We sell my wines in the store: five different dry reds, two or three dry whites and some fruit-based.”

The couple has added grape expectations to the great expectations they have for their Cecil Township business. And why not?

For three-quarters of a century, Bedner’s Farm & Greenhouse has provided diverse wine, flowers, food, food for thought, landscaping and hospitality for residents across the region. They and their employees deserve many toasts and got a rousing one recently.

Their operation was voted best overall South Hills business in the Observer-Reporter’s annual Best of the Best competition.

Bedner’s was one of three finalists for the award, which was presented at an invitation-only, gala-type honors ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe. The event took place shortly after the family shut down for the season. The garden center will reopen March 29.

“It’s always nice to be recognized within the community,” Russ said, appreciative of the public vote.

He and his wife, director of finance and marketing, own 66 acres off Coleman Road, 42 of which are farm and farm store. They reside on the gently rolling property, which has a McDonald mailing address, but is near Bridgeville.

His father, Robert, and grandfather launched the business in Bridgeville in the 1940s when they opened a farm market. Robert went on his own in 1997 and moved the business to its current location, where it continues to evolve.

“We grow about 80% of what we sell,” Russ said, listing a bountiful number of farm-grown items, including seasonal herbs and vegetables, along with annuals, perennials, hanging baskets and porch pots.

“We started a landscaping division in 2013, then started a full-blown nursery,” he explained. “We have an opportunity to choose what we grow, and we pick the best plants that customers should do well with, healthy plants they can take home.”

He said he and Melanie “have scaled back” on vegetables and have focused more on flowers.

Bedner’s, he stressed, strives to be consumer-friendly. “Customers like to pick their own produce,” Russ said. The owners select dates – usually in the summer – when visitors can enter the fields and handpick beets, cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, peppers and zucchini. There also are pick-your-own-bouquet opportunities.

“We also offer educational classes and value them,” Russ said. “We can educate the public and our staff.” 

Russ and Melanie Bedner operate a farm market, of course, but he said it should not be confused with the similarly named Bedner’s Farm Market on Bower Hill Road in Upper St. Clair. Russ said the Bower Hill location is not affiliated with his business but belongs to a cousin, Nancy Rostron, and her husband, Dave.

Another relative named Bedner has a large farm in Florida specializing in vegetable production.

Although the pandemic had an initial impact on Russ and Melanie’s operation, he said, “business has definitely increased since 2021.

“The ascent has continued every year. We’re doing well.”

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