Richardson’s Candy Kitchen in Deerfield celebrated its 70th anniversary last year. The Woodward family has operated the business since 1983, when they took over where the Richardsons left off. Owner Kathie Williams (née Woodward), grew up in the business, which has always had strong ties with the local farming community.

Richardson’s Candy sources ingredients from local farms for their famous chocolates, with seasonal favorites highlighting the marriage of chocolate and local fruit. Year-round they use milk and cream from Mapleline Farm’s Jersey cows in Hadley. Fresh, local milk lends sweetness and creaminess to their chocolates. “We’ve worked with them for 20 years,” Williams says. “If we need a last-minute delivery in a pinch, we meet them at the barn to pick up.”

During the growing season, Richardson’s offers seasonal specialty items that have a strong following in the community. Once strawberry season is underway in June, Richardson’s offers their beloved chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Long-term relationships sweeten this iconic confection. “For our local strawberries in June, we rely on the Hatfield Smiarowski brothers from Teddy C. Smiarowski farms,” Williams says. “My husband and I went to high school with all of them!”

While customers anticipate this berry treat, they never quite know when the shop will offer them. “I tell our customers that it’s not our decision how long the season lasts — it’s up to the farmer,” Williams explains. “Strawberry season only lasts two weeks, and we have to wait for a certain, larger size of strawberry. Once the farmer gives us the go ahead, we meet every morning to pick up our flats, either at the farm or out in the field if needed.”

In the fall, Richardson’s features Clarkdale Fruit Farms’ apples to make chocolate covered caramel apples. “We have a great relationship with Ben,” Williams says, “I usually text him at the beginning of the season, and like with the strawberries, the farmer sets the schedule for both the beginning and end of our chocolate covered caramel apple season.”

Williams says that Clarkdale’s Honeycrisp apple “is the perfect complement to our sweet caramel and chocolate. We’ve been making our chocolate covered caramel apple for 15 years. It is a beautiful drive up to the orchard and we have plenty of employees volunteering to pick up. Ben has delivered to us in a pinch, bringing a gallon of cider for us to share.”

Relationships with farmers continue to be the foundation of Richardson’s Candy Kitchen. “Farmers are great people to work with,” says Williams. “It’s special to be able to call the farmer and meet them in the field or at the farm.”

This dedication to local sourcing is tied to Williams’ own family history. Williams’ grandfather was a farmer who grew vegetables and tobacco in Hatfield and her husband grew up on Luther Belden Farm, a dairy farm in Hatfield. Williams Farm Sugarhouse, the maple syrup farm across the road from Richardson’s, is owned by distant relatives.

Williams recalls the neighborly rapport her parents enjoyed with the sugarhouse. “When my mother, Barbara, was working at the shop, Milt Williams would come in to deliver a fresh batch of still-warm maple sugar for us. He always grabbed a piece of chocolate or two for his ‘long’ ride back across the street,” she notes warmly.

Richardson’s Candy sells Williams Farm’s maple syrup and maple sugar, and now the family relationship continues through Kathie Williams working with Chip Williams, Milt’s great nephew. “We have a customer who pre-orders maple sugar to take to friends in Germany on a regular basis,” Williams says. “Whenever our maple sugar and syrup supplies run low, Chip is right here in Deerfield and seems to deliver our orders within minutes.”

Many ingredients for making chocolates and candy cannot be grown in New England, like chocolate, tree nuts, or coffee. Climate change and global markets can influence pricing and availability. Most recently, cocoa prices have soared, with demand exceeding supply.

Closer to home, climate change has had a ripple effect on Richardson’s. In 2023, when late frosts diminished the apple crop, there were fewer apples available for making chocolate covered caramel apples. The torrential rains in July 2023 also caused the business to close for repairs due to water damage.

Valentine’s Day will soon be here, and Richardson’s Candy Kitchen offers chocolates shaped like hearts and roses, plus heart-shaped boxes of candy and candies in red wrapping.

Williams explains that unlike the winter holidays between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, when people tend to buy gifts ahead of time, Valentine’s Day sales occur on Feb. 13 and 14. “It’s a very last-minute holiday,” she says. “We always hope that Mother Nature cooperates, because there have been a number of years where a big snowstorm hits on the 14th, and then the holiday is over. You can’t make that up as a business.”

After all these years, Williams still enjoys “how every day is different. Some days, I’m more involved on the customer side; others are spent ordering, cooking, or making chocolate. I enjoy the seasonal flow, where we build up to a holiday, recover, and then move on to the next.”

The proprietor also finds joy in her staff and customers. 

“I have an incredible staff, many of whom have been with us a long time. We have great customers, who come in periodically. We hear stories about their extended families. Some share how their grandparents used to come into our store. I am excited to carry on this 70-year tradition.”

Richardson’s Candy is located at 500 Greenfield Rd. in Deerfield. To learn more or for online ordering, visit richardsonscandy.com or their social media.

Lisa Goodrich is a communications coordinator with Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA).