You know the song "Home for the Holidays," dont you? When I paid a visit to Troyer's Home Pantry recently, I came upon a re-make of that familiar ditty. As I drove into the parking lot, I pulled along side an SUV with Tennessee plates. For some reason, the lyrics of that seasonal favorite came into my mind.

Well, to paraphrase the song, "I met a gal who lives in Tennessee, and she was headin' for Troyer's Home Pantry and some homemade pumpkin bars!" Yep! Marcea Campbell, from Knoxville, had come back home to visit family and friends. There she was at the counter, buying some of those delicious pumpkin bars she remembered from growing up in Apple Creek. I told her she'd created the perfect introduction for my story!

If you're not familiar with Troyer's Home Pantry, as nearly everyone within miles of Apple Creek already is, then you should make a point to get on US 250 and head toward that wonderful bakery (there's a large parking lot, so you'll have no trouble getting off the highway and finding a parking place). At Troyer's, you'll find 31 varieties of pies. Most people can't even name 31 different varieties, let alone bake thousands of them every week.

Most weeks, Troyer's Home Pantry sees 4,000 to 5,000 pies pop in and out of their three large ovens. Back to the holiday theme ... the three days prior to Thanksgiving each year, Troyer's bakes more than 12,000 pies, and 4,000 of them are pumpkin.

Other varieties of pies include elderberry, cherry, cherry crumb, blueberry, blackberry, black raspberry, red raspberry, red raspberry cream, strawberry, pecan, rhubarb, rhubarb crumb, apple, apple crumb, peach, raisin, raisin cream, German chocolate, oatmeal, lemon meringue, coconut cream, banana cream, butterscotch, peanut butter, chocolate cream, chocolate peanut butter, custard, shoofly, mince and mincemeat (how many of you counted this list to be sure it was 31?).

Owner Abe Troyer has seen his bakery business grow from his own home's kitchen to today's facility at the corner of US 250 (Dover Road) and Apple Creek Road.

"Back in 1969," Abe said, "my wife and daughters did a lot of baking, mostly to use the eggs left over from our egg route (delivering eggs to regular customers). They made a lot of angel food cakes and sold them on the route. When they got more and more orders, we moved the business out to another building on the property. It was a profitable endeavor, so we decided to make a go of it."

In April 1974, Troyer's built the original bakery on their present site, and it has been expanded several times.

"Pies and cinnamon rolls are our big sellers," Abe said, "but we also make bread, angel food cakes (in seven flavors vanilla, lemon, maple nut, maraschino and nut, chocolate, strawberry and raspberry ... did you count them again?), cookies, pumpkin bars, donuts and cream sticks."

You can also buy frozen, ready-made pie shells at Troyer's. And everything is made from "scratch."

"I learned a long time ago, rather than make 30 items, it's better to make 10 well and economically," Abe said. "So, we stick to what we do best. Customer demand tells us what to make."

Nearly 75 percent of Troyer's business is wholesale; products are distributed in northern Ohio, as far away as Toledo. The remaining 25 percent is local, retail business in their store. Bakery items may be picked up at the bakery, where fast, friendly customer service prevails.

"We have a lot of customers who rely on our quick service. They stop for donuts or other pastries, and some coffee, on their way to work," Abe said. "They want to stop, get it and go!"

Troyer's also operates a smaller retail store in Wooster.

Troyers Home Pantry has 24 employees, many part-time, to run the 24-hour baking operation.

"Our employees put in 1,000 man-hours a week," Abe said. "And we're a total profit-sharing organization; I'm sold on that principal. The total profit "pie" (no pun intended) is split between 30 individuals. Technically, there are no "employees;" we're all self-employed."

Three generations of Troyer's are now in the business. Abe's son, Paul, has been there seven years now, and Paul's sons have worked there longer than that.

"I decided to get out of the construction business," Paul said. "I was sort of burned out, I guess. And I wanted to help Dad and work together with him. My oldest son started working here when he was 15. He's 29, and he's doing mission service in Africa right now. The other two boys enjoy the bakery business, too."

I asked Paul what his favorite part of working at the bakery was, and he said, "It's the many people I meet every day. Whether it's on the delivery route, getting new accounts, building relationships with the customers or helping solve their problems, I just enjoy being with them."

Customers can expect the very best product possible at Troyer's because they "produce products from simple, basic ingredients.

"We don't buy any prepared pie fillings," Abe said. "We buy frozen fruit and make our own. Our cream pies begin with fresh milk, and our crusts are made with unstabilized lard. We use only the best."

Large quantities of ingredients are used each week at the bakery. Troyer's goes through five tons of sugars and flours, 180 gallons of fresh, whole milk, and between 300 and 400 dozen eggs.

Abe sees some of his customers drop in as they take US Route 250 on their way from northwestern Ohio or even up in Michigan down to the sunny south, and then back again. He enjoys keeping up with many of his travelling customers who've been coming in for many years.

"Twenty years ago, I never dreamed we'd be doing as much business as we are now," Abe said. "But 'necessity is the mother of invention,' and we've come a long way."

When I asked Abe and Paul what plans they had for the future, Paul said the family would just keep doing what they do best. As for Abe, he said after all these years in the bakery, he plans to sort of sneak out the back door, quietly.

"Yeah, that's what he says," Paul said, chuckling. "But that back door's always locked!"

So whether you're "Home for the Holidays" whatever holiday it may be just driving by, or making it your destination for the very first time, be sure to visit Troyer's Home Pantry real soon. While you're there, be sure to tell Abe, Paul, or any of the other friendly folks working at Troyer's you read about the bakery in Amish Heartland magazine.

If you've tasted their homemade goodies once, you'll drive back for more ... even from Tennessee!

Troyer's Home Pantry Bakery Retail store: 668 W. Main St. (US 250), Apple Creek, OH 44606, (330) 698-4182; hours: weekdays, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 6 a.m.-5 p.m.

Retail store: 319 E. North St., Wooster, (330) 263-1990; hours: Mon./Tue./Sat., 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m., and Wed./Thu./Fri., 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.