click to enlarge PHOTO BY HOLLY RAVAZZOLO

Long Acre Farms selling its produce on a recent Saturday.

It's the end of an era in the Delmar Loop.Long Acres Farms, which has sold its produce from a stand in the western end of the Delmar Loop for 40 years, will be moving out.The news was confirmed by the stand's landlord, Dan Wald.Wald said that the farm's departure would not affect the Midtown Farmers Market, which has also been held on site at 6655 Delmar Boulevard every Saturday for approximately two years.Long Acres Farms predates that weekly farmers market — and had longer hours. The operation serves retail customers on site Thursday and Friday, as well as during the farmers market's hours, and also includes a wholesale business.Wald said that his decision was financial, and that at this point, he has no other plans for the site. The building in front of the produce stand area, which Wald also owns, has been empty since University City cut a deal to get Social House II to close its doors; Wald said that the two decisions were not related.Long Acres Farms did not respond to a message seeking comment yesterday.Wald said he supports University City's efforts to try to find a new spot for the produce vendor. "I suggested to U. City that maybe they find a place for them," he says. "People like them a lot."Long Acre Farms was originally one of three vendors on site, but other than the weekly market, they've been the only one for some time now. The produce they sell comes from a variety of farmers and is popular in the area for its inexpensive pricing.We heard from Jodie Lloyd, the city's manager of economic development, after we published. She says a new home has been found for Long Acres Farms at All Saints Catholic Church, 6403 Clemens Avenue. They'll be setting up shop in the parking lot.Debbie Schneider, who co-owns the business with her brother Jim, says they intend to be open on Delmar through Saturday, and then open at their new address beginning on Thursday, November 3. For the first few weeks, it'll probably be just be an awning setup, but they hope to get a shed set up on site shortly. They intend to be open three days a week going forward, just like always.Leaving their longtime spot will be difficult, Schneider says. "It's like a death in the family. We've been there a long time — our parents started there 43 years ago. But we're going to keep it up."