As residential development continues to push north, the stretch of orchards and roadside stands between Weber County and Brigham City could someday be neighborhoods.

''We have kind of a real danger of that overwhelming us, and we'd like to not see that,'' said Kent Davis, co-chairman of a residential committee preparing for how to handle the sprawl. ''It would be too bad if the Fruitway - as it's called now - didn't have any fruit on it. I think that would be a real loss to the northern part of the state.''

Box Elder County building inspector Donnie Tarver said eight subdivisions are under construction in unincorporated South Willard. Another 12 to 15 are in the planning stages. Tarver said the installation of a sewer system and the extension of commuter rail to Pleasant View in 2008 would spark even more growth in South Willard.

''It will explode,'' Tarver said. ''It'll take off as fast as any area in the Wasatch Front.''

The local fruit industry could give way to the development.

Gay Pettingill, who owns 200 acres of orchard and one of the area's largest fruit stands, doesn't plan to sell his land. Just north of his stand, hundreds of acres that used to grow fruit have been cleared after other growers sold in the last few years.

''The people all need a place to live, but I think the ones who are growing fruit should look at it as a livelihood and keep growing fruit,'' he said. ''I don't think the Fruitway should give up.''