Fall Farm Markets in Ohio

There is something special about preparing home-cooked meals with fresh fruits and vegetables picked up at a farm market within hours of harvest.

The state's abundance of farm produce is never more obvious than in the fall, as the countryside takes on beautiful golden and red hues signaling that the harvest is underway. It is then that farm and farmers' markets are especially attractive, and the fruits and vegetables are especially tasty.

During the leaf-crunching, sweater-wearing months of autumn, a leisurely drive to pick up fresh produce is also a great opportunity to tour one of Ohio's many scenic and historic byways. Imagine driving along a quiet road bordering a placid lake shrouded in striking fall foliage, stopping to visit a historic monument and capping the adventure by purchasing a luscious pumpkin pie, some recently picked apples or a few ears of decorative, Indian corn.

Below is a sampling of Ohio's many wonderful farm markets.

• A.B. Phillips & Sons Fruit Farm
  30 E. Main St., Berlin Heights
  419/588-2329, 800/205-7062
  www.phillipsfruit.com
  Pick apples and a whole lot more at this farm that also grows cherries, plums and grapes.
  
  
• Apple Hill Orchards
  1175 Lexington-Ontario Rd., Mansfield
  419/884-1500
  www.applehill.biz
  This farmer's market and bakery is open year-round and hosts a Harvest Open House and Apple Hill Kids' Day in October.
  
  
• Athens Farmers' Market
  270 Highland Ave., Athens
  740/592-1912
  Its vendors vary with the seasons, but the market is open all year on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon and from April through November on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Depending on what is ripe, available produce ranges from apples to zucchinis.
  
  
• Bonnybrook Country Farms
  9400 Clyo Rd., Centerville
  937/433-0886, 937/433-6393 (seasonal hotline)
  www.bonnybrookfarms.com
  Fall Farm Days, held weekends from the end of September through October, will feature a "not-so-haunted hayride" for youngsters and a free pumpkin with admission.
  
  
• Cherry's Farm Market & Greenhouse
  5393 US 224, Ottawa
  419/456-3198
  Cherry's offers five varieties of evergreens suitable for use as Christmas trees and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. from April through December. Like many other markets, Cherry's offers other farm favorites such as honey, eggs, jams and jellies, in addition to fruits and vegetables.
  
  
• Circle S Farms
  9015 London-Groveport Rd., Grove City
  614/878-7980
  The Harvest Cruise annual classic car show will be held in October. Family activities include a four-acre corn maze, a fun barn, a hayride to the patch, pick-your-own pumpkins and a petting zoo. Visit the Pumpkin Cafe for doughnuts and cider.
  
  
• Eshleman Fruit Farm
  753 E. Maple St., Clyde
  419/547-9584
  www.eshlemanfruitfarm.com
  This 200-acre farm grows apples, peaches and sweet cherries. Pick your own, then tour the farm's cold storage and packing buildings.
  
  
• Freshwater Farms of Ohio
  16314 U.S. Rt. 68, Urbana
  937/652-3481
  www.fwfarms.com
  For a unique "farm," visit Freshwater Farms, which sells rainbow trout, tilapia and yellow perch as well as garden pond plants. Tours, trout feeding and a sturgeon "petting zoo" are also available.
  
  
• Fulton Farms
  2393 St. Rte. 202, Troy
  937/339-8246
  www.fultonfarms.com
  The farm includes 1,900 acres of sweet corn, beans, strawberries, tomatoes and pumpkins, a gift shop and cafe. Through October, hop on hayrides to pick your own pumpkins during the weekends, or call to schedule a tour of the farm on weekdays.
  
  
• Grailville Farm
  932 O'Bannonville Rd., Loveland
  513/683-2340
  www.grailville.org
  Grailville Farm opens daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from June through October and offers an immense variety of 100-percent organically grown garden vegetables.
  
  
• Hillcrest Orchard
  2474 Township Rd. 444, Sugar Creek, 330/893-9906
  Hillcrest carries pears, pumpkins, squash, honey and jams, along with other fresh fruits and vegetables, and is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from July through March.
  
  
• Huffman Fruit Farm
  13075 Lisbon Rd., Salem
  330/533-5700
  This farm's market is located in a circa-1810 barn built without nails. Pick your own apples, tomatoes and peppers. Wagon rides are featured in September and October.
  
  
• The Lawrence Orchards
  2634 Smeltzer Rd., Marion
  740/389-3019
  www.lawrenceorchards.com
  This orchard has been in the family for five generations. Pick your own apples and pumpkins in September and October and make your own goodies at the Apple Butter Stir and Horseradish Grind in November.
  
  
• Lynd Fruit Farm Inc.
  9090 Morse Rd. S.W., Pataskala
  740/927-1333
  www.lyndfruitfarm.com
  Lynd's is one of the largest fruit farms in Ohio with 600 acres of fields. Through October, the farm hosts fresh cider sampling, tractor-pulled wagon rides, a corn maze (two miles away) and straw tunnels.
  
  
• MacQueen Orchards, Inc.
  7605 Garden Rd., Holland
  419/865-2916
  The orchard, retail market, bakery, Christmas store and gift shop are open year-round. An Apple Butter Stir and Craft Show is held in October.
  
  
• Mapleside Farms
  294 Pearl Rd., Brunswick
  330/225-5577, 330/225-5576 (restaurant)
  www.mapleside.com
  Explore the farm's more than 24 apple varieties (not all 24 varieties may be present at one time) and bag your own in the fall. Then stop in at the restaurant, bakery and applehouse.
  
  
• Ramseyer Farms
  3488 Akron Road, Wooster
  330/264-0264
  www.ramseyerfarms.com
  Much more than just your typical farm market, Ramseyer Farms not only offers U-Pick pumpkins, gourds, straw bales, corn stalks and Indian corn, the Farm also features four amazing corn mazes and hayrides.
  
  
• Renick's Family Market
  U.S. Rte. 23, 15 miles south of Columbus
  740/983-3096
  This family market features fresh handpicked produce daily, baked goods, a seasonal corn roast, pick your own pumpkins, Corn Maze, Lil' Farmers play yard, Amish meats, cheeses and gift shop.
  
  
• Ridgeview Farm Market
  5488 Kinsman Rd (State Rt. 87), Middlefield
  440/693-4000
  Ridgeview sells pick-your-own or pre-picked fresh produce Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from May through October and re-opens in December to sell Christmas trees.
  
  
• Rimelspach Produce Market
  3212 Darr Rd., Fremont
  419/334-4100
  This retail produce market has a pumpkin display that will stop anyone in their tracks. Come by and see this "work of art" and purchase a variety of fresh produce.
  
  
• Rhoads Farm Market Garden Center and Floral Shop
  1051 St. Rte. 56 E., Circleville
  740/474-2028
  www.rhoadsfarmmarket.com
  In October, pick your own pumpkin or reserve your Christmas tree (the first two weekends in October).
  
  
• Wesler Orchards and Farm Market
  9319 Wesler Rd., New Paris
  937/437-8921
  This retail farm market, in business since 1930, is open year-round, offering apples, pears, peaches and grapes.
  
  
• White House Fruit Farm Inc.
  9249 St. Rte. 62, Canfield
  330/533-4161
  www.whitehousefruitfarm.com
  In business since 1924, the farm has one of the most varied farm markets in Ohio - offering pumpkins, apples, peaches, nectarines, strawberries and a wide range of vegetables. On weekends from the end of September through the end of October, tour the farm in horse-drawn wagon rides.
  
  
• Hurley Farm
  9249 St. Rte. 117, Huntsville
  937/686-4674
  Not only can you find delicious farm-fresh fruits and vegetables at this market, through October, you can participate in pumpkin painting and decorating or run through a cornfield maze.

A complete list of Ohio's farm markets is available free-of-charge through the Ohio Department of Agriculture. You can search the Ohio Farmers' Market Directory online or request a directory by calling 800/467-7683.

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