Ohio Fall Foliage 2006

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.net
    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 http://www.athensfarmersmarket.org
    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.

  • 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
    http://www.circlesfarm.com
    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
    937/335-6983
    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.

  • Jacquemin Farms 
    7437 Hyland-Croy Rd Plain City, 
    (614) 873-5725
    www.jacqueminfarms.com
    We have a "Fall Fun Days" weekends in October. Fun Days include: straw maze, kiddie playland, hayrides, inflatables, pumpkin picking and school field trips.

  • 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
    http://www.macqueenorchards.com/
    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.

  • Maize Valley Farm Market & Winery
    • 6193 Edison Street Hartville
    (330) 877-8344
    www.maizevalley.com
    Corn maze, wagon rides, petting pasture, café/restaurant, pumpkin picking, school tours, cruisin', summer concerts. Groups and buses welcome.

  • 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
    http://www.ridgeviewfarmtours.com/
    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
    http://www.weslerorchards.com/
    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.

You can find a complete list of Ohio's farm markets on the Ohio Department of Agriculture's site! Search the Ohio Farmers' Market Directory online or on Discover Ohio.