Farm Market Friday: Northeast Ohio photo tour part 2
Hit the road as we stop in at three Northeast Ohio farm market and agritourism operations. Check out the photo galleries.
Happy Farm Market Friday, folks!
After spending last Friday kicking around farm markets in the Lake Erie Islands region, this week we visit three markets throughout the greater Cleveland metropolitan area — Patterson Fruit Farm, Eddy Fruit Farm and Rainbow Farms.
Visiting with growers and market managers at each stop, it’s clear the hard winter had a lasting effect on this year’s fresh fruit and vegetable availability. Many crops that are normally ready for retail at this point in the year are anywhere from two to four weeks behind schedule, and the long, bitterly cold winter cut into some crop yields significantly.
Take a quick photo tour below and as always, if you’re able to be sure you get out and support your local farms and farm markets this summer. It’s a good idea to call ahead before you go to the market to ensure what you’re looking for is available, and please show patience and compassion for your farmer neighbors and community members. Many growers throughout the East Coast, Mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest are dealing with devastating crop losses, even with frost mitigation tools like row covers and overhead turbine fans in place.
Stop #1: Patterson Fruit Farm, Chesterland, Ohio
Patterson Fruit Farm is a sixth-generation family specialty crop operation that combines commercial tree fruit production with direct-to-consumer sales and agritourism. The farm grows a diverse mix including apples, peaches, strawberries, and maple products, while operating a year-round farm market, bakery, pick-your-own program and educational events for local school groups. Patterson is well-known throughout Northeast Ohio for its fresh cider and value-added farm market products, and the operation has become a local model for connecting consumers with agriculture, welcoming thousands of visitors annually through its farm market, school tours and seasonal attractions while maintaining its legacy of commercial fruit production and family feel.
Stop #2: Eddy Fruit Farm, Chesterland, Ohio
Eddy Fruit Farm is rooted in over 150 years of family farming tradition. The working farm is known for its extensive apple orchard —the operation lists 33 different apple varieties on it’s annual availability list — as well as other seasonal fruits, a small but well-stocked farm market and pick-your-own apples and grape from August to October. The farm provides customers with direct access to fresh, locally grown food and locally sourced products. Its reputation as a working family farm, combined with a strong commitment to quality and seasonality, has made Eddy Fruit Farm a local go-to for generations of local food enthusiasts.
Stop #3: Rainbow Farms, Madison, Ohio
Established in 1983 by Larry and Tina Klco, Rainbow Farms grows more than 40 crops across a staggering 150 varieties, including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, apples and a wide range of vegetables. The farm, which plants and hand-harvests across a mix of high tunnels and outdoor plots blessed with Eastern Lake County’s productive and well-draining silty-sand soil type, is located a stone’s throw from the shores of Lake Erie. so it also benefits from the lake’s unique micro climate. The operation combines fruit and vegetable production with a year-round farm market, CSA program, greenhouse production and seasonal pick-your-own opportunities.