Like to do it yourself? Then grab your baskets and buckets, because whether you need a bushel of beans or are simply interested in a fun and economical way to enjoy the freshest produce available, the southern Ohio Valley is a rich agri-center of fruits, vegetables, and flowers at your fingertips. Check websites or call ahead for availability.
OHIO
Dale Stokes Raspberry Farm
2822 Center Rd., Wilmington, (937) 382-4004
Raspberry lovers, meet nirvana. At more than 40 acres, it’s one of the largest raspberry farms in the eastern U.S. They also offer blackberries and strawberries, along with pre-picked produce.
Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm
2391 Martinsville Rd., Martinsville, (513) 322-2415, peacefulacreslavenderfarm.com
Looking for peace and serenity? You’ll likely find it at Ohio’s largest organic lavender farm, where you can not only pick lavender, flowers, herbs, and spices, but also get a massage or attend a yoga class.
Breezy Acres Fruit Farm
3470 Waynesville-Jamestown Rd., Xenia, (937) 372-2436
A sweet bounty of apples, pears, plums, peaches, and raspberries await your nimble fingers. You can also purchase cider, jams, and jellies.
Granny’s Garden School
550 Loveland-Madeira Rd., Loveland, (513) 324-2873, grannysgardenschool.com
Join the club for a suggested donation of $35 and you can create your own floral display—up to 24 stems per bouquet, 10 bouquets per season. Granny’s offers a variety of flowers including zinnias, hydrangeas, roses, canna lilies, and dahlias.
Tüken’s Orchard & Farm Market
15725 Eaton Pike, West Alexandria, (937) 687-3848, tukensfarmmarket.com
In addition to the more familiar apples, beans, beets, cherries, pears, peaches, plums, raspberries, strawberries, and tomatoes, Tüken’s specializes in such hard-to-find fruits as currants, gooseberries, and nectarines.
Wesler Orchards
9319 Wesler Rd., New Paris, (937) 437-8921, weslerorchards.com
Those who savor the sweetness of Concord grapes are in luck: This orchard is one of the few to offer them. They also have apples and pumpkins.
Brumbaugh Fruit Farm
6420 Arcanum-Hollansburg Rd., Arcanum, (937) 692-8084, brumbaughfruitfarm.com
U-pick ’em and pet ’em: After loading up on apples, cherries, pumpkins, and strawberries, kids can enjoy the pony rides, mazes, and petting zoo. Lovebirds looking to U-tie ’em might be interested in exchanging “I dos” in Brumbaugh’s scenic countryside.
Barn-n-Bunk Farm Market
3677 Wayne-Madison Rd., Trenton, (513) 988-9211, barnnbunk.com
Bean lovers unite! Barn ‘n’ Bunk offers half-runner beans, stringless beans, greasy beans, and Roma beans. Snow peas are available as well.
KENTUCKY
Reed Valley Orchard
239 Lail Lane, Paris, (859) 987-6480, reedvalleyorchard.com
Ever bitten into a Pixie Crunch apple? How about a Red Spy or Brushy Mountain? Whether you’re looking to try something new or stick to the classics (including Gala, Fuji, and Granny Smith), you’ll find it here. Pears, peaches, blueberries, black raspberries, and pumpkins also available.
Goose Creek Berries
1287 Newtown Pike, Georgetown, (502) 316-4336, goosecreekberries.com
The name may say berries, but veggie lovers will feel right at home. Beans, beets, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, sweet corn, cucumbers, onions, peas, and peppers are offered in addition to blackberries, strawberries, and tomatoes.
Benton Farms
11946 Old Lexington Pike, Boone County, Walton, (859) 485-7000,
For those overwhelmed by too many options, Benton keeps it simple: sweet corn, green beans, soy beans, blackberries, tomatoes, and pumpkins. The 260 rolling acres also make for a beautiful place to get married or send kids to camp.
Barker’s Blackberry Hill Winery
16629 Mount Zion-Verona Rd., Crittenden, (859) 428-0377
With over four acres of picking, you’re sure to walk away with buckets full of sweet-tart blackberries. Don’t forget to sample the blackberry and cherry wines, or mead. You can also book a tour of the winery.
INDIANA
Berry Patch
9569 Yorkridge Rd., Guilford, (812) 623-1433
There’s no competing with Mother Nature at this Hoosier farm. Blueberries are kept safely from birds under netting. They also offer strawberries.
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