Crumb Trail

Dafforn's Sweet Corn & Produce, Yoder, IN:

On my Friday visit to Dafforn's Sweet Corn and Produce in Yoder, IN, I was delighted to find their farm stand in full swing.  The cantaloupe smelled wonderful, and I quickly picked one out.

Then I moved on to the table that onions, acorn squash, tomatoes (large red slicing tomatoes and yellow grape tomatoes), and then of course their specialty, sweet corn! 

This year they are also carrying local honey from the Rekeweg Honey Company in Decatur, IN and pop corn in several different varieties as well as a microwave option (which I bought).  The pop corn is from Glancy's (Perry & Rachelle Glancy in Decatur, IN.

So I left there with honey, popcorn, cantaloupe, onions, and cherry tomatoes ( I already have some corn), knowing I will be back to visit them soon.

The address for this farm is 1616 E 1200 N, Yoder, IN.  They are located 1 1/4 mile off State Rd 1, on the county line road that divides Allen and Wells Counties, just north of Ossian.

Hardy's Farm Market opens tomorrow, 7-15-09

A sure sign that corn grown in Allen County will soon be available, is the opening of Hardy's Farm Market in Fort Wayne.  Located at 4525 Knoll Rd, their farm will have available again this season: cabbage, peppers, summer squash, zucchini, green beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, honey, and beautiful gladiolus.  What this farm is truly known for though is its succulent corn.  Now when corn and tomatoes are available in Allen County, we know that summer has really arrived.

Their hours at the farm on Knoll Rd are Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm.

Hardy's also sells their produce at the Barr Street Market on Saturdays and the Jefferson Pointe Farmers Market on Wednesdays.

Barr Street Market to open this weekend

Everyone is ready for the opening of the Barr Street Market in Fort Wayne and it is happening this Saturday, July 11th. The market is located at the corner of Wayne Street and Barr Street.  I can't wait to be there and see which vendors have returned and if there is anyone new.  The hours this year are from 8am to 12noon.  Be sure to make this a part of your Three Rivers Festival outings.

Nelson's Farm Produce, Huntington, IN is open!

Nelson's is open Monday thru Friday from 10am to 6pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 3pm.  Right now they have available onions, red potatoes, zucchini, summer squash, beets, and beans.  Everything is coming on beautifully and in two weeks corn and much more will be available.  Nelson's Farm Produce is located at 6114 N  Hwy 24 E  Huntington, IN.  If you have questions about what they are offering prior to your going there, given them a call at 260-672-9618.

Dates Farm Stands and Farmers Markets Open in 2009

This past Friday morning, I had a brain storm of sorts.  It came to me that I could have a list of all the Farm Stands and Farmers Markets, that I am aware of and have visited, and post whether or not they have opened for the 2009 season.  Under the constraints of my blog host which limits the amount of information I can provide in that format, I was able to add a snippet of information on location, weekday open, and hours, when that info was available.  I have added this to my blog site in the left hand column, almost at the top, under the heading Dates Farm Stands and Farmers Markets Open in 2009.  This provides a quick reference for anyone looking to find a market or stand close to them and and if it has opened.  If you are aware of any others or have more info on the one's I have listed, please let me know.

Cedar Creek Produce--Strawberries, Asparagus, and more

If you are looking the the sweetest strawberries of the season, and beautiful home grown asparagus (for $3/pound), head to Cedar Creek Produce in Leo.  You won't be disappointed. There you will also find large potted tomato plants (and I mean 4 ft tall with big green tomatoes already on them) in seven or eight different varieties.  They also have hanging tomato plants for sale.  

You will also find tomatoes that have been grown and ripened in their greenhouse, and their own honey, brown eggs, Anderson fertilizer, and hanging flower baskets. More of their personally grown produce will be available as the season progresses (rhubarb, melons, zucchini, potatoes, peppers, squash, and cucumbers).  Scheduling begins in June for u-pick strawberries.  Call 260-438-1257.

The farm stand is open 9am to 6pm, seven days a week during the produce producing season and is located  at 11709 Clay Street, Leo, IN.

Country Garden & Farm Market CSA

This year, Dan & Wendy Flotow, owners of Country Garden & Farm Market, 14110 US 24 West, Roanoke, offered a Work Shares program in their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).  That offering is full now, but you can ask to be placed on a waiting list if an opening would become available.  They still are enrolling paying members for Summer 2009.  Their CSA offers produce from June 1st through October 12th this year.  Cost of shares are as follows:

    20 week full bag $500  and a half bag (enough for two people) is $300
    10 week full bag $250  and a half bag is $150

You can pick up your share at one of three locations:

    Mondays at Country Gardens Farm, 141110 US 24 West, Roanoke
    Wednesdays at Solomon's Farm, 817 W Dupont Rd, Fort Wayne
    Thursdays at Do It Best, 1203 West State Blvd, Fort Wayne

Your weekly share will will contain the vegetables that have ripened that week and will include Lettuce/Greens, Spinach, Broccoli, Cabbage, Sweet Corn, Green Peppers, Tomatoes, Herbs and much more.  The Flotow's Farm is Certified Organic, so what more could you ask for than locally grown and highly nutritious.

If you are interested in purchasing a share or more information on "work shares", please contact the Flotows at 260-672-1254.

Schmucker's Produce Farm, Spring 2009 Update

This past Friday I made another visit to Schmucker's Produce Farm, 12815 Doty Rd, New Haven.  Their hours April through October are Monday-Saturday 9 am to 5pm, they are always closed on Sundays.  Inside the "store" area, along with all their usual packaged and canned goods, I found eight different varieties of seed potatoes for sale and eleven different varieties of onion sets as well as their own packaged seed packets for corn as well as other vegetables. 

The rear doors of the store were open and just outside those doors in an open area, were well established potted horseradish plants, asparagus plants, rhubarb plants, and different greens (lettuces, cabbages, and kale).  This area led to the greenhouses which were open and filled to the brim with vegetable and flower plants.  They have tomato, cucumber, zucchini, cantaloupe, strawberry, eggplant, pepper, okra, and assorted herbs, just to name a few, ready to be planted in your garden or container.  Beautiful flowers for planting as well as pots of mixed plants and hanging baskets, are ready for your porch or patio (12" potted geraniums for $12.95).  The prices were excellent so be sure to visit them and see what they have or even just roam through the store and greenhouse to soak in the signs and smells of Spring.

While you are on Doty Rd, don't forget to slip on down the road a mile or so and visit Milan Center Feed & Grain.

Bruick Brothers Orchard

Beautiful, perfect apples!  Pick your own or buy ready picked in the farm store.  This orchard is located  at 12818 Edgerton Road, New Haven, IN.   Easy to find from either the 469 and Hwy 24 interchange or the 469 and Rt 30 interchange as the farm is located between Hwy 30 and Hwy 24 just east of the interchanges. 

Prime for picking right now are their Cortland, Gala, Jonathon, Fuji, Spigold, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Empire.  Starting September 27th they will have Ida Red and then on October 2nd Rome and Mutsu should be available.  U-pick hours are Saturdays and Sundays 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday - Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

They also have available their own apple butter, and apple cider, as well  as pumpkins, mini-pumpkins, gourds, squash, tomatoes, and mums.

If you have any questions or need directions they can be reached at (260) 749-0891.

a small Amish farm stand

Located just off of SR 37 and just North of the 469 and SR37 interchange, is Ehle Rd.  This farm's address is 14030 Ehle Road and it is a treat.  They will still have corn for one more week, and right now they have beautiful cherry tomatoes, red tomatoes, sweet onions, red potatoes, butternut and spaghetti squash as well as pumpkins.  All are at prices that you will be hard pressed to beat by shopping anywhere else.