Cleveland could learn a lot from the local food movement. You don’t save just gas by shopping for produce grown close to home: You also get a fresher, more nutritious product. Buying from small Ohio farms is supporting small local business. It also introduces you to a variety of food that might not be on your radar at the local supermarket.
Same goes for music, theater, our favorite sports teams, the art
scene and more — especially in the fall. This is the season when
theater companies get back onstage after their summer break, orchestras
go back to the concert halls, the galleries get busy and the Browns do
whatever it is that they do. It’s harvest time: time to reap what
Northeast Ohio’s culture has sown. On the following pages you’ll find
our previews and picks of things to do around town — from the
arts to sports to fall festivals.
To start things off, some picking and grinning.
EAST
BLUE JAY ORCHARD
17909 Rapids Rd, Hiram, 440.834.4318
As far as the owners can tell, Blue Jay Orchard is the
longest-running pick-your own orchard in Ohio, having allowed folks to
pluck apples from their trees since 1948 (Fridays, Saturdays and
Sundays, Sept. 26 through Halloween). They have both new and classic
varieties, including Mollies Delicious, Cortland, McIntosh, Ozark Gold,
Gala, Macoun, Empire and Winesap. They also offer cider. Hours:
Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
MONROE’S ORCHARD
6313 Pioneer Trail, Hiram, 330.569.7464
The former Pioneer Trail Orchard changed its name a few years ago
but continues to offer 23 varieties of apples (you can pick them
yourself on weekends through October), plus Bartlett pears, red
raspberries and cider pressed on site. On September 26 and October 3,
they’ll also have wagon rides and a farm-animal petting zoo with free
admission. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
PATTERSON FRUIT FARM
11414 Caves Rd., Chesterland, 440.729.9809
Family-owned and -operated since the early 1800s (now with
seventh-generation kids starting to work on the farm), Patterson offers
more than 20 varieties of apples with pick-your-own option when
varieties are ripe. On the weekends, they’ll even give you a ride on a
wagon. Hours: Weekdays, 2-6 p.m.; weekends, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
WEST
HILLCREST ORCHARDS
50336 Telegraph Rd., Amherst, 440.965.8884
This fourth-generation apple farm has an activity barn with a crate
maze, animals and pick-your-own pumpkins and apples. Among the 19
varieties of apples you’ll find are McIntosh, Cortland, Jonathan, Red
Delicious, Empire, Golden Delicious, Melrose, Mutsu, Winesap and Granny
Smith. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
GROBE FRUIT FARM
43875 Telegraph Rd, Elyria, 440.322.8312
Grobe’s doesn’t have a pick-your-own option, but it sells 20
varieties of apples, presses its own cider and offers potatoes, corn
and other vegetables grown on the farm at its fruit stand. Hours: 9
a.m.-6 p.m. daily, through Halloween.
MILLER ORCHARDS
8690 Vermilion Road, Amherst, 440.988.8405
Family owned since the mid-1800s, Miller Orchards offers 15
varieties of pick-your-own apples as they ripen, plus dozens of others.
Hours: Mon-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
SPIEGELBERG ORCHARDS
6161 Middle Ridge Road, Lorain, 440.233.6083
A family-run farm market offering fresh produce including apples,
peaches and pears grown on the family’s farm, plus fresh cider. Hours:
Daily 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (7 p.m. on Fridays).
SOUTH
Beckwith Orchards, Bakery
and Gift Shop
1617 Lake Rockwell Rd., Kent, 330.673.6433
Stroll the orchards and check out 25 varieties of apples, including
favorites like Honey Crisp, Melrose, Jonagold, McIntosh, Cortland,
Northern Spies and Winesap. Beckwith presents its fall festival October
10 and 11, featuring the folk and bluegrass ensemble Fish Creek, plus
samples of everything grown there. Fresh pies will be available. Guided
tours for schools and any group of 15 or more. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
daily.
GEIGS ORCHARD
8468 Wooster Pike Rd., Seville, 330.769.3276
Great views from the hilly terrain south of Medina mark this orchard
and shop, which offers 20 varieties of apples, cider pressed on site,
pumpkins, canned goods processed on site, local honey and — when
the season is right — maple syrup. On October weekends you can
pick your own apples or take a hayride through the orchard. Hours:
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.
HILLSIDE ORCHARD AND
FARM MARKET
2397 Center Road, Hinckley, 330.225.4748
Hillside has 19 varieties of apples, and you can pick your own
(depending on what’s ripe) weekends until October 12, and then daily
through Halloween. The Fall Harvest Festival (Oct. 10-11) has plenty of
kids’ activities, including inflatable bouncy rooms, games, hayrides,
tours and alpacas to pet. If you go on a weekend late in October, you
can also pick your own pumpkins. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.;
Sun., 1-5 p.m.
MAPLESIDE FARMS
294 Pearl Rd, Brunswick, 330.225.5577
A favorite for Cleveland families for both proximity and catering to
kids, Mapleside offers 20 varieties of apples, plus peaches, corn and
other veggies. The cider is made from the farm’s own apples (but it’s
sent elsewhere for pressing). Mapleside has a festival of some kind
every weekend through October, beginning with a Johnny Appleseed Fest
(Sept. 19-20) that will feature 80 crafters selling their wares, plus
horse-drawn-wagon rides, a corn maze, bands, dance groups, pony rides,
bag-your-own (not pick-your-own) apples and apple-butter-making
demonstrations. Admission: Adults $3, ages 7-12 $1, 6 and under free.
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 10-6 p.m.
This article appears in Sep 16-22, 2009.