Area berry farms
Champaign Berry Farm: 2560 South Mutual Union Road, Mutual, (937) 653-7525
Goddard Brothers: 6253 Ohio 55, Urbana, (937) 788-2540
Maize Berry Patch: 8657 Axehandle Road, Milford Center, (937) 604-1609
Berryland: 9530 Plattsburg Road, South Charleston, (937) 568-4312
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY— Debra McCrindle, of Orlando, Fla., is fearless when reaching into a berry patch, a fact she proudly pointed out as she displayed several tiny pink thorn scratches on her legs.
McCrindle, who was in town visiting her cousin Becky Perona, of Columbus, was one of hundreds of visitors this summer who have flocked to the Champaign Berry Farm in Mutual. Like many of those residents, McCrindle said she was seeking black raspberries, a specialty for the farm, owned by Mike Pullins and his wife, Cathy.
“It’s very soul-satisfying to do this kind of thing,” McCrindle said of berry picking.
Despite a particularly tough winter that led to a small crop this year, Mike Pullins said the crowds at his farm have actually increased this year. While the farm has had to devote most of its attention to pick-your-own customers instead of wholesalers this year, business has been steady.
The crowds at the farm have been overwhelming at times, with numerous cars lined up in that parking lot each morning, he said.
“It’s a good problem to have, I guess, when you have more customers than in prior years,” Mike Pullins said.
The farm has been growing the black raspberries — a special variety that is rarely found in grocery stores — for more than 15 years. There is only a short window in which customers can buy the berries because the season only lasts about three weeks.
One reason for the crowds may be the recent interest in eating healthy and buying local produce, Mike Pullins said. The black raspberries in particular are full of anthocyanins, which are responsible for the dark color of the berries and also act as an antioxidant.
“The buying local thing is more than a fad,” Mike Pullins said. “The people have a good experience, and they know where their food is coming from.”
Other berry farms in the area have also fared well. Pullins said unlike some businesses, growers generally try to help each other rather than compete.
While
Ryan Goddard, of Goddard Brothers Farms in Urbana, said although they’ve only been in business for about two years, they’ve also seen big crowds on their two-acre berry farm.
That’s good news for customers like McCrindle.
“I’m going to pick until I don’t have enough money to pay for it,” she joked.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.
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