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Despite weather challenges, farm markets are looking forward to a good year
Peaches and strawberries may not have much in common with soybeans and corn, but in terms of the 2025 growing season, comments from some Indiana Farm Bureau members who operate farm markets will sound familiar to row-crop farmers.
“It’s wet,” said Jerry Chandler, who with other family members operates Chandler’s Orchard and Country Market, which is near the Hendricks-Putnam County line. “We still have 500 apple trees to plant and 2,500 strawberry plants,” Chandler said in early May.
“We don’t have any vegetables in yet – it’s been too wet,” noted Kristi Schulz, who with her husband Tim owns and operates Countryside Orchard in Vanderburgh County. The farm has heavy clay soil, and that has impacted the work, she explained.
While some of Indiana’s on-farm markets are open year-round, many have just opened or will be opening soon. Below are progress reports from five farm market operations.
Chandler’s Orchard and Country Market, Fillmore, Indiana – The farm store is open year-round. Apples are important to Chandler’s, but the market also offers its own strawberries, raspberries, pears, tomatoes, sweet corn, honey, pumpkins and other locally grown produce. The store usually starts offering its own strawberries beginning Memorial Day.
In addition, the farm has a food trailer on weekends, offering all sorts of food made right on the truck: lamb burgers, pork burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, fried baloney sandwiches and desserts based on what Chandler’s raises and what is in season.
“We keep it simple,” said Matt Chandler.
Aside from the lingering effects of a very wet spring, things are so far going well this year, added Jerry Chandler. As of early May when he was interviewed for this article, Chandler said he’s not too worried. “I don’t sweat a lot of the stuff I used to,” he added.
Countryside Orchard, Evansville, Indiana – Located in northern Vanderburgh County, Countryside was as of early May planning to open for the season around the first of June. The exact date depends on when they have something to sell, said Kristi Schulz, and this year, they are hoping to have sweet cherries.
“We don’t have a great fruit set yet,” she explained. “It just depends on the weather.” Countryside’s main crops, though, are peaches, apples and pumpkins, and while there’s no way to tell about the pumpkins yet, both peaches and apples are looking really good, she said. Once it dries out a bit, the farm also will plant a selection of vegetables. “Adding on to the garden allows us to maximize people’s visits,” Schulz said.
Another thing that Countryside has had in abundance this year is rain, rain, rain, including a 7-inch rain event in April. And yet there will of course be weeks in which there is almost no rain. As one means of addressing this issue, the farm has partnered with their local Soil & Water Conservation District to create a “rain harvesting” system that can collect up to 5,000 gallons of rainwater. So far, the system is working beautifully, Schulz said.
Harker Family Orchard, Waldron, Indiana – Peaches, apples, nectarines and plums are the orchard’s main crops, but they also produce cherries and berries as well as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, green beans and onions. And, of course, sweet corn.
“We have raised and sold sweet corn at farmers markets for 40 years,” said Debbie Harker. “That’s how we got started.”
Despite a rainy spring, the Harkers got some sweet corn and other vegetables out early, and it looks as though all the fruit trees will have a crop. The farm store generally opens in early July, she added.
The Harkers still produce corn and soybeans, and that makes it a little tricky to allow people to roam around the farm to pick their own fruits and vegetables.
“We’re just not really set up for U-pick,” she added. Instead, the Harkers offer their fresh produce ready-picked in their store.
Huber’s Orchard & Winery, Borden, Indiana – Huber’s is open year-round, but strawberry season is a big deal there.
“We expect strawberries by late May,” said marketing director Lise Kruer. They will be available either U-pick or already picked and ready in the store. Those will be followed by blueberries, blackberries, some farm-grown peaches and apples – “The apples look really good for fall,” Kruer said.
They also offer seasonal produce, jams and preserves, cider and baked goods, as well as sunflowers and zinnias starting in late June, pumpkins in the fall and Christmas trees after Thanksgiving.
Stuckwish Farm Market, Vallonia, Indiana – The wholesale market is important to Stuckwish Farm Market, but this time of year the main focus is the greenhouse, which offers annuals, hanging baskets, vegetable plants and herbs, said Ryan Stuckwish. The next major offering will be strawberries, followed by vegetables and cantaloupe, raised in high tunnels so they are available a little earlier than usual.
“We usually pick sweet corn by the end of June,” Stuckwish said. “We like to have the big three for 4th of July – sweet corn, cantaloupe and tomatoes.”
In the middle of July, watermelons start becoming available, and after that comes the fall produce, decorative squash and pumpkins.
A new addition are eggs. The main reason for adding eggs to the farm’s list of products was to provide a way for Stuckwish’s children to get involved but, “It was perfect timing with all the egg chaos” caused by avian influenza, he said.
Chandler’s Orchard and Country Market
Fillmore, Indiana
317-539-6255
Countryside Orchard
Evansville, Indiana
812-490-9559
Harker Family Orchard
Waldron, Indiana
765-525-9755
Huber’s Orchard & Winery
Borden, Indiana
812-923-9463
Stuckwish Farm Market
Vallonia, Indiana
812-799-8549
