SHIPPENVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — Autumn means a bit more than just pumpkins at Zacherl’s Farm Market this year.
According to co-owner Bud Zacherl, they’re bringing back an old tradition for the fall season this year.
“My grandfather used to do hayrides probably about ten years ago,” Zacherl told exploreClarion.com.
“We had a lot of schools come in for small tours and stuff, so we kind of wanted to start out with that again.”
Currently, the market is offering hayrides on the remaining Saturdays in October (October 12, 19, and 26) from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
“There’s not much planted out there right now, but people really like to do that in the fall, and we do plant all of our own pumpkins and gourds here. The kids like to see where they come from.”
They will also be setting up a pumpkin patch behind the main building.
“We’re going to do a small staged pumpkin patch for little kids. We have little wagons they can pull into the field and get their pumpkins.”
For this year, they will only be offering the pumpkin patch and hayrides for the three Saturdays in October, but looking ahead, they may be offering more in the future.
Zacherl’s purchased several items from retired Paul Stahlman, of Paul’s Pumpkin Patch in Frogtown, but they aren’t ready to do more than the hayrides and the small pumpkin patch this year.
“I’m just trying to do something for the community,” Zacherl said.
Along with the upcoming activities, the market still has a variety of fall produce — from carving pumpkins and pie pumpkins to potatoes, peppers, apples, cabbage, Indian corn, gourds, decorative corn stalks, spider balls, and a range of squash, including Butternut, Acorn, Spaghetti, Delicata, Blue Hubbard, and Red October.
The large bags of cabbage have been particularly popular.
“It’s picking up really well. Right now we do about a bin a day, but it will get busier. People are making their sauerkraut for New Year’s.”
As they make their way through their current stock of produce, they’ll begin preparing to bring their operating season to a close at the end of the month.
“We’re open until November 1st.”
Zacherl’s Farm Market plans to reopen at the beginning of July 2020.
