Sunshine, strawberries and local finds: Northeast Ohio farm market photo tour

If you’ve never experienced it for yourself, trust me when I say there’s nothing quite like summertime on the Great Lakes.

The area surrounding Lake Erie in Northern Ohio sits at a unique intersection between classic Americana summer fun and productive, dirty-boots farm country: there’s mega roller coaster destination Cedar Point in nearby Sandusky, a major tourist draw that brings in crowds from all over the Midwest; you also have Lake Erie walleye and perch fishing until winter hits; not to mention some fantastic golf courses, wineries and lakeside resorts.

Take a quick photo tour with us as we visit a trio of farm market and agritourism destinations across the region before truckin’ on back to Cleveland to hit an urban Saturday morning farmer’s market that has unlocked access to fresh fruits, vegetables, locally raised meat and honey as well as other local products for city folks since 1995.

Stop #1: Novotny Farm Market, Vermillion, Ohio

A few blocks south of Lake Erie and the town’s cozy central business district, in the old school fishing village of Vermillion, sits owner Brian Novotny’s pride and joy, Novotny Farm Market. This small but popular local shop is known for its wide selection of concrete garden statues—Novotny says its Sasquatch figures are a main draw—as well as bedding plants, hanging baskets, combo planters and fresh, locally grown vegetables harvested from a field right down the street. The market also has a small indoor garden center featuring locally-produced specialty fertilizers and products for the home gardener.

“It’s a very good location, I suppose we got lucky on that,” said Novotny, noting this spring’s cold, grey weather resulted in a bit of a slow start to the spring shopping season. “It’s kind of unique that you can come here and buy a concrete Sasquatch, fresh locally-grown strawberries or produce when they are in season, and we have a drive-thru with beer and wine and such, and you can pick up some vegetable starter or bedding plants for your gardens. There’s just a lot of unique stuff in one place.”

Stop #2: Burnham Orchards, Berlin Heights, Ohio

Head south out of Vermillion on State Route 60 for a handful of miles, take a right turn when you get to State Route 113 and bask in the fresh lake air breeze, sunshine and gently rolling corn and soybean farm dotted countryside before you eventually run into the farm market and agritourism destination that is Burnham Orchards.

This gem has something for everyone: it is a commercial apple orchard with a wide selection of homegrown fruits and vegetables, and it also boasts an on-site cidery and taphouse, Redhead Ciderhouse, as well as Grandma Bea’s Bakery with fresh baked apple cider donuts, pies, cookies and other savory delights. Pick-your-own as well as a plethora of fall farm festival activities are a draw for local families.

Stop #3: The Chef’s Garden, Huron, Ohio

If you’re a fan of fresh produce then no visit to the Lake Erie Islands region would be complete without a stop in to the farm market at The Chef’s Garden, a sprawling specialty crop farming operation just south of the sleepy fishing town of Huron.

This operation got its start selling direct to local restaurants, chefs and at local farmer’s markets before opening an on-farm market in 1981. After a fire in 2019 destroyed the original barn structure that housed the market, farmer Lee Jones and his family rebuilt a brand new, state-of-the-art farm market right on the same spot.

The farm says it fully embraces the ethos of regenerative agriculture, enticing local chefs and foodies with abundant homegrown fruits, microgreens, heirloom vegetables and edible flowers. The shop also curates an extensive collection of locally-produced wines, baked and canned goods, sustainably raised meats and organic soaps along with other health and beauty products.

If you want to dig deeper into what makes The Chef’s Garden such a unique agritourism destination, the farm hosts a series of rotating farm tours every Saturday.

Bonus stop: North Union Farmer’s Market, Shaker Heights, Ohio

For over three decades, North Union Farmers Market says it has been championing local food, supporting small farms and fostering vibrant communities across Northeast Ohio. It’s organizers also host the popular Cleveland Garlic Festival every August and its fall Harvest Market in October.

In 2024 alone, organizers of this seasonal (April-December), Saturday morning farmer’s market say their efforts have:

• Helped incubate over 350 small businesses—including 100 farmers, 70 artisans, 45 nonprofits and 130 food purveyors.
• Supported 10,000+ acres of Ohio farmland—helping local farms stay sustainable and thrive.
• Distributed over $120,000 in food assistance programs—ensuring fresh, healthy food is accessible to all.

-by Matthew J. Grassi, managing editor

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