While Ohio might be known for its corn and soybean production, those who work in the fresh produce industry say the Buckeye State is also well suited for vegetable production.
Laxmi Tota, marketing manager at DNO Produce, a family-owned provider of fresh-cut and bulk produce in Columbus, Ohio, said USDA data shows the state boasts about 14.9 million acres of farmland, with about 44% of the state’s total land in agriculture, making it one of the state’s top-performing industries.
“Ohio is an excellent place to grow vegetables thanks to its abundant farmland, favorable climate, and rich soil,” she said.
While agriculture might make up a significant portion of the state’s economy, consumers don’t think of Ohio as a vegetable-growing state, said Chad Buurma, president of Willard, Ohio-based Buurma Farms.
“Vegetables in Ohio is kind of underrated, where people don’t think about Ohio,” Buurma said. “You’ve got five months in June through November where you’re going to get a really fresh product, and it’s going to be in your backyard. And if we can get that image out there that, hey, Ohio is for real when it comes to vegetables, it’s going to be just great for the state. I think it’s going to be great for the growth of Ohio vegetables.”
Why Ohio
Tota said the Buckeye State’s temperate climate of warm summers and mild spring and fall seasons provides an extended growing period for a variety of crops.
“The state’s fertile, well-drained soils further support healthy plant growth and high yields,” she said. “These conditions are especially well suited for cool-weather vegetables like onions, lettuce, carrots and other root vegetables, which thrive in Ohio’s environment.”
Kirk Holthouse, director of sales and purchasing for Willard-based Holthouse Farms of Ohio, said the state’s various soil types suit different crops grown, such as muck soil for wet crops and heavier soils for vine crops.
“We have a good water supply, and it’s not too hot. It’s just about right,” he said. “We are extremely proud of being in the state that not only produces the best college football, but we feel like it’s some of the best produce in the country.”
Buurma said the Ohio’s location and proximity to so many locations is an advantage when it comes to freshness.
“We’re an overnight delivery for about 70% of the population,” he said. “I’m going to be three days fresher locally here or even going to the East Coast or maybe down into Georgia or even up to Chicago and the Midwest than California.”
Buurma said a majority of his farm’s customer base is local, and those local retailers do a great job of promoting Ohio-grown produce as well as understanding its benefits.
“I think it’s because they realize that they have the freshest product available to them in their backyard, and they do a great job of supporting us,” he explained. “We have a pretty good relationship with all of our local, regional chains. We do some food service, too, and they see that freshness is important.”
Nick Middleton, vice president of supply chain for DNO Produce, said he’s seen an increase in demand for Ohio-grown produce, especially as consumers continue to be more aware of supply chains and where their produce comes from.
“Institutional buyers like schools and hospitals are actively working to meet ‘Buy Local’ goals, further boosting demand,” Middleton said. “Across both retail and wholesale markets, consumers are prioritizing freshness, sustainability and community impact, making local produce more desirable than ever.”
Changes in Planting
Buurma said he and his team tweak planting schedules from year to year based on a five-or-six-year history of trends.
“We’ve increased a few items like napa and bok choy over the last couple of years,” he explained. “We’ve dropped white corn, but we still continue to grow bicolor and yellow corn, and those were always our bigger movers.”
Buurma said the move was also a way for crews to be more efficient, with the rising cost of H-2A labor.
“When you have one corn crew and you’re moving them over for a few 100 cases of white, and then you can sit there and pull a few 1,000 cases of bicolor and yellow, that move to white [harvest] sometimes cause some inefficiencies.”
Middleton also said he’s seen a change in demand from consumers and a shift in demographics.
“Ohio growers are responding to shifting demographics and culinary trends with increased interest in ethnic and specialty vegetables like Asian greens, specialty peppers, and heirloom tomatoes,” he said.
Middleton said growers have also added high tunnels and hoop houses to offer almost year-round production of spinach, kale and lettuce.
“Some growers are experimenting with value-added crops — including baby root vegetables, microgreens and snack-sized produce — to better serve foodservice and retail markets,” he said.
Holthouse, whose farm offers a full line of vegetables year round, said there’s a balance when it comes to changing consumer preferences.
“We really try to grow what we can sell, what we know we can sell,” he said. “People like to buy product that’s grown in their backyard because they know it’s fresher. It’s grown in the morning, and they can pick it up or they can buy it the next day, off the store shelves or at the restaurants or wherever, and it just tastes better. It’s better for you. And if you’re buying it in the store, it will hold up longer in your in your refrigerator.”
Challenges
Rising costs of everything from vegetable seeds to inputs have impacted Ohio growers, said Tota, who added that local food purchase programs such as Ohio CAN (community, agriculture and nutrition) help support the long-term viability of Ohio’s agricultural economy.
“Farmers across the country — including right here in Ohio — are facing increasing challenges as the cost of doing business continues to rise,” she said. “It’s becoming harder for small and midsized farms to stay afloat, which is why programs that support local sourcing are so critical.”
Middleton said labor availability is another major issue for growers in the state. Other challenges such as weather and the pest pressure that follows can also be a lot for growers to handle.
“Unpredictable weather patterns, including drought and late-season storms, can negatively impact crop yields and quality,” he said. “Additionally, growers must contend with disease pressure and pest management issues, particularly in sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers.”
And while tariffs haven’t made a significant impact, Middleton said it is something he is monitoring.
“A lot of chemical and fertilizer prices are back down near COVID levels,” he said. “Will they creep back up? That remains to be seen, so we’ll just keep an eye on that.”
Current Season Outlook
While it’s early for a lot of vegetable crops, growers say this season is shaping up well.
Holthouse said the season started a little slow with a cold and wet end of May.
“The first couple weeks of June have been very nice, warm, and stuff is coming along,” he said. “We’re happy with where things are at.”
Holthouse said some crops that are starting to come online are zucchini, yellow squash, radishes and some lettuce, but it’s a small amount right now; that’s a good thing, he said, as other parts of the country have had some good production, and the marketplace is currently full.
“There is an absolute oversupply of product in the United States, especially east of the Mississippi right now,” Holthouse said. “Every state — Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Kentucky — they’re all going with some of the same items, and it’s just so much excess product that it makes it tough to sell anything profitably.”
Buurma said crops look like they’re on schedule. He said his farm has been dry, but not too dry, with timely rains that have set everything up well.
“We’re right on schedule,” he said. “As far as harvesting and planting, we’re in good shape. We’re right where we want to be.”
Although it might have been a slow start in spring, with a warm June, Buurma said crops have caught up.
“If you can catch a warm June, you catch right back up, and that’s what’s happened with us,” he said. “Quality looks good. Supplies look good on everything right now.”
