Polter Berry Farm sees increased acreage

Fremont, Ohio-based Polter Berry Farm will farm a little more than 400 acres of vegetables, with major acreage of pumpkins, cabbage, bell peppers and strawberries.

“Our acreage is up slightly on bell pepper and pumpkins, and stable on all the others,” said Steve Polter, owner. 

Strawberries were peaking in early June, with bell peppers expected in top volume about Aug. 1.

Cabbage will have consistent supply and harvest from July 15 until November. Pumpkin shipments usually peak around the second week of October.

“We’ve managed to hit all our planting dates so far with the exception of pumpkins, which should be going in this week, but rain so delayed us,” Polter said. “The spring was challenging for strawberry frost control, but we managed to have a beautiful crop.”

Polter said his farm markets to wholesalers, retailers, foodservice distributors and processors.

Last year during the pandemic, Polter Berry Farm saw increased demand for strawberries and pumpkins. 

“We are already seeing similar demand for strawberries this year and hoping for the same with pumpkins.”

The farm uses the H-2A program for labor needs.

“(H-2A) works in that we get the workers that we need, but the constant wage increases have forced us to quit growing less profitable crops,” he said.