After producing up to a million boxes of fresh vegetables per season, serving retail outlets throughout the eastern U.S., the owners of K. W. Zellers & Son, Inc. are discontinuing their successful vegetable growing operation.
The combination of weather risk, labor uncertainty, food safety pressures, and an aging ownership group pushed the decision to exit the vegetable business. The family plans to continue farming the rich muck soil in Hartville, Ohio, focusing on grain crops. They will also maintain nearly 4 acres of greenhouses.
"There have been lots of changes to the farm," said Jeff Zellers, current president and the grandson of founders Kenneth and Helen Zellers. "We had livestock too, 50 to 60 years ago."
Challenges
For the past 50 years, the farm has focused over 1,100 acres on leafy lettuces, radishes, herbs, and green onions. This transition to corn and soybeans started a few years ago with a decision to downsize, in part because the owners and management team were getting older. Zellers was also concerned about increased risk factors.
Read more at farmanddairy.com