Lynd Fruit Farm recently started up retail operations earlier than is typically its summer norm, pushed in part by the pandemic to do so.
The family owned business, which celebrated its centennial last year, started welcoming customers back into its market at 9399 Morse Road in Pataskala at the corner of Ohio 310 on June 10.
See also: Lynd Fruit Farm marks 100 years at Morse Road
“It seemed like a good idea to open up and get some money coming in,” explained Penny Lynd during a sunny Tuesday morning.
There were already several customers lined up when doors opened for the day on June 16.
In terms of COVID-19 safety measures, the market now has a clearly marked entrance at one end of the open-air structure, and similarly marked exit at the other.
Because of its open air nature, and the heat that can build up within the building despite large, open garage-style doors and overhead fans, “Masks aren’t required,” Lynd said, “although some employees wear them, and customers are welcome to.” Otherwise, “the health department told us it’s fine not to wear masks because of how it is here.”
There are also cleaning supplies at the entrance allowing shoppers to sanitize their carts, as well as hand-sanitizer dispensers in place. Shopping areas are all sanitized throughout the day.
For high risk customers, a special online service and curbside pickup process is now in place via https://ift.tt/2UXw6Qq
Otherwise, COVID-19 hasn’t greatly affected Lynd Fruit Farm in any measurable way, she said, not in terms of supply chains, nor stocks of goods.
Weather, on the other hand, always a challenge for growers in Ohio, has tossed up its typical hurdles: “We lost some apples to weather damage,” Lynd said.
A pollination effort also recently went awry. “When it was time for us to rent some bees, the weather was not conducive to them flying,” Lynd explained. In short, “The bees didn’t do their jobs.” That, too, hurt some apples.
That said, the Lynds are expecting an otherwise normal summer, and, later, a full autumn season, with “You-Pick” opportunities with “lots of varieties of apples," as well as sunflowers and pumpkin patches.
While shelves are now fully stocked with jellies, jams, flavored ciders, baked goods and fresh produce, one item is out-of-stock, and became so almost immediately upon Lynd’s early June opening: strawberries.
“They lasted a couple of hours,” Lynd said. Because they are so difficult to grow, Lynd sources its from a Pennsylvania grower, but they, too, are out.
Still, the demand is clearly still there: Two phone calls received within minutes of the market’s June 16 opening were both inquiries for strawberries.
For now, the fruit farm is running on summer hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. (The market is closed Mondays.)
Hours may be change in the coming weeks, so it’s best to check Lynd’s Facebook page at https://ift.tt/2YMJgka or official website at https://ift.tt/3hzmkxs for updates.
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June 18, 2020 at 12:20AM
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Pandemic prompts earlier season opening for Lynd Fruit Farm - The Newark Advocate
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