By Kevin Williams
Tucked away in a corner of Hardin County, Ohio is the cadence and rhythm of a produce auction that takes place twice a week during the growing season. The auctioneer rattles off the prices and eager buyers snap up beautiful mums, plump tomatoes, and amazing-looking beans.
I hadn't planned on stopping at the auction, but I saw a sign pointing the way so I decided to check it out.
I headed inside to talk to one of the auction managers and he told me that the Scioto Valley Produce Auction is Amish-owned and run and about 60 growers (with 20 families making up the core) participate in the auction.
The schedule for the auction is as follows:
18031 State Route 309
Kenton, Ohio 43326
419-675-3337
Tuesday 1:00 pm (April – October)
Friday 12:30 pm (April – October)
Horses contentedly graze in a pasture outside the auction house...
Boxes of bright pumpkins fresh from the fields are available!
While the Amish in the area are not Swartzentruber Amish, they are conservative, eschewing the orange triangles on the back of the buggies.
Beautiful fall flowers get snapped up by eager customers.
The Amish and English work together to keep things flowing smoothly.
In addition to snapping up some produce bargains from the bins, the auction house is also a great place for socializing and catching up with friends.
Fresh corn and beans. Yum!
And for those who get hungry during the day, a food truck waits outside with all sorts of goodies!
Leave a Reply