Amish Produce Auction in Homerville..who knew?



Browsing through a local food group posting, I came across some info devoted to fresh produce in my area.  Well, 30 minutes away still qualifies as local in my mind, so I was thrilled to have found a new travel and foodie destination.  What was even better was to find a like minded soul to share this experience with.

 

Diane, Chef/Owner of Humble Pie Baking Co, offered to show me the ropes of auction bidding so on a sunny late afternoon in early June I drove to the Homerville Produce Auction and met up with her.  https://www.facebook.com/HumblePieBakingCompany 

Exiting highway craziness onto a slow moving country road puts me in a great frame of mind for entering Amish country where the mode of transportation is the horse and buggy.  I've got to remember that the next time I put the pedal to the metal in my quest to get someplace faster.  What's that old saying?  "The hurrier I go the behinder I get"  Well, there was no hurrying here. 



I met Diane in front of the office, registered for my paddle number and we started our leisurely stroll browsing the produce and checking out the people.  Mothers, with small children in tow, had brought small amounts of produce, fresh from their garden, to sell at the Table Lots. Bidding starts at 5:30  for these small produce lots; a few radish or asparagus bunches, a few dozen eggs; peck of peas that type of thing.  Diane purchased 6 dozen eggs and then turned to me saying "Can you use some?  How could I not buy them at $1.75 per dozen!"  So of course, I became the new owner of 36 pristine and oh-so-fresh eggs...some with feathers still attached.  I bought a peck of gorgeous yellow squash and Diane went crazy for pecks of those first of spring, sweet English peas.  I must say it's easy to get caught up in ""auction fever" so it's a good idea to get a general knowledge of what a product is worth to you and then STOP BIDDING when you've reached that point. 

Then starting at 6pm the serious buyers (Diane and me included) moved over to the central barn to bid on cases of tiny, jewel-like strawberries, zucchini, and asparagus that Amish men had unloaded just a few minutes before.  The produce is stunningly fresh and the flower pots were bursting with pinks, reds and purples.  I left with three cases of berries, squash, eggs and peas.


Unfortunately my inside pics are non-existant in deference to the Amish culture which consider graven images in direct opposition to their central belief of humility. But check out this gorgeous produce!!!!

If you want further info on the Homerville Produce Auction just check out this link: http://www.brightdsl.net/~fwo/index.html

Leaving the auction I came across the small town post office, probably soon a dying speciman.

And what would an Ohio countryside jaunt be without the requisite red barn pictures?



Passing a barn on my way to the auction.............



Evening's diffused light going home.