Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Clark, Champaign and Madison counties in central Ohio in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for tomatoes that we know of in this area.
Not all areas of a state have tomatoes farms that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!
Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!
PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.
Champaign County
- Folck Family Farm - strawberries, blackberries, corn (sweet), melons, other berries, peas, pumpkins, raspberries, winter squash, tomatoes, Honey from hives on the farm, and prepicked produce, picnic area, farm animals, school tours
6843 Street Route 54, Mechanicsburg, OH 43044. Phone: 937-828-0233. Email: robertfolck@yahoo.com. Open: U-pick patch is open by appointment during the week: call Bob at 937-869-2240; store hoours are Monday to Friday, 8 am to 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8 am to 7 pm. Directions: One Mile South of State Route 4 on the east side of State Route 54, or Two Mile North of Catawba on State Route 54. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
Folck Family Farm Facebook page. Strawberries: June 4 to July, Black raspberries First of July, blackberries Mid July, Red Raspberries First of August, Mums and Pumpkins First of September, Sweet Corn First of July through September,Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August, September, OctoberFacebook page. Strawberries are our specialty! We start the u-pick season in June with strawberries and English garden peas. Always call us at for the picking report and to find out when the u-pick will be open for the day. You can bring your own containers, or we have some you can use. We have plastic bags that we can put your berries in when you're done picking. Winery is coming. We are currently putting the finishing touches on our tasting room to sell wines from the fruit grown on our farm! Check back for updates.
Tomatoes
Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the
tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok.
During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.
Tomato Varieties
In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water. But you can use any type you can get hold of. You may just have to cook them down longer to boil off excess water. See our Master list of tomato varieties
Growing tomatoes
- Master list of tomato varieties
- Master List of Heirloom Tomato Varieties
- How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Yard or Patio - Everything you need to know
- Detailed directions to starting tomatoes from seed
- Master List of Roma and Paste Tomato Varieties for the Home Garden
- Master list of disease-resistant tomato varieties
- Tomato plant diseases
Canning, Freezing, Drying, Preserving Tomatoes and more!
Below are links to pages with easy and reliable directions about how to can, preserve, freeze and make other goodies from tomatoes. Some of these require a Pressure Canner to prevent potential spoilage and
food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food. For others, you
can use a water bath canner OR a Pressure Canner. I've noted what's
required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!
And don't miss: Answers to common tomato canning problems and see this page about what to do with your unripe green tomatoes!
Prepping tomatoes
Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )
- How to can tomatoes using a water bath canner - W
- Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
- Bruschetta - W
- Tomato sauce - W
- Tomato paste - W
- Barbecue sauce (BBQ sauce) - W
- Chili sauce from your own tomatoes and peppers - W
- Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
- Tomato Preserves- W
- Tomato salsa - W
- Spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
- Spiced Green tomatoes- W
- Pickled Green Tomatoes - W - another pickled green tomato recipe, this one sweet
- Ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
- NEW! SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe - W
- Salsa from your unripe, GREEN tomatoes! - W
- Tomatillo salsa - W
- How to make roasted tomatoes, boiling water bath canner version - W
Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners
- Canned tomatoes using a Pressure Canner - P
- Baked Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
- Canning your own chili con carne (with meat) - P
- How to make roasted tomatoes, pressure canner version - P
- Spaghetti sauce - with meat - P
- Stewed tomatoes - P
- Tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - P
- Tomato sauce - P
- Tomato juice - P
- Tomato juice, like V8 - P
Freezing Tomatoes
- How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
- Space-saving prepping and freezing extra tomatoes from your garden to can later
Drying tomatoes
- NEW! How to make Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- Food drying basics and principles
- How to dry your own herbs
- Food Dehydrators - models, specs and pricing information
Ripening green tomatoes in your garage or basement
If you want to bring your green tomatoes indoors before a freeze in the Fall, and ripen them, see:
And if you'd like to start you own tomatoes from seed (you can save a small fortune and grow the heirloom varieties you like) see this page for easy directions for growing your own tomato plants from seed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Canning, Freezing and Preserving Tomatoes
Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)
- Farm markets and roadside stands
- Local Honey Finder
- Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
- Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
- Easter egg hunts
- Children"s consignment sales
- Fruit and vegetable festivals
- Winery tours and wine tastings
- Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
- Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
- Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
- Pumpkin patches
- Corn mazes
- Zombie Paintball venues
- Christmas Tree Farms & lots
- Environmental resources
- Consumer fraud information
- Wholesale food sources
- Resources for Farmers
Looking for canning equipment and supplies?
Water bath canner with a jar rack
Pressure canners for gas, electric and induction stoves: Presto 23Qt or T-fal 22Qt
Canning scoop (this one is PERFECT)
Ball Blue book (most recent version)
Jars: 8oz canning jars for jams
Find Other types of farms:
Farm markets and roadside stands
Road trips and camping resources
Local Honey, apiaries, beekeepers
Consumer fraud and scams information
Home canning supplies at the best prices on the internet!
Maple Syrup Farms, sugarworks, maple syrup festivals
Environmental information and resources
Farms For Your Event for birthday parties, weddings, receptions, business meetings, retreats, etc.
Festivals - local fruit and vegetable festivals
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