The LaGrange county area has many roadside stands that sell Farm Fresh produce, right off the vine or the stalk. Stands are permanent, semi-permanent and are “pop ups”. Sometimes there is no stand at all. Sometimes there is a box alongside the road with a small sign and a box to put you money in after you’ve made your selection.
All of this starts when crops start coming in from the fields. The local people, mostly Amish, but not solely Amish, start canning or freezing corn, tomatoes, and “putting up” other fruits and vegetables for the winter ahead. But sometimes there is more than can be canned or frozen and so it is offered for sale.
Other times the intent is to sell the produce “from the get go”.
The first example would be how the “pop up” stands might come about and the second is how the more permanent structures happen.
Then there are times that it is just too much to manage and the food is offered for free. Here it is… just take what you want.
“Free Zucchinis” isn’t a slogan to get some foreign dissident out of jail. It is food at no cost.
Once in a while you will see a roadside stand that is a “bake sale”. Pies, cookies and the Amish staple “whoopee pies” are offered. Usually there is a price on the items, but recently I stopped at one and was totally stumped because the sign said “donations”. I had no idea what a plate of “whoopie pies” would be worth.
These roadside stands are usually found where? Well, along the roadside right?
Sometimes you will also find them alongside the trail. Trailside. The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail has offerings too. All of them are “pop up” type arrangements. Too many pumpkins. Too many tomatoes. Too many squash. Too many zucchinis. Too many cucumbers. Too many. Too many.
So a table or stand or cardboard box is put alongside the bike trail for you to buy this overstock.
This week I saw pumpkins for sale along the Pumpkinvine trail (ironic isn’t it) and the price was $5 for “big ones” and $2 for “little ones”. I don’t know who was to determine the size. The buyer, I guess.
I’m not sure how you put a big pumpkin onto or into your bike. Please figure that out and get back to me.
David Arment
