Our Story
The Witten Family Journey
A Legacy of Farming
1790 – The Roots of Witten Farm Begin
The Witten family’s farming story starts in Fly, Ohio, where generations of hard work laid the foundation for what was to come.
1958 – A New Chapter: From Dairy to Vegetables
Ralph Witten, a fifth-generation vegetable farmer, along with his wife Frances, moved their family from Fly, Ohio, to a new dairy farm near Beverly. The rich soil and bustling Route 60 made it the perfect spot for Ralph to fulfill his dream of growing vegetables and opening a farm market.
1967 – Jerry Returns and Expands the Farm
After graduating from The Ohio State University, Jerry Witten returned to the family farm with his wife, Bonnie Sutherland. Jerry’s vision expanded the farm’s vegetable business and introduced beef cattle to diversify operations.
1980 – A Focus on Vegetables
The dairy cows were sold, and Jerry shifted the farm’s focus to growing sweet corn and other vegetables. With an expanding wholesale business, Witten Farm began supplying fresh produce to markets and grocery stores across Ohio and Pennsylvania.
1986 – The First Satellite Market Opens
Jerry and Bonnie opened their first farm market in Marietta, Ohio, managed by their daughter Amy Witten – Holstine. Seeing its success, they opened three more locations in the early 1990s, growing the Witten Farm legacy.
1994 – Midnight Corn Picking Tradition
Jerry knew that fresh-picked sweet corn was key to its amazing flavor. To deliver the freshest corn, he began harvesting at midnight and getting it to markets by morning. This unique tradition continues to this day!
1995 – Blooming into a New Chapter: Growing Flowers
In 1995, Julie Witten, Jerry and Bonnie’s second daughter, returned to the family farm with a fresh vision after graduating from The Ohio State University. Inspired by cherished memories of her grandmother Francis’ love for gardening, Julie introduced flowers to the Witten Farm Market in Marietta. Her passion blossomed into a vibrant new venture, growing and selling a stunning variety of flowers, hanging baskets, and bedding plants. Julie’s dedication to this new chapter in the family business brought beauty and color to Witten Farm, creating a fresh experience for customers and elevating the farm’s offerings.
1998 – The First Wagon Market
The first market on wheels opened in Barlow, Ohio, repurposing an old watermelon wagon. This creative approach offered convenience to customers and marked the beginning of Witten Farm’s iconic roadside markets.
2003 – The Red and White Stripes Make Their Mark
After graduating from The Ohio State University, Tom Witten returned to the family farm with a fresh vision. Recognizing the potential in Witten’s five satellite markets, he saw sweet corn and retail as the future. Inspired by the bold red and white striped wagons, Tom knew they could elevate the farm’s presence. That year, the first of these eye-catching wagons debuted in South Parkersburg, WV, along with three new satellite markets in Southeast Ohio. This expansion marked a significant step in Witten Farm’s retail growth, bringing the total number of markets to seven.
2008 – Expanding the Witten Farm Family
Scott Witten returned to the family farm after graduating from The Ohio State University and immediately made a big impact. His leadership helped grow the farm to 15 thriving locations, stretching from Ripley, WV, to Lancaster, OH. Scott’s expertise in managing the H-2A crew, combined with his Spanish language skills, played a crucial role in streamlining operations and logistics, fueling the farm’s rapid expansion. His vision and dedication were key to taking Witten Farm to new heights.
2010 – Strengthening Connections with the Staff Farm Tour
In 2010, we introduced an exciting farm tour exclusively for our market staff, giving them the chance to connect with the family behind the farm and experience our farming practices firsthand. With some locations over 100 miles away, this tour was designed to bring our teams closer to the heart of Witten Farm. It’s not just a tour—it’s an engaging team-building experience that strengthens bonds and fosters a deeper connection to the farm’s mission. A memorable day that truly unites the Witten Farm family!
2011 – A New Market in Columbus
The Witten family proudly purchased Smith Farm Market, a Columbus staple since 1970. This expansion brought Witten Farm’s fresh produce and bakery items to a whole new community.
2014 – A New Home for Witten Farm
To support the growing business, the Witten family built a new central facility, replacing 14 old barns and buildings. The new space houses the farm’s office, machine shop, packing shed, and coolers, setting the stage for future growth.
2015 – Revolutionizing Tomato Growing with High Tunnels
Witten Farm introduced high tunnel farming, protecting crops from rain and disease while maintaining the same fresh taste of field-grown tomatoes. Our tomatoes are planted directly into the ground delivering the same fresh taste as field grown varieties. This innovation has raised the bar for our tomato production.
2017 – Sweet Blackberries Arrive
Witten Farm introduced a new trellis system to grow sweet, southern-style blackberries. This innovative approach allowed us to deliver a superior variety of blackberries, unlike the tart Ohio types typically found.
2020 – A Dream Come True: Our Year-Round Market
We proudly opened a beautiful year-round farm market at Winchester Pike in Columbus. This new location offers a full bakery, farm market, and more, bringing a longtime Witten Farm dream to life!
2024 – The Next Generation Rising
The 8th generation of Witten farmers is full of energy and excitement! These six spirited kids, ranging from 7 to 16 years old, are already embracing the family legacy. Whether they’re scouting fields with their dads, visiting markets with Aunt Julie, or spending time with Grandma Bonnie at the farm market, they’re hands-on and eager to learn. We can’t wait to see how their passion and drive shape the future of Witten Farm!
2025 – Looking Ahead to a Bright Future
As Witten Farm continues to grow and innovate, we’re excited to see what the future holds. With new projects and expansions on the horizon, our commitment to providing the sweetest sweet corn, vibrant flowers, and exceptional customer experiences is stronger than ever. Stay tuned for even more exciting developments as we continue “Living the Red Shirt Dream!”
Meet The Farmers
At Witten Farm Market, our roots run deep, reflecting a proud tradition of farm, family and healthy living!
Farm Market Team
Living the Red Shirt Dream
We want to give a huge shoutout to our incredible team of over 100 seasonal farm market members who make Witten Farm Market an exceptional place to work and shop. They are truly the heart and soul of our business! Every day of the season, you’ll find them selecting the finest melons, stacking bags of corn on the wagon, and assisting customers with their purchases.
No matter the ever-changing weather, their welcoming smiles remain constant. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated and diverse team of young adults who come together to create outstanding experiences for our customers. Working with this generation keeps us young and energized—thank you for being an essential part of the Witten Farm Market family!
Farm Crew
At Witten Farm Market, we proudly recognize our dedicated Farm Crew, the heart and soul behind our operations. Comprising 45 skilled migrant laborers, this team is essential to our success. Each year, they come to us through the H-2A Program, which provides them with temporary work visas to work in the U.S. for four to six months. Many of our crew members, primarily from El Salvador and Mexico, have been with us for over fifteen years, working tirelessly during the summer to support their families back home.
Their incredible work ethic shines as they spend long hours planting, weeding, harvesting, and packaging our fresh produce. While some may worry about job displacement, we actively advertise these positions locally and nationwide, yet we find minimal interest. We are truly grateful for our hard working crew, whose commitment keeps our farm thriving year after year.
Managerment Team
We are thrilled to shine a light on our incredible management team, whose leadership is the cornerstone of Witten Farm’s success. With a genuine passion for mentoring the next generation of red shirts, they teach the importance of dedication and the love for our customers that defines us. Many of our managers have been with us for over a decade, bringing a legacy of commitment, expertise, and heart. Their presence throughout the region provides invaluable support to our market staff, making sure our customers feel cared for at every visit. Their knowledge, hands-on approach, and warm Spirits create a welcoming, thriving atmosphere. We are deeply thankful for their tireless dedication and the strong bonds they build with our communities and teams each year. We wouldn’t be where we are today without them, and their love for what they do shines and everything they touch. We love and cherish them as part of our family.
