Chandler Orchard nearing almost five decades

An orchard and strawberry patch that was first planted in 1976 is still serving up delicious treats and family memories in Fillmore.

Chandler’s Orchard and Family Market, 2489 South County Road 825 East, became a reality in 1975 when Jerry and Vyanne Chandler purchased the property and converted the land from a grain farm into a produce farm. The first apple orchard and strawberry patch were planted in the spring of 1976, with the first harvest coming a year later.

“I was six months old at that time and my parents placed me in a straw lined wheel barrow. Mom wheeled me down the row as she picked strawberries to fill orders for customers,” owner Matt Chandler told The Putnam County Post.

Over the years, the orchard grew to 20 acres of apples, 20 acres of strawberries, pumpkins, dig your own mums and other produce like corn and tomatoes.

“We stopped producing strawberries for saw in the early 2000’s and the farm went through a lull for about 10 years. We have a farm market on site. We have seasonal blues, but we are open all year,” said Chandler, who is helped by his wife, Lisa, and their three children.

Chandler said the orchard is currently replacing its old orchard with new trees, including old favorites and newer apple varieties.

“We began this process in 2009 and the new orchard is a little over 8 acres,” he said. 

In addition, there’s a new U-pick dedicated orchard that is about three years from opening and there’s about six acres of old trees left to move. Chandler said in 2016, they planted a new strawberry patch with a goal to rebuild the business.

“Currently, there are four acres of strawberries to be picked this year. We plant about 10 acres of pumpkins and squash for our fall U-pick season to compliment our U-pick apples. We added a food truck here at the farm to highlight our produce as well as some of the local meats we sell in our market,” Chandler said.

Chandler said it’s almost time for the U-pick strawberries, which have a season that, typically, starts late May/early June and lasts four weeks. 

“We will be open seven days a week for strawberry season. We have a rhubarb patch that is currently producing and that compliments strawberries,” he said.

In addition, there’s asparagus from another grower and other items from others, something Chandler said allows his business an opportunity to focus on what it does well.

“The big, chain stores can beat our price, but they can’t beat our quality and freshness,” Chandler said. 

The orchard also partners with LT Farm Meats, of Fillmore, MeadowBrook Family Farms of Fillmore and Greencastle’s DoubleD Cattle Farm.

As for what Chandler enjoys most about the business, it is being outside regardless of weather or conditions.

“I love the flexibility that our farm offers. We have seasonal tasks that have to get done, but I don’t have to do the same thing for very long,” he said.

And, then there’s the customers.

“I enjoy helping our customers and providing a high level of service to them. Helping them to their vehicle with a purchase, answering questions about our farm or about an issue they are having in their own garden. We have a passion for educating our customers, hosting field trips, classroom visits or participating in two Ag Days held in the county. We love this community,” Chandler said.