Get out on the farm at Kent Harvest Trails

GRAND RAPIDS -- Nineteen years ago, the Kent Harvest Trails program began as a way of "educating city people as to where their food comes from," encouraging them to get out on the farm to pick fruit and see agricultural operations first-hand.

While that educational component remains a focus of the annual autumn tour of farms within a short drive of Grand Rapids, program coordinator Dave Van Antwerp said it also has evolved into a showcase of farm marketing and entertainment.

As many as 50,000 people are expected to visit the trails' 19 farms over a six-week period this year, sampling fruit and cider, shopping, wandering corn mazes, jumping aboard hay rides and getting acquainted with alpacas and horses.

"It's overwhelming," said Van Antwerp, a farmer who raises Scottish Highland cattle on a 180-acre farm near Otsego. "More and more of what we get is schools that have asked us for brochures so they can give them to parents of elementary and preschool children, because it's such a family-friendly activity."

Although a couple of farms dropped out of this year's tour after a spring frost hurt their fruit crops, there's also a new entry: Till Farm Alpacas LLC at 5188 12th Ave. SW, in Grandville, which allows visitors to get up close with alpacas, along with offering children's activities and crafts.

There's no admission charge at any of the farms, though some charge fees for certain activities. The trails program runs through Oct. 31. Following is a list of participating farms; for more information, visit kentharvesttrails.org.

Fruit Ridge Hayrides

Where: 11966 Fruit Ridge Ave. NW, Kent City (887-5052, fruitridgehayrides.com)

Hours: 5-9 p.m. Friday, noon-9 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday

Highlights: 125-year old farm offers horse-drawn hayrides, you-pick apples and pumpkins, cider and homemade doughnuts for sale. For the kids: farm animals, pony rides, pig train and a 15-acre corn maze. Activity fees.

Steffens Orchard and Market

Where: 4344 13 Mile Road, Sparta (887-2404, steffensorchardmarket.com)

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday

Highlights: You-pick and picked apples and pumpkins, squash, fall decorations, jams, pies, cider, caramel apples and doughnuts. Orchard tours, moonwalk, corn maze, scarecrow-making. Activity fees.

Corn Maze on the Ridge

Where: 4290 10 Mile Road, Sparta (887-4001, cornmazeontheridge.com)

Hours: 6-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday (6-9 p.m. Thursdays in October)

Highlights: Hayrides through seven-acre corn maze, four-acre Trail of Terror, mini mazes. Pick pumpkins and play in a straw pile or catapult a pumpkin into the air. Activity fees. Fresh cider and apples, plus concessions and picnic area.

Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm

Where: 3025 6 Mile Road (784-0058, dunnebackfarm.com)

Hours: 9 a.m.-5:30 Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday

Highlights: Family farm featuring you-pick apples and pumpkins. Fresh produce, baked goods, caramel apples and fall items.

The Country Basket

Where: 1185 Nine Mile Road, Sparta (785-9896, schwalliers.com)

Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday

Highlights: You-pick apples and pumpkins. Farm market offers cider, doughnuts, caramel apples, popcorn, jams, honey. Animals for petting, straw pile for climbing.

At The Barn

Where: 8183 Herrington NE, Plainfield Township (250-2156)

Hours: Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday

Highlights: Family-owned farm established in 1900. Apples, cider, pumpkins, tomatoes, fresh-cut flowers, dried flowers, crafts.

Robinette's Apple Haus, Winery & Gifts

Where: 3142 Four Mile Road NE (361-5567, robinettes.com)

Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sunday

Highlights: Horse-drawn hayrides, fudge, cider mill, apple samples, kettle corn, pumpkins. Bakery features lunch menu. Gift shop, wine-tasting room. Activity fees.

Blok Orchard

Where: 6365 Four Mile Road NE, Ada Township (676-1153)

Hours: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday

Highlights: Apples, peaches, pumpkins, squash, melons, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables. Also mums.

Frozen Creek Floral

Where: 5959 Cannonsburg Road, Cannon Township (874-6460, frozencreekfloral.com)

Hours: 1-6 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday

Highlights: Farm grows flowers, herbs, pumpkins and other fruits and vegetables. Farmhouse has nine rooms of freeze-dried florals and herbal arrangements. You-pick pumpkins, gourds, corn wreaths, Indian corn and broomcorn, mums.

Post Farms

Where: 9849 Myers Lake Ave, Rockford (874-7569)

Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday in September, noon-dark daily in October

Highlights: Family owned since 1850. Red raspberries, you-pick pumpkins, Indian corn, gourds, squash, flowers and vegetables.

Klackle Orchards Family Fun Farm

Where: 11466 W. Carson City Road (M-57), Greenville (754-8632, klackleorchards.com)

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday

Highlights: Hayrides for you-pick apples and pumpkins, pony rides, straw pile fun, children's craft tent, 15-acre corn maze, musical groups, concessions/picnic area. Enchanted pumpkin ride, playland inflatable and maze. Cornucopia farm market Activity fees.

H&W Farms

Where: 13375 Belding Road (M-44), Belding (691-8802, hwfarms.com)

Highlights: Cherry-pitting facility. Pitted red tart and dark sweet cherries, dried cherries, frozen blueberries, apples, honey, jams, pumpkins, squash, maple syrup, crafts, candles, homemade soaps. Scarecrow making. Kiln-dried lumber.

Paulson's Pumpkin Patch

Where: 11164 W. Belding Road (M-44), Belding (794-0922)

Hours: 9 a.m.-dark daily

Highlights: Apples, pumpkins, watermelons, tomatoes, winter squash, gourds, Indian corn, walk through orchards. Free hayrides on Sunday afternoons.

Koetsier's Greenhouse

Where: 1601 Spaulding Ave. SE, Ada Township (949-7299, koetsiers.com)

Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday

Highlights: Mums, perennials and pansies, pumpkins, squash, gourds, straw bales, cornstalks, Indian corn, yard art. Kids activities Friday and Saturday, including indoor play area, maze, inflatable pumpkin, and hayrides. Activity fees.

Orchard Hill Farm

Where: 2934 68th St. SE, Caledonia (868-7229)

Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily

Highlights: Farm animals to see and pet. Apples, pumpkin patch, corn stalks and squash. Picnic area, cider press, maple syrup display, beehive in glass and goat walk. Free hayrides on weekends. Scarecrow making, child's spook house and corn maze. Activity fees.

Creekside at Knotts

Where: 3422 76th St. SE, Caledonia (698-7644, creeksidegrowers.com)

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. Saturday

Highlights: Formerly Knott's Greenhouse, now operated by Creekside Growers of Middleville. Mums, pansies, fall decorations. You-pick pumpkin patch. Doughnuts, cider, apples and concessions on weekends. Free scavenger hunt, kids activities, five-acre corn maze, hayrides Friday and Saturday. Activity fees.

Harder & Warner Nursery

Where: 6464 Broadmoor Ave. SE, Caledonia (698-8079, harderandwarner.com)

Hours: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday

Highlights: Educational scavenger hunt with a free prize for kids and a recipe book for mom. Twelve-acre nursery of trees, shrubs, perennials, gift store, free hayrides, popcorn.

Till Farm Alpacas LLC

Where: 5188 12th Ave. SW, Grandville (532-5696)

Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday

Highlights: Touch alpacas' soft fleece, use their fiber for crafts. You may see new alpaca babies. Kid's activities and crafts. Activity fees.

Post Family Farm

Where: 5081 Bauer Road, Hudsonville (669-1964, postfamilyfarm.com)

Hours: 3-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 3-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday

Highlights: Family owned, 80-acre farm features three-story wood barn built in 1915. Pumpkins, squash, gourds, hayrides, horse-drawn wagon rides, pony/horse rides, corn maze, pumpkin train, pumpkin patch, kid's activities. Activity fees.