Veggies Prime for Pickin' at Bader Farm

The fall has apple and pumpkin picking and the winter has Christmas tree picking. Now the summer has vegetable picking at , in Montville.

Ivan Bader, owner of Bader Farm, said this is the third year the farm has offered pick-your-own vegetables. Items that can be picked include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, apples and flowers. All of the produce at Bader Farm is eco-ganic and not treated with pesticides, Bader said.

Bader supplies buckets and customers are able to pick whatever they would like. The buckets are then weighed and the customer pays per pound.

"It's a little bit cheaper by the pound than at the store," he said.

The idea to host pick-your-own vegetables came from the Baders' other annual pick-your-own events, such as pumpkin picking.

"People like to go out to experience going out in the field and picking them off the plant," Bader said. "It's sort of an experience, like pick-your-own pumpkin."

Bader said allowing customers to pick their own vegetables is good for business, particularly for families with children who like to make an event out of shopping at Bader Farm. The pick-your-own event runs from the beginning of August (once the fruits and vegetables are ripe for picking) through October.

The farm is open for pick-your-own or traditional shopping seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 290 Changebridge Road.