When he was a kid, Ben Sage would often admire the undeveloped property adjacent to Sage’s Apples, his family orchard and farm. Sage’s Apples is in Chardon, Ohio, often called the snowiest town in the state. It’s about 35 miles northeast of Cleveland.
Even though the property was hilly, he always envisioned that it would make a great place to raise fruit and a family. Finally, in 2017, Ben’s dream came true when he and his wife Polly purchased the land. They immediately began planning a unique farm business that they called Ransom Sage Farm, named after one of Ben’s ancestors. Despite the family’s enduring farm legacy, this is the first time that this little bit of hill country has been home to the choose-your-own-adventure, U-pick operation that is Ransom Sage Farm.
“Literally, the day after the papers were signed, Ben called and ordered apple trees,” said Polly. Honeycrisp apples, popular in the area, weren’t offered as U-pick, so they focused first on those plantings. They also began establishing raspberries and highbush blueberries.
As they were waiting for the fruit to mature, Ben continued to work on his neighboring home farm, and the two farms still maintain a tight working relationship. Sage’s Apples, whose motto is “Apples Are Our Specialty,” functions more as a traditional orchard with a retail farm store. Ransom Sage Farm is geared toward people who are looking for an authentic food and farm experience.
When customers arrive at Ransom Sage, they first stop at the large barn built by Ben and Polly. Here, they can use the restroom, borrow a wagon and grab a charming, hand-drawn map of the property. There is no entrance fee.
Polly refers to it as a choose-your-own-adventure because due to the hilly nature of the property, the crops are spread far apart. Visitors to the farm need to be prepared to walk, which can catch newcomers off guard. “It’s very up and down, and so you kind of never know what you’re going to find around the next bend,” she said.
The still popular Honeycrisp apples are the closest variety to the barn, but other trees – there are about 5,000 U-pick trees with many varieties – require a farther stroll.
After stopping at the Honeycrisps and picking a few pecks of apples, a customer might trek over and pick some pints of the 12 varieties of raspberries. Then, they might head over to the half-acre blueberry field. Finally, they might pick some grapes – four acres neatly trellised on a double strand of wire.
One of the many crops for visitors of all sizes to pick around the farm is grapes. Apples are Ransom Sage Farm’s main focus, though. Photo courtesy of Polly Sage
Additional U-pick crops include sweet corn, beets, green beans, dahlias and sunflowers. At each station, there is an employee who supplies containers and answers questions. More often than not, it might be one of Ben and Polly’s four young sons.
During weekends, there is an option to take a wagon ride to a picking place; Ben and Polly’s neighbors love the chance to get out into the orchard and tow trailers full of customers with their antique tractors.
What visitors won’t find at Ransom Sage is a fun fest with a bounce house, corn maze or kiddie tractor pulls. Ben and Polly are really focused on making the land and the food the entertainment. There are, however, some huge, old tractor tires strategically placed to help entertain the kids while parents and guardians are focused on picking. (There’s also a trailer with two bathrooms, so people don’t have to head back to the barn.)
“We really try to highlight and emphasize the fruits and vegetables. We really love letting people know where their food is grown and teaching them to grow good food,” Polly said.
When customers are finished picking, they head back to the barn and pay for their food. Everything is priced by bag or piece in order to make the checkout process easier.
In addition to the U-pick, Ransom Sage hosts two pruning workshops each year where participants receive hands-on training in pruning cane fruits and fruit trees. The workshops also include guidance on planting and what varieties people should grow. They’ve proved popular for home gardeners and professionals such as landscapers.
The farm also hosts a yearly holiday market for one weekend each December with crafts and foods from makers near and far. Polly said, “It has been successful in bringing in customers who might not have otherwise discovered the farm. People who come for the holiday market often decide to return during summer and fall for the pick-your-own activities.”
These events provide additional income, but similar to their sister farm, Polly and Ben’s main focus is on providing exceptional fruit and customer service. Apples have and will continue to be a mainstay at Ranson Sage Farm, making up about 75% of their revenue. Due to their higher elevation than other local orchards, they have a longer growing season, allowing apples to stay on the trees weeks longer than other farms. The extended season also produces apples with more sugar and flavor, according to Polly.
“We need to just keep leaning into growing these awesome varieties and being known for that. That is what we do; that’s what we’re good at,” she said.
Still, like Ben dreamed of owning the land that has become the bustling Ransom Sage Farm, the pair have more dreams – maybe a European-type café with homemade fruit pies and coffee drinks crafted from simple, high-quality ingredients.
“We would really love to create a place for people to be able to stay and enjoy the farm more. This is a fun, cool place. It’s really, really beautiful,” said Polly.
by Sonja Heyck-Merlin
