Holthouse Farms is a century old, family-owned vegetable farm, located in north central Ohio. In 1870 Jan Holthuis was born in the Netherlands; 19 years later he set up residence in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and eventually settle in a tiny village about 50 miles south of Sandusky, Ohio, called Celeryville.

He and his two sons, Rudy and Jacob, established Holthouse Farms in 1903. Holthouse Farms utilizes drip irrigation and canals for watering their crops, allowing them to lose less water to evaporation and run off. It’s one of the many green initiatives they practice.

They also own D.R. Walcher Farm, supplying pumpkins, fall ornamentals, Indian corn, stalked corn, and exotic pumpkins.

They grow most of their crops in mulch covered, raised beds and generally from seedlings. When produce arrives from the field, it’s quickly liquid pre-chilled then placed in a properly temped cooler, run through their lines, and then returned to one of their four climate and temperature-controlled coolers. This process enhances food safety and extends freshness and shelf life.

Today, the business is run by the third generation of sons.

They grow: beans, beets, bok choy, carrots, celery, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, green onions, peppers, radish, parsley root, spinach, squash (summer), blueberries, cilantro, dill, escarole, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, parsnips, and pickles.