Welcome everyone. Thanks to the C.S.A. program (community supported agriculture), fresh produce weekly from Richardson’s Farms, Pat and I are eating and enjoying for the first time an unusual (to us) fruit that goes by several names: ground cherries, husk cherries, cape gooseberries and golden berries. Their Latin name is Physalis peruviana. They are native to the Americas and grown in Ohio as an annual. Ground cherries are from the botanical family nightshade, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and tomatillos.
The golden or orange berries are enclosed and grow in a thin papery husk covering, with berries measuring 1/2 to 3/4 inches across. The taste is a mix of sweetness and acidity, similar to tomato and pineapple. Berries are fully ripe when the fruit is a soft orange color. Just before maturity, the berries with their paper husk will fall to the ground. You simply harvest around the plant—hence the name “ground cherry.” Peel off the husk and eat the tasty golden berry inside. Harvest runs from August to October.
Easily grown at home, seeds should be started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost for a good head start on a bountiful harvest. Plants require six hours of full sun outdoors with moist but well-drained soil. For best results and easier harvesting, staking is recommended. Plants grow 2 feet tall and 3 feet across, with berries maturing 70 to 75 days after planting. They can be grown in the garden or in patio and balcony containers. Berries are nutritious, with vitamins A and C, fiber, beta-carotene and potassium to aid digestion. They can be enjoyed fresh, dried, cooked in pie filling or as a preserved fruit spread. Try the heirloom seed variety “Aunt Molly’s” from Berlin Seeds in Millersburg or Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, a variety grown since the 1800s.
Welcome, Zeb
Zeb Flegel, the newly elected Medina County Fair Board director, grew up immersed in the fair through 4-H, FFA and family ties, and now balances his role as general manager of Spencer Feed and Supply with service as a lieutenant in the Spencer Community Fire District while raising three daughters with his wife, Celeste.Stuart Neal
The Medina County Fair Board is fortunate to introduce and welcome newly elected Fair Board Director Zeb Flegel. Zeb, along with Whalter Briggs, just experienced their first fair in 2025.
The Medina County Fair is deep in Zeb’s DNA; his father, Gary Flegel, served on the Fair Board for 20 years. Zeb grew up at the fair, first as a kid having fun, then working as a “grounds kid” for seven years, participating in the Homer Jr. Highlighters 4-H Club, being a member of FFA, and selling his animals at the livestock sale during fair week.
Today, Zeb and his wife, Celeste, have three school-age daughters. He is the general manager for Spencer Feed and Supply and serves as a lieutenant with the Spencer Community Fire District. Zeb was elected to his Fair Board seat in 2024 from Spencer Township.
Something that surprised him, thinking he had seen it all, was the amount of on-grounds security personnel keeping families and fairgoers safe. Zeb’s most memorable fair moment was watching his three daughters experience the fair through their eyes. As for his favorite fair food? Without hesitation, he answered the Texas tenderloin sandwich, which he has eaten since he was a kid. Thanks, Zeb, and welcome aboard to you and your family.
Planting a seed
Next time you visit Amish Country, make a point to check out Berlin Seeds, 5335 County Road 77, in Millersburg. I recently received a beautiful fall seed catalog from them and purchased seed garlic varieties including Music, Spanish Roja and German Extra Hardy, all hardneck types. I love that garlic and Berlin Seeds.
“Don’t be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts.” — Hopi proverb.
