By: Robin Yocum
Okay, try to hang with me here. You almost need Google maps to follow this story.
Brad and Christina Moser – nice people. They had two young boys, good careers in sales – Christina in technology and Brad in medical – and were living in a quaint subdivision in Delaware County.
Then, about seven years ago, Brad is cruising around with his brother when he sees a “for sale” sign for a brick farmhouse on Clark Shaw Road that was built when Chester A. Arthur was president and mutton chop sideburns were all the rage. Brad goes to an open house on Sunday. He then shows the house to Christina, who be like, “Oh, yeah,” and the next day they’re incontract for the house, three acres and a barn that was listing heavily to starboard.
The house in the development wasn’t even up for sale at the time.
So, they move into the new digs, and Brad gets tired of sales and decides to open a landscaping business. That winter, he started cleaning out the barn. Simple enough. Just spruce the old place up a bit. It must have been the barn-cleaning equivalent of tipping that first domino, because countless hours and dollars later, the Mosers owned a completely straight and rehabilitated barn.
Now, what do to with that renovated, 1,500-square-foot barn?
Christina, who had grown up working on her grandfather’s Darke County orchard, where she learned to grade apples and run across farm fields in her bare feet, said, “Why don’t we sell some of grandpa’s apples?”
Good plan. How about some peaches? Berries? Jelly? Der Dutchman donuts? How about Amish jelly? Sweet corn? Flowers? Great idea. Oh, and pumpkins. Gotta have pumpkins, right? I mean, what’s a farm market without pumpkins?
Get the picture? What started in 2018 as a modest market turned into a runaway train.
It wasn’t long before Brad gave up landscaping for a friend’s business for a career as a farm market entrepreneur. Figure it out as you go, fake it until you make it.
Brad and Christina have figured it out. In a few short years, Moser’s Farm Market has become one of Central Ohio’s best locales for locally raised fruit, vegetables and flowers.
Oh, and just to show you that God has a sense of humor, in the midst of trying to lasso an expanding business, Christina became pregnant with twins.
“This ride has been exciting, but wildly humbling,” Brad said. “We started small, but it didn’t take long for things to really take off.”
In the meantime, the Mosers bought an adjacent eight acres where they’ve planted 50 apple trees and grow wildflowers and sunflowers. Brad also constructed a new walk-in cooler where they someday hope to store grass-fed, Ohio beef. He also reconstructed the top of a steel grain silo into an outdoor bar with a custom-made circular counter.
It’s very cool, but the Mosers don’t sell alcohol.
Yet.
That train hasn’t slowed down. The Mosers are exploring opening a cidery on the grounds. They could serve it in the silo bar. “We could put a television in the bar and the dads could sit down and have a drink and watch the ball game while the kids are running around,” Brad said.
The Mosers take particular pride in sourcing as much fruit and produce locally as possible. They buy honey and vegetables from LR Farms (part of Local Roots restaurant) in Powell; pumpkin cake, donuts, cookies and bread from Der Dutchman in Plain City; Olive oil and balsamic vinegar from the Olivina; a variety of roasts from Thunderkiss Coffee in Columbus; Canned Amish jams, jellies, sauces, pickles, popcorn and jerky from Walnut Creek; dinner events with Chef’s Table in Columbus; Flower arrangements by Nikki Doup in Powell; Apples and peaches from Bauman Orchards in Rittman, Ohio. And, of course, grandpa’s apples from Brumbaugh Fruit Farm in Arcanum, Ohio.
Christina said one of the most rewarding aspects of running the farm market has been making contacts with local suppliers and friendships with local people.
“Since we’ve opened, I’ve gotten to know so many people up and down the road,” Christina said. “Our employees all started out as customers. It’s really rewarding, and it’s a great environment for our kids to grow up around.”
Moser’s Farm Market is located at 3350 Clark Shaw Road in Powell. It is scheduled to open June 12, 2024 and will stay open through October. For more information, check out Moser’s website at: www.mosersmarket.com.
Oh, and by the way, Christina’s grandfather, Winston Brumbaugh, is 87 and still works the orchard every day. Good for you, partner. You’ll rust out before you wear out. Keep slugging away.
