History (Condensed version)

For over 80 years the Sage family has specialized in growing superior tasting apples. To accomplish the task of suiting the palate of their customers over an extended marketing season, over 50 varieties of apples are raised, each one different and each one with its own place in the marketing scheme. Along with the apples a wide variety of other fruits and vegetables allow the retail market to be open from mid July into May the following year. Everything raised is sold through the market and includes approximately 25 acres of apples, 20 acres of sweet corn, 2/3 acre of blueberries, 1/4 acre brambles, 3 acres of peaches, 2 acres of pumpkins, and 3 acres of other crops such as tomatoes, squash, green beans, dried flowers, pears, grapes, plums, and cherries. Most apple trees are either planted on the M9 rootstock and trained to a 4 wire trellis or on M7 roodstock with a single post and trained to a central leader system suitable to the variety. A 2.5-acre Y trellis was planted in 1990, and has given us many wonderful crops year after year. All training and other cultural techniques necessary are used in order for the Sage family to meet their goal of a flavorful apple for every customer.

History (in depth)

  

The present main barn was built by Jay Sage in 1917, and the house was built soon after. The initial intent was to develop a nursery business, but with slow sales and apple trees begging for attention, Jay planted his first orchard. The farm with its cows, chickens and sheep continued into the 1950's when son Allen graduated from Ohio State and got tired of taking apples into Cleveland several times a week. In 1957, the market moved from the table by the road into the remodeled stable, and a John Deere M took over for the 2 horses. Probably the deciding factor in making Sage's Apples what it is today occurred in 1952. Allen and Eleanor, recently married, had seen how good the Melrose apple was and decided to plant their first big planting of this variety recently developed at Ohio's Experiment Station (now O.A.R.D.C.). With 2 sons and a daughter coming along and farm sales increasing, more Melrose were planted in 1956. Allen was a very forward thinker, as shown by his active participation in the Geauga County planning commission and several other county organizations, and he soon realized that he needed to plant another orchard to help put Bob, John and Jayne through college in the '70s. So what did he plant in 1962? Melrose, of course, with a few Mcintosh, Golden and Red Delicious to satisfy those customers that hadn't tried Melrose yet! But by now he was also checking out other new varieties and rootstocks. The Transparent, Lodi, and Wealthy were proven summer apples but improvements were forthcoming with the advent of New York Fruit Testing Cooperative. NJ36 (Jerseymac) and NJ38 (Vista Bella) are two that have stood the test of time as has Paula Red for summer apples. The first Jonagold trees were planted in 1968 as were the first Spigold (made famous by being the active ingredient in the Sage's first blue-ribbon cider). Rootstock changes were in the making also. The first M9 trellis was planted in 1969 and is still front and center in the island between the two driveways in front of the market.

With John and Bob showing interest in the orchard business the orchard and market moved into an expansion mode. The present market was built in 1972 to give more floor space for additional crops as well as expanded jams, jellies, honey, popcorn, maple syrup and pancake mixes. This was about the time Farm Markets of Ohio, a merchandise and supply cooperative, was started by the Ohio Farm Bureau in Columbus and the ability to purchase and stock good quality processed items made this phase of the market easier to manage.

John and Bob graduated from OSU in the mid 70's and an outstanding relationship has continued with the land grant university research institutions to this day. Cultural and training systems have been tried and modified. IPM (Integrated Pest Managment) control strategies first used in 1970 are still being refined. Some of the first calcium research done in commercial orchards was done on some Sage Turley Winesaps and Spartans; and many sweet corn, 3 blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry varieties have been tried and accepted upon the advice and well-founded research performed by OSU research scientists. The first M9 trellis was planted in 1972 and is still in production today. A few refinements have been made but it is the proven system with which to compare the newer varieties such as Gala, Ginger Gold, Fugi, Braeburn, and some numbered varieties yet to make a name for themselves.

Each season has its attractions. Sweet corn, blueberries, red raspberries, and summer apples are the high point from July through September. Fall brings the beautiful fall color of the many maple trees in Geauga County as well as fresh apple cider, pumpkins, and as many as 15 kinds of apples to sample at one time. Christmas brings the gift box shipping season with many customers blessing their friends with boxes of apples or a "Geauga Box" containing apples, Fowlers Mill's pancake mix, apple butter and maple syrup. Winter in Chardon is always an experience, but as the roads clear, each days business warms up and apple sales continue thanks to a refrigerated apple cooler capable of keeping the fall's harvest crisp and juicy till the season ends in April or May.

 

  

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11355 Chardon Rd Chardon, Ohio 44024 (440) 286-3416
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