Ashtabula Local Food Festival: Harvest in the Harbor

09/30/2025

Katie Swart's Daily Bread Sourdough took second place at Ashtabula's Harvest in the Harbor Festival as she prepares to expand from home kitchen to brick-and-mortar location next month.

09/25/2025

Chestnut season and life just got better...these beauties are from a farm in Conneaut! You can gather them yourself or have them gather for you. If you want some on off days, stop into Harbor Gardens to pick up a few pounds!

These are two of my favorite hunter-gatherers.😍😍 My friend Beth noted we should use the term “gather” rather than “pick.” We are not picking these 🌰 off the 🌳. Rather, we are gathering 🌰🌰🌰 off the ground when their husks 🦔 release them.

Stop out Friday 4-7 or this weekend 9-5 to gather some to try! 🌰🌰🌰

Hours: M, W, F 4-7pm
Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm

Location: 497 West Main Rd. Conneaut, Ohio

Pricing:
Pick-your own chestnuts $4.70/ #
pre-picked chestnuts $5.80/ #

Gear: We recommend boots and thick gloves in the orchard. The husks around the chestnuts are like little hedgehogs. 🦔

Kids: the farm is fenced and the orchard is at the back, so little people can explore without going too far.

Please call ☎️ or text julia at 614-359-3180 with questions or to place a pre-picked order. We’ll let you when it’s ready for pick up.

We hope to see you and your people 😽👩🏾‍⚕️👨🏽‍🎤👨🏻‍🏭👨🏼‍🚒🧙🏾‍♂️🧚🏻in the orchard!

09/22/2025

The results of the Sourdough Baking Competition held at Riverbend Hotel in Ashtabula, Ohio on Sunday as part of the Harvest in the Harbor Festival are in. We had 5 entries in the Professional Division. The blue ribbon, first place winner was Melissa Baumbick from Pointer Pastures- Farm Market. Melissa sells at the Jefferson Ohio Farmers Market. The red ribbon, second place winner was Katie Swart whose business is Daily Bread Sourdough Bakery. The third place winner was Annie Jacobs whose business is The Golden Crumb Sourdough co.. Annie can be found on Wednesdays at the Orwell’s Farmers Market.

In the amateur division, we had an impressive 9 entries! The 1st place winner was Michael Ferrari. The 2nd place winner was Michelle Gage. The 3rd place winner was Deborah Carson.

All of the winners won ribbons and either recipe books or sourdough baking equipment. Thanks to all the entrants for their visually stunning and delicious appearance, crumb structure, flavor, and crust texture. What showcase competitions would you suggest for next year's event?

09/22/2025

Well, another Harvest in the Harbor festival has come and gone. As part of the festivities, we held a tomato tasting by the Carlisle Pavilion along the Ashtabula River. We wanted a representative sample of tomato types, including beefsteak, slicers, paste, and cherry tomatoes. We traveled to the different farmers' markets to purchase tomatoes from the farmers selling them. Visitors were able to sample and vote for 13 different tomatoes. With 24 voters, the first place winner with 7 votes was Jolly Girl, grown by Grandmas Grainery, Judy and Joy Pallant sell at the Jefferson Farmers Market. Jolly Girl F1 is a determinate hybrid grape tomato maturing in about 55 days. Strong bushy plants produce uniform, oblong fruits up to ½ oz. with high brix, excellent flavor, and very good shelf life. The bright red grape-shaped tomatoes have almost no cracking and maintain their quality throughout harvest.

The second and third place winners with 6 and 5 votes respectively were Indigo Kumquat, also from Grandmas Grainery. Indigo Kumquat is a F1 Hybrid with high-yielding plants that produce 15–20 gm. orange fruits with dark indigo-colored shoulders. Very sweet flavor with a surprising, tart kick of acidity. Compact indeterminate plant requires minimal pruning and yields well, even in unfavorable conditions.

It looks like voters prefer the taste and appearance of cherry tomatoes. On to next year's festival planning. Maybe a best local salsa including local market veggies such as tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos and peppers! Yum!

First Picture - Jolly Girl
Second Picture - Indigo Kumquat

09/22/2025

There were over 100 ways to collect a (free) stamp at yesterday’s festival….

Collect stamps from restaurants, retail shops, vendors, demos, farmers' market, talks, cooking demos as you go....and WIN! Bring completed cards to the information booth and enter to win fabulous prizes from local shops! Collect 10 and have a chance to win! Winners of the Stroll Down Bridge Street!

Grand Prize: $200 in Bridge Street Bucks (use like cash on Bridge Street) and a canvas Harvest bag! Plus - a $25.00 gift certificate to Harbor Gardens
Grand Prize winner: Rose Mary Burns

2nd and 3rd Prizes: $100 and $50.00 Bridge Street Bucks and a canvas Harvest bag

2nd: Debbie Gillman and
3rd: Julie 330 area code….we called you and left a message!

09/21/2025

Looking forward to seeing you today….enjoy the harbor and the celebration of local food!

09/20/2025

More goodies for the festival!

ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT!!! until the Ashtabula Local Food Festival down at the Ashtabula harbor from Sunday morning from 10am-4pm

Today is our big bread day! We are baking about 60 loaves for the event on sunday! We have to start today because we are baking all these loaves out of just one tiny little oven, and have some delicate pastry to bake off tomorrow in order to ensure they stay crispy and light for the event on sunday!

We are revisiting some past favorites including

Garlic herb Fococcia
Brandied Peach and Pecan Focaccia
Wild Mushroom and Swiss Focaccia
French Onion Focaccia
Cheddar Jalapeno Focaccia

We may also have 2 or 3 suprise flavors show up, depending on how late into the night we bake today and tomorrow. I dont want to announce them yet and overcommit and disappoint anyone who might look forward to them, as such ill make a post with the full list morning of the festival.

Please stop by and help sell us out

We love you guys, we are so gratefull for allnL of your buisness and support! Cant wait to see you Sunday at the stand!

09/19/2025

Join us this Sunday…..at the festival pick up a card and get a stamp at each place you visit….cash prizes! Free to participate!

AshtabulaLocalFoodFestival.org

Sponsors: Bridge Street Artworks, Briquettes Smokehouse, Phooey Farms, Carlisle’s, Riverbend Hotel, Harbor Medical Clinic, Made in Ohio, Harbor Gardens

09/18/2025

Onion jam. What could get more fresh and local!

09/17/2025

The schedule is here and as you can see, there is something for everyone- yoga, food demos, music, goat petting, farmers market, tomato tasting, sourdough contest, food trucks and more! Plan to stay all day and enjoy the Harvest in the Harbor!