-Farm Stand -field-grown cut flowers -hayrides -corn maze -tours for schools -flashlight tag -pick-your-own pumpkins -Portsmouth Farmers Market - Sat. 8-1 -Rye Farmers Market - Wed. 2-6 -York Farmers Market - Sat. 9-1 For many years, residents of southern Maine have flocked to Zach’s Farm in York to purchase some of their famous sweet corn that’s always guaranteed to be fresh. The Zacharias family have run Zach’s Farm Stand on Route 91 in York for many years. They sell a variety of vegetables and fruits that are grown on their farm and they have developed a reputation for their variety of fresh melons and beautiful cut flowers. The Farm Stand is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the first weekend of August until mid-October. Offerings at Zach’s Farm have undergone significant changes and individuals and groups flock to the farm for special events, hayrides, the gigantic corn maze, and flashlight tag. People might describe Zach’s Farm as a conventional farm with many recently-added unconventional features! John Zacharias purchased 260 acres on Birch Hill Road in York in 1977. This dramatically increased his family farm’s production. John’s father, Lewis “Dick” Zacharias owned and operated a fresh produce company, Berry Hill Farm, in York for many years. His son and grandson have followed in his path and are known for their quality vegetables and fruits. John’s son, Abe, has joined his Dad in helping to run the farm. John has developed an interest for growing a wide variety of cut flowers and he has established his own floral business that goes by the name of “Abe’s Farm Fresh Flowers.” Abe sells his flowers to some wholesale accounts and several brides purchase their flowers for their weddings from him. Abe’s flowers can be ordered for pick-up or delivery. Other items from Zach’s Farm that can be ordered include corn, pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, corn stalks, honey, peppers, potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, and squash. The Zacharias family began offering a corn maze in 2004. Each year there is a different design that is cut into the seventeen acres of cornfields. There have been a variety of images such as a spider, bat, pumpkin, peace sign, triangle, and a farm tractor pulling two wagons. Various words have been incorporated in the designs over the years such as “Zach’s Farm,” and “Stonewall Kitchen Jam.” Visitors enjoy attempting to navigate through the corn maze. It is open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from mid-September through Halloween. Admission is eight dollars for all individuals. Youngsters under three are admitted for free. Visitors to Zach’s Farm can board a wagon that is pulled by a tractor and enjoy a twenty-minute ride to the maze. During the fall season the maze is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. through 6 p.m. through Halloween. There are also tractor-pulled hayrides to a large field of pick-your-own pumpkins. The pumpkin field consists of five rows that cover a half-mile long area. Have you heard of “flashlight tag?” Zach’s Farm offers this fun activity on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. when the maze is operating. Teens especially enjoy this pastime and it proves so much neater and safer than being ambushed by a paintball! Younger children enjoy the large playground that is composed of all different sizes and shapes of hay bales. Various groups plan outings and birthday celebrations at the maze. Schools enjoy field trips to the farm on weekdays and weekends. Some groups sign up for a group maze run, a group flashlight tag event, or a group hayride. Zach’s operates their farm stand on a daily basis and also participates in three farmers markets. On Saturday mornings they have a booth at the York Farmers Market and the Portsmouth Farmers Market. On Wednesday afternoons you can find them at the Rye Farmers’ Market. John and Abe Zacharias pride themselves on offering fresh produce. When items are not sold by the end of the day they have made arrangements with local Master Gardeners for the vegetables to be picked up and delivered to local food pantries. They have worked with the York County Cooperative Extension’s “Harvest for Hunger” program for over ten years. In 2012, Zach’s Farm donated 6,447 pounds to the Harvest for Hunger program. The 4-H Coastal Clover Garden program has had a plot at Zach’s Farm for several years. They harvested 2,587 pounds of food for the Harvest for Hunger program in 2012 from the plot at Zach’s Farm. Besides donating their land for use by the 4-H Coastal Clovers, Zach and Abe have helped prepare the land and assist with irrigating the crops for the young farmers. They have also donated flowers and vegetables to the York Land Trust’s “From the Ground Up” annual Farm Fresh Benefit Dinner each year. When fall arrives next year, be sure to mark a trip to Zach’s Farm on your calendar. It’s always reassuring to know that fresh produce picked right from the fields will be available at Zach’s Farm Stand. After stopping at the Farm Stand you can head down the road and turn on to Birch Hill Road. Make sure you take the first lefthand turn on to Colby Turner Road since it will bring you to the farm. You will pass several fields filled with sunflowers and vegetables. A beautiful farmhouse is positioned at the top of the road. There is a great view overlooking the corn fields and the gigantic patch of pumpkins. Many choices will await you. There’s the hay rides, corn maze, pumpkin picking, and hay bale playground. If Lewis “Dick” Zacharias were still alive, he probably would be very proud to see how his son and grandson have diversified the farm operation. With all the activities that take place on the farm property each fall, Zach’s Farm has come a long way from the days of Berry Hill Farm when fresh produce was the sole focus.