Witten Smith Farm Market History

The Witten Smith Farm Market History

Smith Market in Columbus and Gahanna became part of The Witten Farm Market family in 2011. This location has a long history beginning in 1938 with fourth-generation farmer, Lot Smith who began his business selling turnips, asparagus, and sweet corn.

1938

Fourth-Generation Farmer, Lot Smith, begins working full time on the family farm and gets married to his wife, Bettie Jane. They go on to raise a family of four daughters.

1940’s – 1960’s

Lot and his dad Arthur run a booming wholesale business with turnips, 75 acres of asparagus and 300 acres of sweet corn.

1973

Lot opens Smith Farm Market on a corner just up the road from the farm where he sells his family’s homegrown fruits and vegetables.

1975

Lot adds “home bakery pies” to the list of items available at Smith Farm Market.

1978

Lot retires from wholesaling asparagus, sweet corn and turnips but continues farming and operating Smith Farm Market.

1980

After being introduced to Lot during his college career at The Ohio State University, Bill Kline joins Smith Farm Market as Lot’s business partner and the market’s operations manager.

1986

Bill purchases the farm market from Lot and sources produce from local farms across the state of Ohio, including The Witten Farm and their world famous sweet corn. Lot continues farming his pick-ur-own fields and hosting educational farm tours until his retirement in 1994.

1994

Lot sells the famous 325-acre Smith Farms to the city of Columbus for a fraction of its value to be used as parkland rather than being developed.

1995

Julie Witten has her first experience with Smith Farm Market working as an intern while attending The Ohio State University.

1999

Bill expands the Smith Farm Market name and opens a roadside farm market in Gahanna, OH.

2011

Julie, Tom and Scott Witten purchase Smith Farm Market and introduce the Columbus area to more of their locally grown flowers, fruits and vegetables. They also replace the roadside farm market in Gahanna with one of their well-known produce wagons.