The trees are changing color, the days getting shorter, and pumpkin-spice fever is starting to spread; and this Saturday the WSU Organic Farm’s annual Harvest Festival is the place to get your hands on the October staple.

Every fall since 2005, the Organic Farm has hosted the Harvest Festival, and this year at their new location, on Terre View near the Bear Center, will be a first look at the new facility and this year’s pumpkin harvest. The pumpkin patch is the main attraction, but also available for purchase are less traditional red and white gourds.

Farm manager Bradley Jaeckel has been with the WSU Organic Farm since 2004. With the new move to the Eggert site, he is excited for the annual festival to be closer to campus.

“This is the big event to get the community to come out and see the farm,” Jaeckel said. “The new location is a lot bigger and closer to campus. We are centered around 10 acres that include an orchard, vegetable field, perennial crops, flowers and completely brand new infrastructure. But the main event Saturday is the U-pick Pumpkin Patch.”

Before the big move to the Eggert site, the WSU Organic Farm shared a facility with the Tukey Orchard, and past Harvest Festivals have included U-pick apples, fresh cider and wagon rides.

During the same hours as the Harvest Festival, the Tukey Orchard will be open and has U-pick as well as already harvested apples and pears for purchase. The Tukey Orchard, which is at the junction of Terre View Drive and Airport Road, is not far from the Eggert site and has been operating since 1974.

The fall produce such as apples and pears will last through at least December, with new varieties becoming ripe as the season progresses, such as the red delicious that will be ready for U-pick next weekend, as manager Deb Pehrson said. In the spring they continue to yield crops, such as the Cougar red tomato that was cross-bred last year. All can be bought Fridays noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Together, the Tukey and Eggert Organic Farm provide fresh produce throughout the year, but the Harvest Festival and fall season in general are the peaks for production and community interaction.

Keep an eye out for WSU organic produce sales on the Glenn-Terrell mall Wednesdays, where you can pick up fresh fruits and vegetables such as plums, tomatoes, garlic, onions and much more. 

The Harvest Festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, which will overlap the hours of the Tukey Farm. Jack-o-lanterns at the Organic Farm and golden delicious apples at the Tukey farm are both U-pick and cost 75 cents per pound. Both sites are a short walk from campus. If you want to learn more or get involved at either one of the farms, visit their websites at http://css.wsu.edu/organicfarm/ and http://horticulture.wsu.edu/orchard/.

 Reporting by Samuel Martinez