By ANNA GILGOFF

Special to The Press

It’s that time of the year, when trees deepen their hues even as darkness creeps in earlier and earlier.

But at local farm stands, bright orange pumpkins and deep red apples lure shoppers looking to benefit from nature’s bounty.

Orefield resident Katherine Mills couldn’t resist the display of mums in every autumn shade.

“I’m thinking the orange or dark red,” she said, as she walked among the plants at Mike Fink’s Water Wheel Farm Market, Route 309, Heidelberg Township.

“Right now, it’s definitely the mums, apples and pumpkins that are attracting attention,” said Sarah Tirpak, who was busy assisting customers.

Water Wheel has become a beloved fixture in the community.

“It’s affiliated with Heidel Hollow Farms, but we’ve been here for many years,” Tirpak said. “We open in May and close at the end of October.”

Further south on Route 309, New Tripoli resident Liz Wagner was busy assisting customers at Crooked Row Farm and Market, Orefield.

Wagner has owned Crooked Row since 2017.

“Business is good but it always slows down a little in September when school starts up, but the second we have pumpkins, it picks back up again,” she said.

Shoppers love the unique experience that farm stands provide.

“The owner is awesome and the food is fresh,” said Betsy Brommer, who has been shopping at the stand for 30 years. “Besides, I like supporting local agriculture.”