Folsom's Zittel Farms is bustling once again as

October still has a couple of days until it arrives but Zittel Farms in Folsom has been bustling with visitors already all searching for that perfect pumpkin. Zittel Farms has been a destination for families to kick off the holiday season since 1976. Nestled in the heart of the city, it remains a destination for generations of Folsom residents as well as distant travelers each year. The Zittel family is still quite involved in the day-to-day operations of Folsom's iconic farm. This time of year, there are always many varieties of pumpkins, dried lavender, local honey and craft preserves, antiques, a corn maze for kids and young-at-heart adults, mouth-watering kettle corn and farm animals to admire, such as cows, chickens, goats and pigs. Through the years, the Zittel family has appeared on the pages of many Folsom Telegraphs and have been interviewed by numerous editors and reporters. Each of those interviews shared a great deal of local history, all of which were told with a smile and great pride in the community they serve. Longtime resident Roger Zittel is an East Coast native who grew up on a seventh-generation vegetable farm just south of Buffalo, New York. He made his way to Folsom during a time when there were less people here. "There were 4,000 people in Folsom at the time we came. You won't believe it, there was one stop sign, simpler times. Everyone knew each other, which was nice," recalls Zittel. He and his wife, Mary, have long enjoyed collecting Amish antiques. Many antiques can be seen in the barn and at the farm, including the sheepherder's wagon and Cinderella wagon that has brought smiles to so many kids through the years and has been the background to thousands of family photos showing off all those big bright pumpkins with the unique, beautiful stems that are one of the family's favorites. "You're not going to see those kinds of pumpkins in grocery stores," Vickie Zittel told the Telegraph in an earlier interview. "The farm gives the community a taste of the rural life, even though it's in the middle of this bustling metropolis."Zittel Farms carries numerous types of pumpkins, including Gooseneck Gourds and Cinderella pumpkins that tend to have a deeper, richer shade of orange. Families have been coming back to the farm for generations, a sight the Zittels are always happy to see. Even during the restrictions in place during 2020, the farm saw a great deal of visitors. This year, the numbers are soaring once again with new visitors and many returnees. "You know you're getting older when people come back and say, 'Gee, I came here when I was 3 years old' and now they are in their 70s. We laugh about it and now they bring their grandkids here," said Roger. Zittel Farms Pumpkin Patch is sure to be a busy place in the days ahead and will remain open through Oct. 31. Halloween is just the first of many holidays that the farm sees many visitors. In just a matter of weeks, the area that is now filled with pumpkins will become a small forest as a Christmas tree lot annually occupies the space. Zittel Farms is located at 6781 Oak Ave. in Folsom. Parking and admission is free to the farm, just as it was back in 1976. One modern addition to this good-old- fashioned farm is technology, meaning you can learn more about them and see their updated hours at www.zittelfarms.com.