Pick-your-own fruit farm to close after more than 40 years

A popular pick-your-own berry farm in Champlin is closing down after more than 40 years.

Bauer Berry Farm was launched in 1977 by Bill and Nancy Bauer, with the help of the latter's parents and their two sons, and grew blueberries and strawberries.

The farm had also grown pick-your-own corn, but stopped doing that last year as the Bauers said they had to cut back for health reasons.

Now with the most recent growing season behind them, the Bauers have announced it will be their last.

"Now it's only the two of us and the time has come that we must step down from our arduous and stressful lifestyle and retire from operating our pick your own berry farm," they wrote on Facebook.

"Over the years we have been blessed with lasting relationships with many repeat customers. In the end, we may have even been growing berries for the grandchildren of our first pickers. This is the part of our farm operation that we will miss.

"All of your eager faces as you drove up to our gate were what kept us going for so many years. But now, the long days and nights of growing fruits and vegetables are behind us. Our bodies are worn out and it is time to move on to the next chapter."

Other pick-your-own growers in the Twin Cities area and greater Minnesota can be found by visiting www.minnesotagrown.com.