Imagine trying to keep pace with the changes and variations in Washington suburban area tastes for fruits and vegetables, and having to decide what to grow on a 300-acre farming operation so that your “inventory” is constantly on the move.

Successful farmers have to do this every day, and Rich Calimer and his family members on their farms and orchards in the rolling hills of Sabillasville work every year to find the secret. “The biggest challenge is keeping things coming in regular,” says Rich, as he described the growing season that begins in March with hothouse tomatoes planted for harvest in June; sweet corn and peas germinated in March for June harvest; corn planted weekly and cantaloupes picked daily in the growing season to keep supply constant, all the way to the last crop of tomatoes planted in July in hopes of tomatoes in November!

Scenic View supplies not only West Frederick’s market but six other large markets in Montgomery County, 10 roadside stands and the family’s retail operation. It’s all in the family---with farms and orchards owned and run by Rich’s brother, brother-in-law, daughter, and nephews who are the seventh generation of the family to be on the farm.

Rich grew up in northern Frederick County when the family market operation consisted of his brother selling from the picnic table at their house. Rich headed to the University of Idaho for an education in agricultural marketing, staying out West in Montana for a time to learn it the hard way when he spent 10 years working for a wholesale distributor on seed plants and grain elevators. He returned to Frederick County to lead the expansion of the farms’ marketing footprint and the construction of two more buildings for handling all the produce.

His marketing background comes in handy as he notices the buying habits of the different communities where the markets are located—for example, people everywhere won’t buy seeded watermelons anymore, that the African American community in Montgomery County clamors for hot peppers that don’t sell in Frederick, and that people prefer bicolor corn!

Note to market shoppers: Scenic View is happy to take pre-orders for pickup at the market: just call 301-271 2149.