Where is the Chesterhill Produce Auction?

The Chesterhill Produce Auction sits just south of the village of Chesterhill, OH. For specific directions, head to our Contacts + Directions page.

What kind of auction is this?

The Chesterhill Produce Auction is an auction where people bid on produce, bidding back and forth, until no one beats the top bid. The highest bidder wins the amount of produce specified by the auctioneer. This is an absolute auction. It is the buyer’s responsibility to understand what they’re bidding on and for how much. Once the bidding is complete, it is now your product and the Chesterhill Produce Auction is not liable for anything that may happen to it afterwards.

Seller Questions

For a list of the Seller Rules and CPA Market reports, visit the Sellers page.

How can I sell at the auction?

It’s easy!

  1. Bring the product you want to sell before 3pm on regular auction days.
  2. If you don’t have a grower number yet, stop by the office and make sure to sign up for one! Fill out and sign a consignment sheet at the front desk.
  3. Make sure your produce is tagged appropriately with your grower number, variety, and size, if applicable.
  4. Place your produce in the appropriate area, such as in big lots vs. small lots, depending on the amount you have.
Do you have reserves?

No, we are an absolute auction.

When do I get paid?

Checks are available the following Thursday and will include both the previous Monday and Thursday auction. Checks will be available for pickup in the office during that day’s auction and will be mailed out the following day if no one comes to claim it.

How much is commission?

Commission is 16% for all items.

Do I have to be organic/GAP certified?

It is not required, but we do offer GAP training occasionally with partner organizations, which can help you if you are trying to sell to certain institutions. For more information, contact Tom Redfern at tomr@ruralaction.org.

Does the produce have to be mine?

No, but growers who bring their own produce will have priority over people who bring others’ produce.

Do I need to bring my own packaging? What sizes do you sell produce in?

We ask that growers use the packaging available at the Chesterhill Produce Auction for packaging for sale. We have boxes available in ½ peck, peck, ½ bushel, and bushel. We also have various other containers for produce. If you want to purchase packaging, please inquire at the office at the CPA.

Are there regulations to sell livestock at the Chesterhill Produce Auction?

Yes. Livestock may be consigned during Saturday auctions (see the Events page for the next auction date). We can accept fowl, swine, rabbits, goats, sheep, and cows. We do not sell pets or exotic animals. At this time, sellers do need to bring cages for their animals, but we will not sell the cage and you may take it back with you after the auction.

We are required to follow Ohio law and test each flock of chickens for Pullorum-Typhoid disease. If you are bringing chickens from an NPIP-certified flock, you must bring documentation. Sellers will be charged $1 per tested bird, up to $3 (this will be deducted from your consignment check).

For other questions about consigning livestock, please contact Jessica Dotson at jessicad@ruralaction.org or call 740-677-4047.

Buyer Questions

For a list of the Buyer Rules, Ordering Buying form, and Buying Club information, please visit the Buyers page.

What are your hours?

On normal auction days (Mondays and Thursdays), the auction begins promptly at 4:00 PM. Depending on the amount of produce, the auction lasts 1.5 to 3 hours. On specialty auctions the start time varies, please see the Events page for detailed information.

How do I buy at the auction?

It’s easy!

  1. Come to the auction house and head to the office and ask for a bidding number. The person in the office will get your information down, typically through a driver’s license, and then you will get a notecard with your bidding number on it.
  2. When the auctioneer comes to something you like, at a price and quantity you like, raise your number to get your bid in!
  3. If you win the bid and item, you can go to the office to checkout or you can continue to bid on other items and checkout all of your items once the auction is over.
What produce will you have today?

The availability of items day-to-day is dependent on what our growers bring, and we often don’t have all items in until an hour before the auction begins. To see what produce is typically in season, please check our seasonal produce chart. For specific items, you can check the last market reports for a good guess of what has been coming that week and what price it has been going for.

I don’t need a lot of produce. Are there smaller amounts available?

You bet! At the Chesterhill Produce Auction, we have two produce auctions going on: one for small lots and one for large lots. Small lots are typically single sizes (i.e: one peck of apples, one bushel of green beans, etc.) while large lots are typically done in sets of three or more. (i,e: three pecks of squash, five pumpkins, etc.)

How can I pay for the produce I won?

The Chesterhill Produce Auction accepts most forms of payment. We can take checks, cash, and debit/ credit cards. Debit and credit cards have a 3.5% surcharge.

What if I bought too much product and can’t transport it?

Under special circumstances, we can make arrangements for you to either store it at the CPA, or we can store it in our refrigerated truck. The refrigerated truck is stationed at our office in The Plains and if you need to pick up produce, simply ask one of the people in the Sustainable Agriculture office. Once you’ve bought it, however, we are no longer liable for what happens to the product.

Do I need to bring my own cage for livestock I buy?

Yes. Most sellers request their cages do not sell, so buyers must bring their own transportation or small cages for chickens and other livestock.