The Orchard Shop at Minnetrista

Four stars for the history and the Farmer’s Market. If you’re in town between April and October, I highly recommend checking out the Farmer’s Market next to the Orchard shop.
The Ball family used to have an orchard here and the shop sold the apples and cider. The used to have a huge old fashioned cider press that I loved watching in operation as a kid. I wonder what ever happened to that?
Now they have a bunch of knick knacks and local snack food. The apples come from nearby – how near, I’m not sure – and you the still press their own cider (somewhere). The cider is really good and really the biggest reason to come. Minnetrista cider is a hallowed Muncie autumn tradition.

I stop by every Saturday during the Muncie Farmer’s Market (which you should definitely visit. And if you do, make sure you get the Strawberry Bread and the Banana Chocolate Bread from the Under the Sun Bakery folks… but I digress).
This little specialty shop has lots of local jams, jellys, honeys and spreads. It’s not a big shop, for sure, and there are some little funny knick-​knacks for the kitchen and bathroom. But if you’re around + looking for some yummy, local spreads… this is the place to do it. (I never buy my spreads anywhere but here.)
Of course, you’ll be paying local prices instead of the discounted grocery prices, but let’s be honest: how often can you eat Marsh Jelly before you give up on life? (The answer: 42. So don’t reach that number. Go to the Orchard Shop.)