Cooler temps bring large crowds to Phoenix-area farms

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A record-hot start to the fall created one of the slowest starts to a fall season for some Valley Farms.

Mother Nature's Farm in Gilbert said the heatwave at the end of September and early October would impact pumpkins and likely keep more people at home . But on Friday, a cooldown made its way to Arizona, the perfect opportunity for families to visit some of the Phoenix-area farms.

"First couple of weeks were kind of hard. It was a little warm; people weren't coming out, but this last week has picked up," one of the owners, Wade Kelsall, said. "The runup has been one of the slowest we've had. It's never the rain that slows people down. It's always the heat."

Kelsall knew the weather would turn at some point, and he is grateful it has finally arrived.

sent a crew to Mother Nature's Farm a few weeks ago when the high temperatures were just above 110 degrees. Only a few families were at the farm, and they all came after the sun went down.

On Friday, there were crowds of families there by 3:30 p.m.

"Wait it out. We knew the weather was going to change," one mother named Fran said. "The kids get to get their pumpkins. It's just a great family tradition."

Fran said her family was not going to enjoy the fall festivities until the temperatures dropped. Her husband Steve said that with this cooldown, they knew it was time to get out and do something outdoors.

"We just love getting out here as a family being as a family is what its all about. It was time. Its time to be outside for the next six or seven months," he said.

The family running the farm wants to hear that. The fall is the busiest time of year for them, as they make about 85% of their income from it. With cooler temperatures continuing through the weekend, the farm hopes this will be its best weekend of the year.