The average fruit or vegetable in your local supermarket has traveled 2,000 miles from the field it was grown in. At local orchards, pick your own operations, roadside stands, and local farmers' markets around the region the fruits and vegetables have traveled less than 50 miles or might have been grown on the spot. At these locally operated orchards, farmers markets, and roadside stands it is possible to buy freshest produce for dinner or enough to can for the winter.
There is a wealth of orchards in the area. A third of Illinois’ substantial peach crop is grown in Calhoun County alone! Many of these farms have changed hands only a few times since they were given out as land grants to veterans of the War of 1812. The hills, bluffs, and the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers help to moderate the climate in southern Illinois, creating microclimates that protect orchards from drastic temperature fluctuations.
Boonies Farm
8863 Dustman Road
Worden, Illinois
618-307-4989
Whether you have kids or are a big kid at heart, Boonies Farm offers tons of activities. Explore the corn maze, take aim with the pumpkin and gourd cannon, take a hayride to pick out the perfect pumpkin, try the zip line, jumping pillow or giant hillside slide or just enjoy an afternoon playing giant Jenga, jumbo legos or hanging out with the animals.
Seasonal
Saturday: 9 am - 6 pm
Sunday: 11 am - 6 pm
Eberlin's Orchard
RR 1 Box 59
Golden Eagle, Illinois
618-954-9654
Open July through August, Eberlin's Orchard specializes in nothing but the best Calhoun County peaches.
Eckert's Country Store & Farms
20995 Eckert Orchard Road
Grafton, Illinois
618-786-3445
Eckert's specializes in peaches, blackberries, apples and pumpkins, pick-your-own produce from July through October as well as providing other fun activities. No Admission charge to enter the farm.
Open daily 9 am to 5 pm from July through October
Hagen Family Orchard
Brussels Ferry Road
Brussels Illinois
618-883-2385
Just 3 miles from the Brussels Free Ferry on CR-1, Hagen's offers peaches, apples and pumpkins from mid-July through October.
Open daily 8 am - 5 pm during the growing season.
For many, farmers markets and roadside stands are a pleasurable ritual in their lives. In contrast to America and its supermarkets, the local market is the center of communities around the world. The market provides a connection to the community, the seasons, and the farmers as well as providing health and environmental benefits. The produce of most supermarkets can travel thousands of miles to reach your dinner plate, but at a farmers market or roadside stand it’s refreshing to know that you are buying food directly from the producer of a product that is harvested daily. For these reasons local markets have been making a dramatic comeback in recent years.
Jacob's Orchard
RR 1 Box 138A
Golden Eagle, Illinois
618-883-2536
Pick-your-own Calhoun County peaches and pick up some tomatoes while you're here from mid-July through the end of August.
Open daily 8 am - 5 pm from mid-July through the end of August.
Joe Ringhausen Orchards & Market
24748 Reddish Road
Fieldon, Illinois
618-376-6772
Joe Ringhausen Orchards & Market features pick-your-own peaches, apples, plums and blackberries or shop the market for cider, jellies, squash, pumpkins and more from July through Christmas.
Monday - Friday: 8 am - 5 pm
Sunday: Noon - 5 pm
Kamp's Orchard
RR 1 Box 114
Golden Eagle, Illinois
618-883-2410
From July through August, Kamp's specializes in peaches, nectarines, plums, blackberries and a variety of tomatoes and garden vegetables.
Open daily 9 am - 5 pm from late June to late August.
One of the reasons to shop at these seasonal markets is the culinary experience they engender. Shopping for fresh, seasonal produce brings out inspiration, imagination, and creativity in the cook. And who hasn’t lamented at the taste and texture of tomatoes or corn during the cold winter months and waited in anticipation for the arrival of the next season.
Krueger's Orchard
2914 Airport Road
Godfrey, Illinois
618-466-3576
Summer and fall vegetables, as well as peaches, melons, tomatoes, sweet corn, pumpkins and fall decorations are available at Krueger's.
Open daily 11 am - 6 pm from July through October.
Odelehr's Roadside Market
Brussels Ferry Road
Brussels, Illinois
618-883-2265
Odelehr's Roadside Market features berries, peaches, apples, tomatoes, corn, and canned goods. Pumpkins, squash, gourds, cider, apple butter and decorations round out the produce wares in the fall.
Open daily 9 am - 5 pm April 1 through mid-November.
Pearson's Produce
6304 Humbert Road
Godfrey, Illinois
618-401-7286
Pearson's Produce features summer and fall vegetables, as well as peaches, melons, tomatoes, sweet corn and pumpkins.
Open April 14 to October 31 daily from 9 am - 6:30 pm.
There plenty of roadside stands that can be found around the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway area and several larger farmers markets that can be found in its cities. Whether you're traveling through or planning a trip, visitors through the area should take advantage of the season’s cornucopia.
Ringhausen Apple House
19770 US Highway 67
Jerseyville, Illinois
618-498-6951
Peaches, apples and plums are ready to be picked with a wide variety of produce and goods available in the market from July 5 through Christmas at Ringhausen Apple House.
Monday - Saturday: 8 am - 5 pm
Sunday: Noon - 5 pm
Three Rivers Farm Stand
22935 Chautauqua Road
Elsah, Illinois
618-946-7974
Find produce is grown at this farm using organic practices at Three Rivers Farm Stand. In addition, the stand is stocked local goods like pasture-raised meats, honey, eggs from their pastured laying hens, cheese from Marcoot Creamery, orchard fruit and flower bouquets grown from the flower garden. Please access through Elsah and not the village of Chautauqua.
Thursday - Friday: 10 am - 7 pm & Saturday: 9 am - 2 pm
Tom Ringhausen Orchard & Market
Routes 16 & 100
Across the bridge from Hardin, Illinois
618-576-2311
You’ll find white peaches to pumpkins, and Honey Crisp apples at Tom Ringhausen Orchard. Shop the market for a wide variety of produce from July 1 through Thanksgiving.
Open daily during harvest time 8 am - 6 pm
Sunday: 9 am - 6 pm
Uncle Andy's Country Market
1 East Main Street
Grafton, Illinois
618-786-4856
Uncle Andy's Country Market is located in the heart of Grafton along the Great River Road. Choose from the best locally grown produce May 1 through November 1.
