MARCOOT JERSEY CREAMERY IN GREENVILLE
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ECKERT'S SUNFLOWERS IN BELLEVILLE
BIGARD'S STRAWBERRY PATCH & PEACH ORCHARD IN JASPER COUNTY
FARM FUN! Find Your Agritourism Adventure When it comes to making memories with loved ones, there aren’t many places better than the outdoors − especially when it means going to a farm to pick fresh produce, or to walk through a sunflower maze. This type of travel is often referred to as agritourism, and it has boomed in the last 20 years. Since 2002 agritourism revenue across the country has more than tripled! ILLINOISouth is full of farms and agritourism adventure, so here are a few to plan a day or even a weekend around! One of the most well−known farms in all of ILLINOISouth is Eckert’s in Belleville. The spring and summer are perfect for enjoying everything that Eckert’s has to offer − and it’s A LOT! Starting in May strawberries are available, followed over the next several weeks by blackberries, peaches, a variety of vegetables and then apples. Another extremely popular attraction that Eckert’s offers during late July and early August is their Sunflower Trail, which folks of all ages love to enjoy! Before you leave the farm, make sure to head into their General Store to shop from a HUGE variety of locally made goods. Oh, and don’t forget to grab some ice cream from their Custard Shop − because who doesn’t love ice cream in the summer...right?! A hop, skip, and a stone’s throw away from Eckert’s lies Braeutigam Orchards − another fantastic spot to pick your own produce. Braeutigam opens their doors on June 1st and has a robust offering of fruits and vegetables including tart cherries, apricots, blueberries, summer squash, plums, grapes and more! Another notable stop for produce is Stoecklin’s Orchard ILLINOISouth.org
in Bond County. Blueberries are the name of the game at Stoecklin’s, as they grow a few different varieties. Aside from blueberries, this orchard is very well known for their annual Hummingbird Festival − which is often held in June. Tucked away outside of Centralia is an orchard that is home to some of the best apple cider you’ll ever have. Schawartz Orchard has won several national and state awards for their cider, which is usually available beginning in the July to August timeframe. Schwartz opens for the season on May 7th − and will have strawberries, hanging plants and fresh vegetables available, as well as goodies like cobblers and apple cider donuts. The peaches at Schwartz are amazing as well, and they are usually ready to purchase in July. In our Eastern Region, folks from counties around make the trip to Bigard’s Strawberry Patch and Peach Orchard in Jasper County. When you pull up to Bigard’s, one of the first things you’ll likely see is a couple of charming donkeys (likely chowing down on some of the fruit grown on this farm)! For those who go to Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area to take in the sunflowers, a stop for fresh fruit at Bigard’s is the best way to cap off the day. Just north of Greenup in Cumberland County, Grissom’s Lost Creek Orchard offers up both apples and peaches beginning in mid-July. For those who love jams, butters, and salsa − they make and package their own at Grissom’s. Much like Schwartz, Grissom’s is also very well known for their cider (it’s award−winning for a reason) − so it’s
probably best to clear a spot in your fridge before making a trip to Grissom’s! ILLINOISouth’s agritourism scene also features plenty of farm animals! There are two stops you absolutely have to make in Greenville − and both center around cows! Rolling Lawns Farm specializes in milk and heavy cream that folks can come in and buy fresh, right out of their coolers at their Milk House location. They often have different flavors of milk − everything from chocolate and strawberry to cappuccino and red velvet! Be sure to check them out on Saturday mornings when they have fresh donuts to pair with their amazing milk! The other stop you have to make while in Greenville is to Marcoot Jersey Creamery − which offers up a WIDE array of products to take home and enjoy. Before you load up on food, make sure to stop by their barn and say hello to the calves (availability pending due to the pandemic). A cooler is probably in order for this stop, because all of their cheese is AMAZING − including their very snackable cheese curds. They also have meat available, and no trip to Marcoot is complete without trying some of their phenomenal ice cream! Tourism Times • 6
