The Largest Family-Owned Pick-Your-Own Orchard Is Right Here In Illinois
By Melissa Mahoney|Published April 07, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
In the western part of Illinois and close to St. Louis is Eckert’s Farms which claims to have the largest family-owned-and-operated pick-your-own orchard in the country. Eckert’s actually has three farms in Southeastern Illinois in Belleville, Grafton, and Millstadt. The Belleville location is, by far, the largest with a restaurant and a store open all year long and a seasonal pick-your-own orchard, while the other locations are open seasonally.
The farm's long history began in 1837 when Johann Peter Eckert began farming in the area after emigrating from Germany. In 1910, one of his descendants, Alvin O. Eckert, opened a roadside produce stand, marking the farm's humble beginnings.
Over the years, Eckert family descendants have operated and grown the business. Today, it is run by the 6th and 7th generations.
Eckert's Belleville Farm is open year-round with a country store and restaurant that are open daily. The pick-your-own produce season starts sometime in May when the crops are first ready.
The massive country retail store has wine, a bakery, a deli, a meat market, and fresh local produce, much of which is grown on the farm. So, if you don't want to pick your own fruit and vegetables, you can find what's in season at the store.
As for pick-your-own fruit and vegetables, the season normally begins sometime in May, but a number of factors like weather and climate can, of course, affect the exact time when crops are ready. But when things are ready, it's a fun-filled experience the whole family can enjoy!
Throughout the pick-your-own season, Eckert's Belleville Orchard will have strawberries, blackberries, peaches, and veggies like tomatoes, onions, and peppers, just to name a few.
If you don't want to pick your own produce, that's okay! Eckert's has plenty of in-season fruit and vegetables available for purchase at the Country Store.
While you're at the Belleville farm, stop in for a meal at the family restaurant which serves up some incredible down-home style cooking. Their famous fried chicken is the one menu item you can't leave without trying.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served here seven days a week, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Have you visited Eckert’s Farms for pick-your-own? If so, what fruit or vegetables did you pick? Please tell us all about it in the comments.
For more information on Eckert’s, including store and restaurant hours, locations, events, and pick-your-own schedule, visit the website or Facebook page. If you’re looking for additional pick-your-own fruit farms, head to this post.
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