Looking for a fantastic family day out in Illinois? What could be better than a day spent down on the farm picking fruit and getting fresh air?
There are so many wonderful farms in Illinois to visit, almost all year round. You can pick strawberries, cherries, lavender, blueberries, asparagus, and sunflowers in the early part of the year. Later on there are raspberries, blackberries, pears, apples and pumpkins ripening in the fields.
We have a great list of where to pick everything as well as a list of some of the best farms in Illinois.
Braeutigam Orchards
2795 Turkey Hill Ln, Belleville, IL 62221
Braeutigam Orchards “has been in the family since 1831, but it wasn’t until 1935 that Rollin Braeutigam started raising fruit. Rollie enjoyed selling fruit to his friends so much that he raised more than he could sell! So he decided to take his beautiful ripe peaches to the St. Louis Market.
Lester, his son, and Marie, his daughter-in-law, helped him load those peaches in a truck and drove to St. Louis. Unfortunately, they did not realize that the market wanted greener fruit and they did not receive a good price. But Rollin and Lester believed tree-ripened peaches had the best and most appeal. Marie said, “Don’t worry we will just sell the peaches right on the farm!”
June – Tart Cherries, Apricots, Blueberries, Lettuce, and other spring Vegetables
July – Peaches, Blackberries, Vegetables – Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants, Summer Squash and others
August – Peaches, Blackberries, Plums, Grapes, Tomatoes, Sweet Corn, Peppers, Eggplant, Summer Squash, Watermelon, Muskmelon and others
September – Apples, Apple Cider, Fall Decorations, Gourds, Fall Squash, Pumpkins, and other vegetables
October – Pumpkins, Apples, Apple Cider, Fall Decorations, Gourds, Fall Squash
All Seasons Orchard
14510 IL-176, Woodstock, IL 60098
All Seasons Orchard is an apple orchard, pumpkin patch and corn maze located in Woodstock, IL in McHenry County.
“We are near the Chicago metropolitan area and Rockford and are open daily in September and October. View our hours and directions. Stop by to pick your own apples in our orchard or play in our Barnyard.
We’re a favorite fall destination for families and groups alike and offer the ideal activities for a day of all fun! If you’re interested in apple picking or pumpkin picking near you, we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you at All Seasons Orchard this Fall!”
Heider’s Berry Farm
1106 N Queen Anne Rd, Woodstock, IL 60098
Heider’s Berry Farm is a real family affair and they invite you and your family to visit, enjoy their beautiful facilities and pick your own berries!
“Our land has been farmed by Heider’s for five generations, starting as a typical Midwestern farm with dairy, hogs, sheep, chickens, corn, oats and hay. From 1972 to 1986, we operated the largest berry farm in Illinois. After 25 years of landscaping, we’re back as Heider’s Berry Farm, on a smaller scale, to provide quality fruit and friendly service.
We invite you to spend time on our farm in Woodstock, IL. Wander into our fields to enjoy a true farm experience, all natural with no admission or parking fee.
We expect a plentiful supply of delicious, juicy berries and are looking forward to your visit this season. Picking containers are provided for your use and for taking berries home.
Berry Picking is a fun family outing. Supervised children of all ages are welcome. So come on out and bring the family.”
Strawberry and Raspberry pick your own available.
Heider’s Berry Farm
McCann Berry Farm
18110 Kishwaukee Valley Rd, Woodstock, IL 60098
For a rustic, no frills picking experience then head on down to McCann Berry Farm where you will be made very welcome, whilst enjoying some fresh air and picking your berries.
“McCann Berry Farm in Woodstock, Illinois is celebrating 38 years of u-pick berries! Bob and Mary McCann planted their first strawberry crop in 1982, in rural Woodstock, on land bordering the North Branch of the Kishwaukee River.
While not certified organic, we use an Integrated Pest Management Approach to control crop pests, and use as little pesticides as possible. Our berry plants are selected for their disease and pest resistance, as well as, their taste. We monitor the crop for pests and use controls only when pest populations reach a level of potential crop destruction.”
Cody’s Farm & Orchard
19502 River Rd, Marengo, IL 60152
When you visit Cody’s Farm and Orchard LLC be sure to treat yourself to their speciality – Strawberry Glazed Donuts – delicious!
“Cody’s Farm & Orchard LLC will provide high quality, fresh home grown fruit and vegetables to our customers.
Cody’s is a family business that values health, happiness of children, education and making family memories. We would invite people of all ages to come and visit our farm. Each year during the month of June Cody’s Farm & Orchard welcomes families from the greater Chicagoland area to come visit our farm and pick strawberries.
September:
Fall Squash, Pumpkins(end of month), Apples & Peaches, Watermelon, Sweet Corn, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Beets, Carrots, Radishes, Green Beans, Onions, Potatoes, Zucchini, Cucumbers, Peppers, Tomatoes
October:
Apples, Sweet Corn(until 1st hard frost), Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Beets, Radishes, Peppers*, Onions, Zucchini*, Cucumbers*, Fall Squash”
The Valley Orchard
811 E State St, Cherry Valley, IL 61016
The Valley Orchard is “a 35 acre family-owned orchard with approximately 5,000 apple trees. You have a choice of either picking your own apples or purchasing pre-picked apples in our store. We do, however, usually pick our own Honey Crisp and they’re also in the store.
Also available to pick: rhubarb, raspberries, (both summer and fall), blueberries, cherries, red, white and black currants and blackberries (in the summer).
We make our own 100% pure cider – no additives. Slushies are available of course made with our oh- so- refreshing cider. We also have yummy cider donuts, delectable apple pies, really good cinnamon bread, scrumptious caramel apples and to die for fudge.
Our store offers many fall decorations, linens, candles, and other unique items for your home. You will find a variety of jams, jellies, salsas, honey, squash, pumpkins, gourds, and much, much more.”
Curranʼs Orchard
6385 Kilburn Ave, Rockford, IL 61101
Curranʼs Orchard is a “smaller family-run destination orchard located in the rolling hills of northern Illinois near Rockford. We are known for our award-winning cider, our awesome apple donuts, our ginormous caramel apples, and most all, for the way we don’t spray our apples.
Curran’s Orchard grows luscious fruit sprayed with 1/3 of the typical amount of chemicals.
Growing apples this way is a difficult task, but we think that the challenge is worth it. Our goal is to provide you with pure, delicious, worry-free fruit without a lot of chemicals!
We know that you will enjoy eating freshly picked apples without having to wash them first. Come and enjoy the Fall season at Curran’s Orchard!”
They also have upick red raspberries, pick-your-own Balaton tart cherries, pure local honey and a pumpkin patch.
Jefferies Orchard
1016 Jeffries Rd, Springfield, IL 62707
At Jefferies Orchard their plan is to grow high quality produce that is fresh and in-season for our customers, while honoring the land and sustaining the family farm.
Jefferies Orchard offers a diverse range of fresh produce in season. The growing season starts with asparagus and rhubarb in the spring, followed by pick-your-own strawberries in late May. Pick-your-own blueberries start in late June or early July, which are the last u-pick crop of the year.
Summer crops include fresh sweet corn, tomatoes, peaches and summer squash. These are followed by apples, winter squash, pumpkins, cider, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, peppers and much more.
Jefferies Orchard
Stade’s Farm and Market – U-pick Strawberries IL
3709 Miller Rd, McHenry, IL 60051
Stade’s Farm and Market has everything you need for a fun packed family day out in the country!
“Located in scenic McHenry County, Stade’s Farm & Market is approximately 50 miles Northwest of Chicago, Illinois. We produce 2,200 acres of corn, soybeans, and fresh fruits and vegetables that we sell directly to consumers through our Farm Market.
Stade Farm is a popular pick-your-own destination. We are offering both fruits and vegetables for you to harvest, including strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, sugar snap peas, green beans, peppers, and more. We offer a beautiful apple orchard with many of your favorite apples and about 30 acres of pick-your-own pumpkins in the fall. Stade’s is home to a large entertainment area, including a petting zoo, corn maze, giant slides, hayrides, and a large variety of unique attractions. Our fall festival, Shades of Autumn, is a harvest time extravaganza featuring 35+ farm-related attractions, pumpkin picking, special events, great food, and lots of family-orientated fun.”
Stade’s Farm and Market
Terrapin Orchards
1063 US-20 e, Elizabeth, IL 61028
At Terrapin Orchards they are passionate about the produce they grow and whole heartedly invite you and your family to visit, pick fruit and enjoy a day in the sunshine.
“At Terrapin Orchards we are committed to producing the best fruit you can find, while being friendly to natural pollinator, our customers, and mother nature. We depend on Integrated pest management as the backbone of our growing practice.
We have about 4 acres of Strawberries at Terrapin Orchards. The berries typically start to ripen around Memorial day (last weekend in May) and continue to be available through the end of June. We have pre-picked berries for the folks who are just in it for the flavor, but we also offer pick your own berries for those who want the full experience. For those looking to do some canning, baking or are looking to pick a whole bunch of berries, we offer a discount for bringing your own bucket or ice cream pail to pick into. We simply weight your pail empty and again when full and charge by the pound.
If you’ve never had a farm fresh strawberry, you’ve never really had a strawberry. Our berries are fully ripe when picked and offer a tremendous amount of flavor. Our strawberries have a red juice filled center, instead of the unripe white pith that we have come to view as normal. Children who wear a white colored shirt to pick strawberries typically leave with a red colored shirt and a huge smile!”
Braffet Berry Farm
9010 E 2250 North Rd, Carlock, IL 61725
The Braffet Berry Farm is located in central Illinois in the northwest part of Mclean County. Owners, Curt & Peggy Braffet, have been growing strawberries there since 1995. You are invited to visit with you family to enjoy picking your own beautiful juicy berries.
“We at Braffet Berry Farm worked very hard to plant, mulch, weed, and water to get the strawberries ready for you to pick.”
Braffet Berry Farm
Backwoods Berry Farm
27244 Hettick Scottville Rd, Hettick, IL 62649
There is an impressive array of produce to pick and enjoy at Backwoods Berry Farm, Illinois. We are dedicated to providing top quality, home grown products in a family friendly atmosphere. Please come and enjoy the great outdoors with us. We started growing specialty crops in 1990 with a few blackberries. We have since expanded into asparagus, berries, peaches, and canned & baked goods.
We are dedicated to providing top quality, home grown products in a family friendly atmosphere. We started growing specialty crops in 1990 with a few blackberries. We have since expanded into asparagus, berries, peaches, and canned & baked goods.
Strawberries are available for picking middle to late May.
Sun Berry Orchard Farm
1124 Rose Rd, Lake Zurich, IL 60047
Sun Berry Orchard Farm offers you and your family the full farming and fresh produce experience. In addition to the impressive range of home grown fruit and veg, there is also superb cuts of meat available, plus a farm shop and a petting zoo to enjoy.
“Sun Berry Orchard Farm-the perfect place to visit, if you like fresh and organically-grown foods. During your visit, you can pick your own fruits, veggies, and enjoy our gorgeous orchards. Depending on the season, at our farm store, you can purchase delicious produce, free-range eggs, natural raw honey and, grass-fed meats, grown with love by our family. Our mission is to deliver natural and organically grown foods for your families. Practicing sustainability and supporting our community, we believe everyone deserves fresh produce that influences the balance and function of a happy and healthy lifestyle. We are so grateful to Mother Earth!”
Sun Berry Orchard Farm
Crosswind Farms
14435 W Manhattan-Monee Rd, Manhattan, IL 60442
Those at Crosswind Farms hope that people will join them for some amazing, healthy outdoor fun, picking berries and enjoying the sunshine. They also offer tours of the barn and the farm.
“Crosswind Farms we made the decision to open a u-pick orchard to the public so we can share the love we have for this farm with you.
You can come to our house in the summer to pick strawberries, blackberries and red raspberries. We will have produce for sale from our garden. In the fall you can pick concord grapes and aronia. We sell pre-picked pumpkins in October and have a small corn pit for the kids. Our goats & baby goats are out and waiting to be fed on weekends. We sell fresh cut Christmas Trees starting the day after Thanksgiving. And our honey is for sale all year round.”
Richardson Adventure Farm
909 English Prairie Rd, Spring Grove, IL 60081
Many farms have cool corn mazes, “but not many can live up to the size and detail of the Richardson Adventure Farm Corn Maze! With its 9 – 10 miles of trail winding through 28 acres of live corn, you are in for a challenge and a treat!
The maze is actually created out of 4 smaller mazes. Each one has its own dedicated in and out path. There are multiple checkpoints throughout the maze as well as three bridges that will help you find your bearings while looking at the map.
The Richardson Farm offers a huge variety of on-farm experiences: Our activities include a 700 foot long zip line, Orbiting, and the “world’s largest”, most intricately designed corn maze along with activities for all ages. The farm is Illinois’ best location for company and group picnics and your adventure to the pumpkin patch. Later in the year, we also invite you to roam more than 50,000 Christmas trees to strengthen and renew your family’s tradition of choosing and cutting your own Christmas tree—creating memories to last a lifetime.”
