Fruit picking is the next best thing to buying fresh grown produce straight from the farm. Why let someone else do the work, when you can choose the best fruit yourself? Here are seven fruit farms in Illinois that let you do just that. It’s the time of year for collecting berries. Rather than searching through plastic cartons at the store for the perfect bunch, pick one yourself at one of these pick-your-own farms in Illinois. Just be prepared for when you visit the farms by checking the weather advisories, wearing sunscreen, and wearing comfortable clothing.
- The staff at Heider’s Berry Farm look forward to your visit this strawberry picking season.
Facebook/Heider’s Berry Farm This incredible place has been around since 1972 and pick-your-own is a summer tradition for young and old. Heider’s Berry Farm, 1106 N Queen Anne Rd, Woodstock, IL 60098, USA
Pick-your-own and prepicked strawberries are available mid-June to mid-July; red raspberries, early July to late August; black and purple raspberries, July to early August; and tart cherries, early July.
Facebook/Heider’s Berry Farm This popular farm charges no admission and allows patrons to park for free.
- Berries are ready at Backwoods Berry Farm. This small, picturesque family farm is in Kelly, North Carolina, also the home to chickens and goats.
Backwoods Berries Farm The staff specializes in pesticide-free blackberries, strawberries and blueberries. Backwoods Berry Farm, 27244 Hettick Scottville Rd, Hettick, IL 62649, USA
This great farm has been around since 1990 and is worth the drive for locals around the Springfield and Alton areas, for blueberry season in Illinois.
Backwoods Berries Farm/Facebook Strawberries and blueberries are available in May and June, while blackberries and peaches are available for pick-your-own in July and August.
- Mcann Berry Farm opens the first week of July into August, Wednesdays and Saturdays only.
McCann Berry Farm/Facebook Containers are provided for pick-your-own blueberries. McCann Berry Farm, 18110 Kishwaukee Valley Rd, Woodstock, IL 60098, USA
In 1982, Bob and Mary McCann planted their first strawberry crop on three acres of land bordering the north branch of the Kishwaukee River.
Tribb, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons This farm in Woodstock, is celebrating almost 40 years of pick-your-own berries, blueberries and sunflowers.
- Stade’s Farm & Market opens May 28 at 9 a.m. and will remain open until Halloween. You are invited for fruit-picking season.
Facebook/Stade’s Farm & Market Vern Stade started his career as a dairy farmer in 1977. Since then, many crops and attractions have been added to the farm including the Farmtractions Theme Park. Stade’s Farm & Market, 3709 Miller Rd, McHenry, IL 60051, USA
This is also a pick-your-own farm, and the market has branched out into the agritourism industry.
Facebook/Stade’s Farm & Market Here you will find a large variety of in-season vegetables, fruits, bakes pies, spices, soup mixes, eggs, gluten-free items, gifts, and canning supplies.
5.The pick-your-own blueberry picking season at Prairie Hill Blueberry Farm begins in mid-June.
Prairie Hill Blueberry Farm/Facebook The 3-acre area offers over 1,000 blueberry bushes for picking, with five varieties. Prairie Hill Blueberry Farm, 424 County Rd 1400 N, Bethany, IL 61914, USA
In early spring the bushes flower, providing the farm’s honeybees with sufficient nectar while they pollinate the seeds, making delicious fruit.
Prairie Hill Blueberry Farm/Facebook Open through the end of July, this fresh fruit farm in Illinois sells strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Be sure to visit during fruit-picking season.
- Scharf Farm is a family owned farm, operating since 1946. Visit the farm during fruit-picking season.
Scharf Farm/Facebook It provides such fresh, home-grown goodness as asparagus, strawberries, peaches, blackberries, cherries, blueberries, potatoes, tomatoes, and sweet and hot peppers. Scharf Farm, 8132 IL-163, Millstadt, IL 62260, USA
In the spring, the greenhouses are in full bloom with flowers, hanging baskets, and the fall brings mums and festive decorations.
Scharf Farm/Facebook Visit the farm and pick-your-own during Illinois’ fruit-picking season!
- Cody’s Farm & Orchard opens pick-your-own strawberry season in June.
Cody’s Farm & Orchard, LLC/Facebook In addition, the farm is known for its yummy, sweet corn, cauliflower, broccoli, beets, cabbage, green beans and many other homegrown produce. And yes, don’t forget the pumpkins in the fall! Cody’s Farm & Orchard, LLC, 19502 River Rd, Marengo, IL 60152, USA
Boxes and containers are provided for pick-your-own strawberries.
Cody’s Farm & Orchard, LLC/Facebook While there is a bit of a walk to the strawberry patch, enjoy the view as it is very scenic.
If you’ve ever enjoyed these fruit farms, we’d love to hear from you. Share your fruit picking experiences with us in the comments below. For more simple country charm, check out 11 farms in Illinois you must visit. And discover more places in Illinois to pick your own food. As you can see, Illinois offers an abundance of fresh produce, vegetables, and wide-open spaces.
Facebook/Heider’s Berry Farm
This incredible place has been around since 1972 and pick-your-own is a summer tradition for young and old.
Heider’s Berry Farm, 1106 N Queen Anne Rd, Woodstock, IL 60098, USA
This popular farm charges no admission and allows patrons to park for free.
Backwoods Berries Farm
The staff specializes in pesticide-free blackberries, strawberries and blueberries.
Backwoods Berry Farm, 27244 Hettick Scottville Rd, Hettick, IL 62649, USA
Backwoods Berries Farm/Facebook
Strawberries and blueberries are available in May and June, while blackberries and peaches are available for pick-your-own in July and August.
McCann Berry Farm/Facebook
Containers are provided for pick-your-own blueberries.
McCann Berry Farm, 18110 Kishwaukee Valley Rd, Woodstock, IL 60098, USA
Tribb, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
This farm in Woodstock, is celebrating almost 40 years of pick-your-own berries, blueberries and sunflowers.
Facebook/Stade’s Farm & Market
Vern Stade started his career as a dairy farmer in 1977. Since then, many crops and attractions have been added to the farm including the Farmtractions Theme Park.
Stade’s Farm & Market, 3709 Miller Rd, McHenry, IL 60051, USA
Here you will find a large variety of in-season vegetables, fruits, bakes pies, spices, soup mixes, eggs, gluten-free items, gifts, and canning supplies.
Prairie Hill Blueberry Farm/Facebook
The 3-acre area offers over 1,000 blueberry bushes for picking, with five varieties.
Prairie Hill Blueberry Farm, 424 County Rd 1400 N, Bethany, IL 61914, USA
Open through the end of July, this fresh fruit farm in Illinois sells strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Be sure to visit during fruit-picking season.
Scharf Farm/Facebook
It provides such fresh, home-grown goodness as asparagus, strawberries, peaches, blackberries, cherries, blueberries, potatoes, tomatoes, and sweet and hot peppers.
Scharf Farm, 8132 IL-163, Millstadt, IL 62260, USA
Visit the farm and pick-your-own during Illinois’ fruit-picking season!
Cody’s Farm & Orchard, LLC/Facebook
In addition, the farm is known for its yummy, sweet corn, cauliflower, broccoli, beets, cabbage, green beans and many other homegrown produce. And yes, don’t forget the pumpkins in the fall!
Cody’s Farm & Orchard, LLC, 19502 River Rd, Marengo, IL 60152, USA
While there is a bit of a walk to the strawberry patch, enjoy the view as it is very scenic.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Fruit Picking April 28, 2022 Carolyn Harmon When is blueberry season in Illinois? Pick-your-own blueberry season in Illinois usually begins in early July and runs through the first week of August. Most orchards offer other berries, produce, and gift items. What are some of the best strawberry-picking farms in Illinois? While there are many, pick-your-own strawberry farms in Illinois, a few include Cody’s Farm & Orchard, in Marengo; Backwoods Berry Farm, in Hettick; and Heider’s Berry Farm in Woodstock. Check out their websites for other fruit picking options. What fruit-picking options are near Chicago? Stade’s Farm & Market, located in McHenry County, is about 50 miles northwest of Chicago, offering a wide array of fruits and vegetables with a pick-your-own option. In addition, Stades offers its Farmtractions Theme Park.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Fruit Picking
April 28, 2022
Carolyn Harmon
When is blueberry season in Illinois? Pick-your-own blueberry season in Illinois usually begins in early July and runs through the first week of August. Most orchards offer other berries, produce, and gift items. What are some of the best strawberry-picking farms in Illinois? While there are many, pick-your-own strawberry farms in Illinois, a few include Cody’s Farm & Orchard, in Marengo; Backwoods Berry Farm, in Hettick; and Heider’s Berry Farm in Woodstock. Check out their websites for other fruit picking options. What fruit-picking options are near Chicago? Stade’s Farm & Market, located in McHenry County, is about 50 miles northwest of Chicago, offering a wide array of fruits and vegetables with a pick-your-own option. In addition, Stades offers its Farmtractions Theme Park.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
What are some of the best strawberry-picking farms in Illinois? While there are many, pick-your-own strawberry farms in Illinois, a few include Cody’s Farm & Orchard, in Marengo; Backwoods Berry Farm, in Hettick; and Heider’s Berry Farm in Woodstock. Check out their websites for other fruit picking options.
What fruit-picking options are near Chicago? Stade’s Farm & Market, located in McHenry County, is about 50 miles northwest of Chicago, offering a wide array of fruits and vegetables with a pick-your-own option. In addition, Stades offers its Farmtractions Theme Park.
