Central Illinois Apple U-Pick Orchards in !

Find a local pick your own farm here!

Apple U-Pick Orchards in Central Illinois in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for apples that we know of in this area.

Not all areas of a state have apples orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

New! As inflation remains high, see this page for reliable (tested) brands of generic canning lids at lower costs, and cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather. See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Champaign County

Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch - apples, pumpkins, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, U-pick and already picked, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, pony rides, petting zoo, birthday parties, school tours
3902 S Duncan Rd, Champaign, IL 61822. Phone: 217-359-5565. Email: info@curtisorchard.com. Open: July 20 - December 20. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. THRU October - Monday to Saturday 9 am to 6 pm, Sunday 11 am to 6 pm / AFTER October - Monday to Saturday 9 am to 5:30 pm, Sunday 11 am to 5 pmStore apples: late July to mid December / U-PICK Apples: late July to late October (depending on the year) Click our link for which apples are ready when. / Store peaches: late July thru October / U-Pick and already picked pumpkins: mid-September to mid-NovemberSpend a little time in the country! Visit Curtis Orchard for a fun, inexpensive & educational farm experience for the whole family. We have apples, pumpkins, kids' activities, a bakery, and a country store. Rain or shine, we're open The Flying Monkey Cafe is open for lunch every day from August 17 - November 27. This 80-acre entertainment farm features the Flying Monkey Cafe, which serves cookout-style lunch. We also bake pies & donuts every day we're open. No admission fee. Sorry - no pets

Dewitt County

Wagon Wheel Pumpkin Farm - apples, pumpkins, summer squash,
7 Miles East Of Clinton, Clinton, IL 61727. Phone: 217-736-2470. Email: rbmartin@dishmail.net. Open: Daily 10 am to 6 pm. Directions: From Clinton take Route # 10 East approximately 7 miles. You will turn right on 17000 $there is a pumpkin sign$ go 1 mile then turn right again on airport road $another pumpkin sign$ first house on your left $big sign in front yard$. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. 92">Wagon Wheel Pumpkin Farm From Clinton take Route # 10 East approximately 7 miles. You will turn right on 17000 (there is a pumpkin sign) go 1 mile then turn right again on airport road (another pumpkin sign) first house on your left (big sign in front yard)Crops are usually available in September, October We have a variety of pumpkins, gourds, squash, broom corn and Indian corn; Straw maze, corn maze; Open September12th to October31; Hours 10 to 6pm daily; Pumpkin Fun Day - Sunday, October 4th from 1 pm to 5pm; Free pony rides, hayrack rides, face painting and many games; Groups Welcome!!

Greene County

Greene Fields Farm - apples, pumpkins,
311 Daum Station Road, Greenfield, IL 62044. Phone: 217-416-0839. Email: christie@greenefieldsfarm.com. Open: September 9 - October 22, 2023; U-PICK PUMPKIN PATCH & FARM IS OPEN WEEKENDS ONLY; Friday Noon-5:00pm, Saturday 10am-5:00pm, Sunday Noon-5:00pm; Columbus Day, Oct 9, Noon-4:00pm. Directions: Located halfway between Greenfield and Carrollton just north of State Route 108. Watch for our strawberry signs!. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Credit card, Debit Card.
Greene Fields Farm Facebook page. For the safety of our animals and yours, PLEASE NO PETS Greene Fields Berry Farm Facebook page. is a working farm, with pigs, chickens and our family dairy cow and her calf. You are welcome to go into the barn and meet them for yourself. We also pride ourselves on creating an exploration into our Pumpkin Patch, complete with a Milo Maze, a rainbow field of cut flowers, U-Pick Indian Corn, our Giant Bench for photos, our Hay Bale couple in the Land of the Giants and the Lookout Tower. We also have a kids area in our hoop barn that changes year to year. Come and see for yourself. To the best of our knowledge, no child has left disappointed. We have a concession stand with snacks from our farm: (prices from March 2023) Kettle Corn $6, Sliced Caramel Apples $6, Apple Cider Slushies $4, Drinks $1 Apple Varieties:Gala - SeptemberRuby Mac- Early SeptemberPixie Crunch- Mid SeptemberCrimson Crisp- Mid SeptemberGolden Delicious- Mid SeptemberSunCrisp- Early OctoberFuji - . Early OctoberCrimson Topaz- Early OctoberCrunch-A-Bunch- Mid October LudaCrisp- Mid-OctoberGalarina- Mid-OctoberWineCrisp- Mid OctoberEvercrisp- LLate October Select Heirlooms- Selection of eight classic heritage apples. Maturity varies (UPDATED: March 9, 2023, JBS)

Iroquois County

Mulberry Lane Farm - Uses natural growing practices, apples, asparagus, beans, beets, blueberries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, currants (red and black), grapes, onions, other berries, peppers, raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), raspberries (Autumn, black), rhubarb, strawberries, Fresh eggs, porta-potties are available, picnic area, farm animals, school tours
414 N Mulberry Street, Loda, IL 60948. Phone: 217-386-2690. Email: helen@mulberrylanefarm.com. Open: Monday to Saturday, from 8 am to 7 pm; Closed Sunday; Open from April 1 to October 1;Strawberry U Pick starts in early May, BY RESERVATION ONLY. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
Mulberry Lane Farm Facebook page. Please call ahead and reserve a spot! The demand is high this year, so don't miss out; Farm shop is open Saturdays year round from 8 am to 8 pmWe use natural practices, but are not yet certified OrganicFacebook page. 2018 Prices starting out were $3.99 per lb. Minimum 5 lbs per person (12 years old and older). Already picked strawberries are also available by reservation only. 2018 prepicked prices are $5.99 per lb for the first week or two. Prices will drop further into the season. You are at the right place for organic food (all our USDA Certified Organic products are non-GMO and glyphosate free; no Roundup!) and canning supplies. Buy in bulk and save BIG money! We are certified organic by the Global Organic Alliance (GOA).

Jersey County

Eckert's Grafton Farm - apples, pumpkins, peaches.
20995 Eckert Orchard Road, Grafton, IL 62037. Phone: (618) 786-3445. Open: 9 am to 5 pm, daily. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. click here for farm directions. Grafton has an expanded entertainment area for both "little" and "big" kids! Watch the goats climb to amazing heights, search for eggs in the real hen house, play a round of miniature golf, bottle feed a calf, swing on an old-fashion tire swing, jump in one of our three inflatable jumping attractions or just relax and enjoy a funnel cake. There is no admission to the entertainment site. Tickets for rides may be purchased.
Joe Ringhausen Orchard & Apple House (II) - - apples, apricots, blackberries, grapes, melons, peaches, pears, plums, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers & gherkins, eggplants, onions, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, turnips,
Rte 67 South, Jerseyville, IL 62052. Phone: 618-498-6951. Open: July5 - Christmas, 9 am to 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. Joe Ringhausen Orchard & Apple House (II) - Alternate Phone: 618-376-6772. Illinois Products gift baskets available Also cider, honey sorghum, jams, jellies, preserves, marmalades, popcorn & pecans

Macoupin County

Broom Orchard - apples, pumpkins, restrooms, picnic area, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
112803 Broom Road, Carlinville, IL 62626. Phone: 217-854-3514. Email: info@broomorchard.com. Open: See our website for current hours or call. Directions: Broom Orchard is located 2 12 miles southwest of Carlinville. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
Broom Orchard Facebook page. m Road, Carlinville, IL 62626 is located 2 1/2 miles southwest of CarlinvilleRed Haven peaches start the 3rd week in July (usually) . REMINDER: WE DO NOT HAVE STRAWBERRIES ANYMORE; ONLY PYO apples and pumpkins. Visit our website for current approximate ripening dates of our locally grown seasonal fruit or "like" us on Facebook; has an annual Apple Festival in September and a Pumpkin Festival in October with various entertainment and activities. Facebook pageOur Farm Market is open July thru December. This is where we sell our fresh peaches, apples, blackberries, nectarines, plums, pears and pumpkins when in season. The market is also stocked with Amish-made apple butter, Illinois honey, popcorn, preserves, butters and all fruit spreads. Don't forget our award winning sweet cider, too! Peaches are freestone. Early Gold Apples and Bi-Color Sweet Corn are also available. White Lady Peaches, Nectarines, and Blackberries

Montgomery County

Kern Family Orchard - apples, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (Spring, yellow), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs
7375 Mackay Avenue, Raymond, IL 62560. Phone: (217) 820-1266. Open: Call the farm for hours and crop availability. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Be sure to confirm crop availability and dates with the farm before you go there; they have no website, Facebook page, Instagram or anything online, and we no longer receive updates from the farm. (UPDATED: June 1, 2024, JBS) (ADDED: August 27, 2015)

Moultrie County

Okay Valley Orchard - Peaches, apples, plums, pears, cider, jellies, apple cider donuts, baked goods, restrooms, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, Fresh eggs, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), U-pick and already picked, farm market, picnic area, school tours
724 county road 1750 north, Sullivan, IL 61951. Phone: (217) 728-8269. Email: Jennifer@okawvalleyorchard.net. Open: Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm; Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm, during summer and fall. Directions: See their website for directions. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard .
Okay Valley Orchard Facebook page. Playground Click here for our Facebook page. prepicked apples, peaches, plums, pasteurized fresh cider, apple doughnuts, jams & jellies, fresh pies, dumplings, peach bread, gift & kitchen items. We also have a large playground and picnic area with restrooms for families to enjoy. Ask about our educational group tours. Our 1500 apple trees grow 27 different varieties of apples, peaches, plums, and pears. Come and eat in our covered picnic area, play in our playground, browse through our Country Store full of in-season Illinois fruit, fresh apple cider, honey, jellies, gifts, apple cider donuts, and other fresh baked goodies. We also have a u-pick area, dependent on what is seasonally available.

Peoria County

Christ Orchard - apples, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals
4317 N Texas Road, Elmwood, IL 61529. Phone: (309) 446-3324. Email: christorchard@yahoo.com. Open: Pick Your Own Apples in Mid September to Mid October and Pick Your Own pumpkins in October. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
Christ Orchard Facebook page. We use integrated pest management practices (IPM)Since 1977, the orchard has had apples, apple picking, pure honey, apple cider, pumpkins, squirrel corn, squash, gourds, Indian corn, mums, straw bales, corn stalks, fruit butters and preserves, soy candles and much more.(UPDATED: June 21, 2018)

Apple

Apple Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Apples ripen from the outside of the tree towards the center, so the apples out the outside of the tree will ripen first. Once they are picked, they stop ripening. Picking apples directly from a tree is easy. Roll the apple upwards off the branch and give a little twist; don't pull straight away from the tree. If two apples are joined together at the top, both will come away at the same time. Don't shake the trees or branches. If the apple you are trying to pick drops, (or others on the tree) go ahead and pick it up. They're perfectly fine! But do wash them before you eat them! More info: How to tell when apples are ripe

Once picked, don't throw the apples into the baskets, place them in gently, or they will bruise and go bad more quickly.
Don't wash apples until just before using to prevent spoilage.
For an explanation of why apple slices turn brown and how to stop it, see this page!
Keep apples cool after picking to increase shelf life. A cool basement is ideal, but the fruit/vegetable drawer of a refrigerator will work, too. A refrigerator is fine for small quantities of apples. Boxed apples need to be kept in a cool, dark spot where they won't freeze. Freezing ruptures all of an apple's cells, turning it into one large bruise overnight. The usual solution is to store apples in a root cellar. But root cellars often have potatoes in them: apples and potatoes should never be stored in the same room because, as they age, potatoes release an otherwise ethylene gas, which makes apples spoil faster. If you can keep the gas away from your apples, they will keep just fine. Just don't store them right next to potatoes.
Prevent contact between apples stored for the winter by wrapping them individually in sheets of newspaper. The easiest way to do this is to unfold a section of newspaper all the way and tear it into quarters. Then stack the wrapped apples. See more here: How to store apples at home
Apples don't improve or "ripen" after being picked - this is an urban myth - see this page for the truth - with references!

Which apple variety is best?

There are tens of thousands of varieties of apples, developed over centuries. They vary in sugar, acoidity, flavors, storing, crispness and many other attributes. See our guides to apple varieties:

Canning apples - fully illustrated, with step-by-step instructions

New!As inflation remains high, see this page for reliable (tested) brands of generic canning lids at lower costs, and cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

Recipes, illustrated with step by step instructions

Apple pie recipe and directions and illustrated! I can say, with, ahem, no bias at all, that this is the best apple pie recipe in the world! (Alright, I did have an apple strudel in Vienna once at that place listed in Fodors that was REALLY good, but that wasn't a pie, was it? And since this was the recipe my grandmother used, it must be great!)
How to make applesauce for a single meal (not canning it) with NO special equipment
Apple cobbler
Apple crunch - best of all! Moist, low sugar and using oats!
Apple crisp - ever-popular, low sugar and using oats!
Apple, blackberry, cherry, and/or peach cobbler
Apple-blackberry, crumble - a English favorite (or favourite)

2024 Central Illinois Apple U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Find a pick-your-own farm near you! Then learn to can and freeze! Since 2002! We update continuously; Beware the copycat websites!