Delicious Apples ready for haarvest Photo: PBH
Make a day trip out of your apple orchard tour with these country drives.
Southernmost Illinois orchards grow several varieties, so the apple season stretches through to the chilly November weather. The region’s rich agricultural lands guarantee that you will find more than just apples on your day trip.
Rendleman’s Orchard & Farm Market, Alto Pass, IL (phone: 618-893-2771).
Since 1873, Rendleman’s have been growing quality peaches, nectarines, apples and vegetables. Farm Market Hours: (July-Dec) Mon – Sat 9am -5pm & Sun 12am – 5pm.
Flamm Orchards, info@flammorchards.com, 8760 Old Highway 51 North, Cobden, IL 62920, (phone: 618-893-4241).
Fresh-pick your apples from August through October, peaches from July through September, and strawberries from May through June. Also sells ice cream and desserts.
Eastman Orchard & Farm Market - Big Red Shed on Rt 37 (Two miles north of Goreville) Goreville, IL 62939, (phone: 618-995-2118).
Peaches and apples are available from September to November along with homemade apple butter and cider.
Apple care from Illinois Extension
Buying:
- Look for smooth skin with few bruises. Too many bruises mean the apple may rot.
- Choose apples with a bright and sparkly color.
Storing:
- Apples keep best when refrigerated. Store them in a plastic bag or the drawer to keep them fresh.
- Check them often. Remove any decayed apples. One rotten apple can indeed spoil the whole barrel.
- Raw, cut apples may darken. Prevent this by dipping them in a fruit juice – lemon, orange, grapefruit, or pineapple – before adding other ingredients.
Where to eat – Giant City State Park – Giant City Lodge, 460 Giant City Lodge Road, Makanda, Illinois. People make this their Sunday drive for an all-you-can-eat family style chicken dinner. Bison is also on the menu.
More to do - Giant City Stables are open Mid March through Mid November for guided horseback trail rides and open year round for all other activities. Reservations suggested. More information.
Darn Hot Peppers. Rancho Bella Vista Hot peppers are grown at a family farm committed to growing pesticide-free hot peppers. They employ only traditional and sustainable agriculture methods at Rancho Bella Vista. Darn Hot Peppers LLC, 827 Vines Road, Cobden, IL. 62920, Phone: (618) 893-1443, E-mail: info@darnhotpeppers.com
The Chocolate Factory. The Chocolate Factory makes gourmet chocolates formulated with only the finest ingredients.
Motto: “Novelties are our Specialty”.
Open Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-5:00pm, year round. Buses welcome. Rt. 2 Box 164, Golconda, IL 62938. Toll Free at 1-877-949-3829.
For more information:
Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau
Apple season in Southernmost Illinois Photo PBH
Good apple information. Orchard is in a lovely area so driving there and around the area is a treat along with the apples.
Flamm Orchards, has ice cream and fresh baked apple pie, and icecream and warm apple dumplings plus all the just picked apples you want..
Remdlemans has all things apple, crisp mix, cider, recipe books and a big variety of apples.