2024 Chicago and Northeastern Illinois Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Chicago and Northeastern Illinois in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for tomatoes that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have tomatoes 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.

DeKalb County

• Go-Ro Fresh U-Pick Vegetables - beets, broccoli, carrots, herbs or spices, kale, onions, peppers, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, watermelons, Honey from hives on the farm, farm market, porta-potties
  34565 Route 23, Genoa, IL 60135. Phone: (224) 764-8821. Email: linda@GoRoFresh.com. Open: Opening day for U - Pick Vegetables will be August 21st; 2020; We will be open till Mid October or the first hard frost. Directions: We are located 4 miles south of interstate 90 on Route 23. Located at the corner of Birch Road and Route 23. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . U-Pick vegetables open the middle August till the middle of October;. (UPDATED: August 10, 2020)
• Walnut Grove Vocational Farm - beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, herbs or spices, onions, peas, peppers, raspberries (Spring, red), summer squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, restrooms, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
  33600 Pearl Street, Kirkland, IL 60146. Phone: (815) 793-0950. Email: nutmeg214@gmail.com. Open: U-Pick Strawberry patches typically start in mid-June. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Walnut Grove Vocational Farm Facebook page. . Use this link to sign up: https://bit.ly/2N67dxx. Pick-your-own started in 2018. For everyone's safety: U-Pick is open only to adults & supervised children 12+. (ADDED: August 03, 2017)

Kane County

• Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch - beans, eggplant, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
  42w813 Reinking Rd, Hampshire, IL 60140. Phone: 847-4645952. Email: Hollyp@pumpkinfarms.com. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: I90 west to Route 47. Exit left to farm. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . .

Lake County

• Krueger's Vegetable Farm Stand - Uses natural growing practices, tomatoes, restrooms
  28572 W. Il Route 120, Lakemoor, IL 60051. Phone: 815-385-4981. Email: kfstand57@yahoo.com. Directions: 1 14 west of Route 12 and Route 120 intersection. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . . Days/Hours of Operation: Mid - July thru October 31st(close early on Halloween) 9:38 am to 6:30 Daily. 1 1/4 west of Route 12 and Route 120 intersection. Late August to Early September - Michigan Apples and Peaches start arriving. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. The ONLY pyo crops offered are Tomatoes Field opens Mid to Late August until the first heavy frost, please call ahead to see if the field is open. We also carry but not grown at our farm: Apples, Asparagus, Avocado, Blueberries, Carrots, Grapes, Lemons, Limes, Onions, Peaches, Potatoes, Plums, Pluots, Radish, Strawberries, Straw Bales.. so much to list stop in and see us and please let us know how you heard about us!!. (UPDATED: July 26, 2018)

McHenry County

• Stade's Farm and Market - apples, beans, beets, peas, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red), strawberries, tomatoes, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area, inflatables or bounce houses, jumping pillow, ziplines, train rides (train on a track), pedal kart track, petting zoo, school tours, group reservations, events at your location (call for info)
  3709 Miller Road, McHenry, IL 60081. Phone: (815) 675-6396. Email: thefarm@stadefarm.com. Open: Pick - Your - Own is open 9 am to 5 pm whenever applicable; Visit our Facebook Page and website for current picking information. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Stade's Farm and Market Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (815) 979-9212. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Stade's Farm host several special events a year. Please refer to our website for all information about our Classic Car Show, Truck and Tractor Show, and Arts & Crafts on the Farm. UPick strawberries are available from mid June to mid July; Our fall festival in September and October.(UPDATED: September 08, 2020)See comments about this farm here!
• Sun Berry Orchard - Uses natural growing practices, apples, cucumbers, pumpkins, strawberries, tomatoes, Turkeys (organic, not-hormone-fed), Fresh eggs
  3712 Greenwood Rd, Woodstock, IL 60098. Phone: (847) 404-7555. Email: Sunberryorchard17@gmail.com. Open: Typical season is from early May through November; in season, Everyday from 8 am to 6 pm. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. Payment: Cash, Check, Venmo, PayPal, ApplePay, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Click here for our Facebook page.  (UPDATED: August 29, 2023, JBS)  (ADDED: June 17, 2021)

Will County

• Dunn's Farmstand - asparagus, strawberries, green beans, okra, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant.
  21302 W. Angle Road, Wilmington, IL 61481. Phone: 815-476-7667. Open: 9 am to 5 pm, daily. Click here for a map and directions. . Appointments welcome. 2 miles east of Wilmington off Route 102. Follow signs.
• Jim Gorman's Vegetables - peppers, tomatoes, Other fruit or veg,
  30643 South Route 53, Wilmington, IL 60481. Phone: 815-476-7514. Directions: Right off Route 53 and New River Road ; a half mile north of Wilmington, IL. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . UPDATE for 2021, Their website is gone and there's nothing else about them that is current on the internet - I presume they have closed. Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me. Thursday to Sunday 9 am to 6 pm.
• Rainbow Harvest Hydroponic Greenhouse & Farm - herbs or spices, peppers, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, Turkeys (organic, not-hormone-fed), Fresh eggs
  P.o.box 428, Channahon, IL 60410. Phone: 815-530-8366. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Rainbowcrop.com. UPDATE for 2021, Their website is gone and there's nothing else about them that is current on the internet - I presume they have closed. Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me. year - round by appointment only; Please email or call to schedule an appointment.

 

Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok.

During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.

Tomato Varieties

In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water.  But you can use any type you can get hold of.  You may just have to cook them down longer to boil off excess water.  See our Master list of tomato varieties

Growing tomatoes

• Master list of tomato varieties
• Master List of Heirloom Tomato Varieties
• How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Yard or Patio - Everything you need to know
• Detailed directions to starting tomatoes from seed
• Master List of Roma and Paste Tomato Varieties for the Home Garden
• Master list of disease-resistant tomato varieties
• Tomato plant diseases

Canning, Freezing, Drying, Preserving Tomatoes and more!

Below are links to pages with easy and reliable directions about how to can, preserve, freeze and make other goodies from tomatoes.  Some of these require a Pressure Canner to prevent potential spoilage and food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food.  For others, you can use a water bath canner OR a Pressure Canner.  I've noted what's required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!

And don't miss: Answers to common tomato canning problems and see this page about what to do with your unripe green tomatoes!

Prepping tomatoes

• How to quickly and easily remove tomato skins

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )

• How to can tomatoes using a water bath canner - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Bruschetta - W
• Tomato sauce - W
• Tomato paste - W
• Barbecue sauce (BBQ sauce) - W
• Chili sauce from your own tomatoes and peppers - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Tomato Preserves- W
• Tomato salsa - W
• Spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
• Spiced Green tomatoes- W
• Pickled Green Tomatoes - W - another pickled green tomato recipe, this one sweet
• Ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
• NEW! SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe - W
• Salsa from your unripe, GREEN tomatoes! - W
• Tomatillo salsa - W
• How to make roasted tomatoes, boiling water bath canner version - W

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

• Canned tomatoes using a Pressure Canner - P
• Baked  Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
• Canning your own chili con carne (with meat) - P
• How to make roasted tomatoes, pressure canner version - P
• Spaghetti sauce - with meat  - P
• Stewed tomatoes - P
• Tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - P
• Tomato sauce - P
• Tomato juice - P
• Tomato juice, like V8 - P

Freezing Tomatoes

• How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
• Space-saving prepping and freezing extra tomatoes from your garden to can later

Drying tomatoes

• NEW! How to make Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Food drying basics and principles
• How to dry your own herbs
• Food Dehydrators - models, specs and pricing information

Ripening green tomatoes in your garage or basement

If you want to bring your green tomatoes indoors before a freeze in the Fall, and ripen them, see:

• How to ripen your green garden tomatoes indoors in the Fall and Winter.

And if you'd like to start you own tomatoes from seed (you can save a small fortune and grow the heirloom varieties you like) see this page for easy directions for growing your own tomato plants from seed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canning, Freezing and Preserving Tomatoes

• See this page for answers to many common questions about tomatoes.

 

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers