Blueberry U-Pick Orchards in Northwestern Illinois in 2024, by county

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

Bureau County

• Hungry World Farm - Uses natural growing practices, blueberries,
  9295 1925 East Street, Tiskilwa, IL 61368. Phone: . Email: hungryworldfarm@gmail.com. Open: TBD. Directions: Blueberries are located 12 mile east of Tiskilwa on CR23 \(Bottom Road\). East of white barn, see signs for blueberries. Farm store is located on 1925 East Street. East of blueberries, take 1925 East Street to the south. The farmstead and store are the first farm on the right \(west\) side of the street. Blueberry season is typically late-June through mid-July;. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Payment: Cash, Check, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Hungry World Farm Facebook page.

Henry County

• Strawberry Flats - blueberries, raspberries, sweet corn.
  23787 E. 1260 Street, Geneseo, IL 61254. Phone: 309-944-5065. Click here for a map and directions. Strawberry Flats Call for directions.

Jo Daviess County

• Wooded Wonderland - Uses natural growing practices, blueberries, Honey from hives on the farm, gift shop, porta-potties are available, picnic area, school tours
  616 S. Devil\'s Ladder Road, Galena, IL 61036. Phone: 815-777-1223. Email: john@wwhardwood.com. Open: Monday to Sunday, from 7am to 7pm, July to September for Blueberries Monday to Sunday, from 8am to 5pm, September to June for Country Store and Sawmill. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 815-777-3426. . Blueberries: July 1 to September 15 Honey: Year-round. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. Organic Blueberries, Honey.

Winnebago County

• Harrison Market Gardens - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, asparagus, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, herbs or spices, melons, onions, peppers, raspberries (black), rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available, picnic area
  9024 Harrison Road, Winnebago, IL 61088. Phone: 815-980-0589. Email: billjillbeyer@yahoo.com. Directions: We are located aboaut 10 miles northwest of Rockford, Illinois. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 618-967-4729. . We are a subscription pick your own and also offer CSA shares; You can choose either a weekly ($475) or bi - weekly ($325) pick that runs from May through October; Once you have had your initial pick/training, your family can come out whenever convenient;; ; any day of the week any time of the day. We are registered naturally grown for all crops.
• Valley Orchard - apples, beans, blackberries, blueberries, corn (sweet), pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (Spring, yellow), raspberries (Autumn, yellow), rhubarb, winter squash, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), U-pick and already picked, farm market, gift shop, picnic area, school tours
  911 East State Street, Cherry Valley, IL 61016. Phone: 815-332-9696. Email: thevalleyorchard@outlook.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . These are some of the apples that we offer; if you do not see your favorite apple listed, please call, we have over 28 varieties. (This is only an estimate of when the apples will be ready, please call for U-Pick availability.) facebook page. Early Season (August ~ September) has Early Gold, Paula Red, Royal Gala, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Jonamac, Snow Sweet, Haralson, Sept. Wonder Fugi, Wolf River. Mid Season (September ~ October) offers Ozark Gold, Senshu, Cortland, Jonathan, Jonagold, Empire, MaCoun, Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious, Golden Russet, Crimson Crisp, Autumn Blush, Autumn Gala, Ida Red. Late Season (October ~ November) is Shizuka, Blushing Gold, Rome, Fuji, Winesap, Suncrisp, Candy Crisp, Braeburn, New Town Pippin, Cameo, See comments about this farm here!

 

Blueberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Blueberries are one of the easiest fruit to prepare and serve. There's no peeling, pitting, coring or cutting. They have few natural pests, (other than birds), so pesticides are generally unnecessary! This year's crop is fantastic (see related news story), thanks both to the weather and to more farms planting more blueberry bushes due to increased consumer demand over the past few years as more studies proclaim the anti-oxidant and other health properties of blueberries.

Click here to find a local Blueberry Festival (usually held between April and July).

If you are looking for information about a similar berry, the saskatoon (also called the June berry or Serviceberry) see this page about saskatoons.

Picking tips:

Select plump, full blueberries with a light gray-blue color. A berry with any hint of red isn't fully ripened.

Ripening AFTER picking?

First, it is key to know that once picked, blueberries will NOT become any sweeter, nor will the flavor improve. The only change that occurs is the color. They will APPEAR to ripen, but it is only a color change, from white to green to rose to red to pale blue to fully blue. So, white and green colored blueberries will not "ripen" after they are picked; while blueberries that have already turned purple, red or blue-ish usually DO change color after they are picked (if they are kept at room temperature to "ripen").

As the blueberries ripen ON THE BUSH, the flavor goes from tastless to bitter to tasteless tart to tart blueberry flavor to sweet blueberry flavor.

Grocery stores sell blueberries that are tart, not sweet because they had them picked unripe by machine so they are very firm and can handled being bumped around in shipping. They may look good, but are not as tasty as those picked when actually ripe.

So, the key is, PICK ONLY RIPE BERRIES!

How to pick blueberries

Since blueberries hang on the bushes in bunches a but like grapes do, the easiest and fastest way to pick them is hold your bucket under them in one hand and with your other hand, cup a ripe bunch and gently rub them with your fingers. The ripe berries will drop into your bucket, while the unripe ones will remain attached to the bush.

When the bushes are at peak, I can easily pick 2 gallons per hour (if I'm not being distracted by the kids and the sun isn't too hot!). A newbie might do 1 gallon per hour.and at the beginning or end of the season it takes more time as the berries are not as plentiful nor concentrated in clusters.

Tips for storing blueberries after harvesting:

• Once picked, don't place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form in the container.
• Don't wash berries until just before using, to prevent berries from becoming mushy.
• Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. Store your fresh blueberries in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep 10 to 14 days.
• Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening. Place berries one layer deep. Freeze, then pour the frozen berries into freezer containers. Because unwashed blueberries freeze individually, they can be easily poured from containers in desired amounts. Remember both frozen and fresh berries should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries in cold water.

Blueberry Measurements and Conversions

Keep in mind that blueberries vary considerably in density and moisture content, so these ranges are approximates.

• 1 gallon of blueberries weighs about 7.5 lbs or (4 liters of blueberries is about 3.5 kg)

• 1 pint of fresh blueberries weights about 3/4 of a pound. (1 liter of blueberries is about 700 grams)

• 1 pound of fresh blueberries is usually between about 2 and 3 cups of berries.

• It takes about 4 cups (about of blueberries to make a blueberry pie (see this fantastic and easy blueberry pie recipe)

• A normal batch of blueberry preserves, jam or jelly requires 5 pints of berries.

• Blueberries do come in a variety of sizes from small (190-250 berries per cup) to extra large (<90 berries per cup).

Blueberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Blueberries

Recipes

• The world's best Blueberry pie, recipe and directions and illustrated!
• Blueberry buckle coffee cake: illustrated directions for this great crumb-topping blueberry coffee cake
• Other easy directions to make blueberry desserts: cobblers, etc.

Canning, freezing and other blueberry recipes:

• How to Freeze Blueberries
• How to Can Blueberries
• How to Make Homemade Blueberry Jam
• How to make blueberry jelly
• How to make and can blueberry syrup (it works for strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, too)
• blueberry pie filling to use later,
• blueberry butter

Baking tips

If you have trouble with blueberries settling to the bottom of muffins and blueberry breads, try one or more of these tips:

• Coat them with flour before adding to the batter. Just gently shake the blueberries in a bag (plastic or paper) with 1/2 cup of flour, then dump them mix in a sieve to remove excess flour.
• It may just be that your batter is too thin. try making the batter a little thicker!
• Fill the muffin cups or baking pan up to 1/4 full with batter (which hasn't had blueberries added to it yet); then stir the blueberries into the remaining batter, and continue to fill the muffin cups or bread pan. The blueberries will start off higher in the mix!

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