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

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

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

Kane County

• Spring Bluff Nursery - Uses natural growing practices, beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, gooseberries, herbs or spices, kale, onions, raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), rhubarb, Other fruit or veg, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, gift shop, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals
  41w130 Norris Road, Sugar Grove, IL 60554. Phone: (630) 466-4278. Email: plants@springbluffnursery.com. Open: Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm; Sunday 10 am to 4 pm, April 1 to October 31. Directions: 5 miles North of Sugar Grove off Bliss Road at Norris Road. Six miles West of Aurora. Please call for specific directions. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Spring Bluff Nursery Facebook page. . We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. (ADDED: April 14, 2020)

McHenry County

• Grace Farm Studios - Uses natural growing practices, aronia berries, beets, currants (red), currants (black), elderberries, gooseberries, saskatoons, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, gift shop, porta-potties, farm animals, school tours, group reservations
  2719 Franklinville Road, Woodstock, IL 60098. Phone: (815) 206-9958. Email: Studiohost@icloud.com. Open: Federal holidays except Christmas and Easter; for PUBLIC visitation; Please check our Facebook or Instagram site for emergency changes in hours, and to learn what is currently in season for picking. Directions: For your convenience, Grace Farm Studios is listed on Google Maps. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, PayPal, ApplePay, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Grace Farm Studios Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (815) 790-8895. Fax: N/A. . Asparagus season is typically end of April to first week of July; haskap (honey berries) are usually the last two weeks of June; gooseberries are typically July through August; red and black raspberries first fruiting is typically July through August; second raspberry fruiting is September 1 through first heavy frost; elderberries and aronia come September through October; Vegetables July - October;. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. We do not charge per person or per carload. We are a biologically closed farm - please do not bring your pets. We do not allow pets to use the bathroom on our grounds. Thank you for understanding. During the COVID national emergency, we do require masks and social distancing. Thank you. (ADDED: January 17, 2021)
• Homestead Orchard - apples, blackberries, cherries, gooseberries, pears, rhubarb, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, porta-potties are available
  11802 Charles Road, Woodstock, IL 60098. Phone: 815-338-7443. Email: donburda@comcast.net. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: From I-90 \(Illinois Tollway\) go north on Route #47 approximately 12 miles to Woodstock. Continue on #47 through business district going north a few more miles to Charles Road stop sign. Turn right and go 1 mile to Orchard! From McHenry going west on #120. Go to the \Greenwood\" stop sign". Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Homestead Orchard Facebook page. but do not turn left on #120
• 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

• 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.

Warning: include_once(includes/favicons.txt): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/picky2/public_html/orchardfiles/eggs.txt on line 9

Warning: include_once(): Failed opening 'includes/favicons.txt' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php71/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/picky2/public_html/orchardfiles/eggs.txt on line 9

Warning: include_once(bs/Googleautoadscode.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/picky2/public_html/orchardfiles/eggs.txt on line 10

Warning: include_once(): Failed opening 'bs/Googleautoadscode.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php71/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/picky2/public_html/orchardfiles/eggs.txt on line 10

Warning: include_once(bs/analyticstracking.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/picky2/public_html/orchardfiles/eggs.txt on line 11

Warning: include_once(): Failed opening 'bs/analyticstracking.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php71/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/picky2/public_html/orchardfiles/eggs.txt on line 11

 

Eggs: Tips, Recipes and Information

Many PYO farms keep chickens and have farm-fresh eggs to sell. Certainly, these eggs are fresher and better in every way than those from a grocery store. Many of these farms sell the eggs year round, often via an honor box

• Types of eggs
• Egg buying guide: grades, sizes and more
• How long do eggs and egg products stay safe and fresh in the fridge
• Selling eggs from your backyard chickens
• Facts about eggs and chickens
• Glossary of meat, milk and eggs terms

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call or check their website or facebook page before you go to the farm - Egg supplies can vary, chickens lay fewer in cold weather.
2. Bring a container for the eggs.  Some farms have them some not, but if you save and reuse egg cartoons, the farmers will appreciate it. It helps cut their costs - and thus yours!
3. Bring cash - many operate honor boxes for eggs
   

When you get home

 To keep eggs safe, take eggs straight home and store them immediately in the refrigerator set at 35 to 40 F. Leave the eggs in their carton and place them in the back of the refrigerator, not in the door (which is the warmest part of the fridge).

Egg Storage Chart
Product	Refrigerator	Freezer
Raw eggs in shell	3 to 5 weeks	Do not freeze.
Raw egg whites	2 to 4 days	12 months
Raw egg yolks	2 to 4 days	Yolks do not freeze well.
Raw egg accidentally frozen in shell	Use immediately after thawing.	Keep frozen; then refrigerate to thaw.
Hard-cooked eggs	1 week	Do not freeze.
Egg substitutes, liquid Unopened	10 days	Do not freeze.
Egg substitutes, liquid Opened	3 days	Do not freeze.
Egg substitutes, frozen Unopened	After thawing, 7 days, or refer to "Use-By" date on carton.	12 months
Egg substitutes, frozen Opened	After thawing, 3 days, or refer to "Use-By" date on carton.	Do not freeze.
Casseroles made with eggs	3 to 4 days	After baking, 2 to 3 months.
Eggnog, commercial	3 to 5 days	6 months
Eggnog, homemade	2 to 4 days	Do not freeze.
Pies, pumpkin or pecan	3 to 4 days	After baking, 1 to 2 months.
Pies, custard and chiffon	3 to 4 days	Do not freeze.
Quiche with any kind of filling	3 to 4 days	After baking, 1 to 2 months.

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