BLUERIDGE FARMS- 201 W. Main St. - Hardin
Grab a refreshing coffee or ice cream, shop for fresh groceries and baked goods, and find delicious fresh peaches from the Blueridge Farms orchard! Be sure to stop along the Illinois River for some strips of crispy fried catfish at The Barefoot Restaurant nearby!

EBERLIN'S ORCHARD- 1218 Two Story Hill - Golden Eagle
Are you ready for a river adventure? Drive aboard the Golden Eagle Ferry and cross the rugged Mississippi to the river town of Golden Eagle, Illinois. Eberlins Orchard has welcomed Calhoun County travelers since 1988 with juicy peaches and red ripe tomatoes.

TOPPMEYER’S ORCHARD- 480 Meyer Ln. - Brussels
Start a new family tradition by taking a drive to Calhoun County for some delicious Calhoun
County peaches this summer! Bring your family to peruse fresh produce and peaches at
Toppmeyer’s roadside stand in Brussels.

HAGEN FAMILY ORCHARD- 3879 Illinois River Rd. - Brussels
What’s better than a peach pie? Hagen Orchard knows it takes a bit of love, a pinch of spice, and
a gloriously ripe peach for the best one - and their pie fillings are what dreams are made of! Find more delicious treats in store at the farm stand with local jams and jellies, honey, and more.

JACOBS ORCHARD- 148 Ridge Rd. - Golden Eagle
Hit pause and refresh with peach sorbet or ice-cream at Jacobs Orchard in Golden Eagle! The orchard market is bursting with peach flavor in late summer with peach jellies, butters, preserves, and pecks picked fresh from the orchard.

ODELEHR’S ORCHARD- 7127 Illinois River Rd. - Brussels
Peaches from June to September? Yes, please! Odelehr’s more than century old farm specializes in an extra-long peach season. Ride the Brussels Ferry across the Illinois River to Odelehr’s market and find fresh baked goods and pies, fruit bread, preserves, candies, produce and so much more through summer and early fall.

There are more orchards outside of Calhoun County to enjoy in southwest Illinois. Broom Orchard of Carlinville, Backwoods Berry Farm of Hettick, Eckert’s Country Store & Farms of Grafton, Joe Ringhausen Orchard & Market of Fieldon, and Kern Family Orchard of Raymond all offer U-Pick peaches and Krueger’s Orchard of Godfrey, Pearson’s Produce of Godfrey, and D & M Orchard of Hillsboro all offer roadside service so you don’t miss out on peach season!

1. There are three types of peaches perfect for eating: Cling peaches which stick messily to their pit, Semi-Cling peaches which can be cut from the pit but not twisted off, and Freestone Peaches which can be removed from the pit cleanly and easily.

2. Calhoun County grows two main types of peach: yellow and white. Yellow peaches are more acidic with a tartness that mellows as the peach ripens and white peaches have lower acidity and are sweet whether soft or firm.

3. There are hundreds of varieties of peaches in Calhoun County and each orchard has their favorites- one of the most common varieties is called Red Haven.

4. You can tell if a peach is ripe if it has a golden yellow color, a strong floral “peachy” smell, and a hardness with a bit of give similar to a tennis ball. If it’s soft enough to leave an indent when you press lightly with your thumb, it’s a good one!

5. Peaches continue to ripen after being picked. Most peaches last between one to three days. To quickly ripen an unripe peach, place it in a brown paper bag. You can also place peaches in the fridge to slow ripening but they will gradually lose flavor.

Want to make something delicious with your fresh peaches? Try out these delicious recipes from the kitchen of BlueRidge Farms:


Peach Cobbler:
1 Cup Flour
1 Cup Sugar
1 Stick of Butter
1 Egg
4 Cups of Peaches

Preheat oven to 350°. Add 4 cups of sliced peaches to the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking pan. Mix the flour, sugar, egg & butter (softened). If mixture is too thick add a little water. Pour mixture over the peaches. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes until golden brown.

Follow instructions on the Mrs. Wages packet for tomato prep. Peel peaches and cut into small diced pieces. Combine all ingredients and bring mixture to a boil. Stir occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Can be eaten fresh, frozen, or canned.