Apple Picking in the Chicago Area

Does anyone know of a location for apple picking that is not too far from Chicago (and is currently picking)? We're looking not only for the apples, but also for the picking experience (cider & cider donuts & stuff available). I'd like to go tomorrow.

There are two mentions of Goebbert's Farms in the shopping and cooking forum.Two locations.I know one is in S Barrington.I know they have various items but not sure if they have apples.

Quig's Apple Orchard in Mundelein has the cider and donuts, I just don't know about the apple picking.

Quig's wrote:Throughout the region, unfavorable spring and summer weather has caused significantly smaller apple crops than anyone had hoped for. To help compensate, our friends in Michigan are supplying us with plenty of apples to have available in the orchard. And while there aren't many apples on the trees, Quig's still has plenty of other things going on!

Quig's - CLOSED
300 S. Rt. 60/83
1/4 Mile N.W. of Midlothian Rd.
Mundelein, Illinois, 60060
(in Lake County)
Call 847.566.4520

i am not sure how close this is.Garwood Orchard in La Porte,Indiana.garwoodorchard.com

I go to Jollay Orchards every Fall. It has the best apple pie, cider, caramel apples - almost too much to eat in one visit! It's great for both kids and adults, and their haunted house is so much fun! Pick 'em yourself apples, a mini cornfield maze and it's about 1 1/2 to 2 hrs tops from Chicago, right near St. Joes.

leesh

Jollay Orchards
Coloma

So this past weekend my girlfriend and I tried to find a pumpkin and apple patch to pick our own pumpkin and pick apples - nice seasonal activity. We went to a Harms (sp?) farm in McHenry just to be disapointed in that everything was picked already and just sitting in bins. Since I live in Uptown and know that it'll be a drive anywhere, does anyone know of closer places besides Orchard Downs in Urbana, IL where there is an apple orchard that lets you pick them yourself off the trees?

I know I previously mentioned Goebbert Farms.Two locations.I remember one is in South Barrington.I am not certain if they have both apples and pumpkins.

Make sure you call ahead or check websites prior to going to any orchard. I looked into going to some apple orchards as well before I read that the apple crop has not been very good b/c of the early cold weather. As a result, very few apples remain to be picked, and apples from MI have been shipped to be sold in the shops of these orchards.

Hi,

Apples are a problem this year in this region. Orchards like Quigs in Mundelein had a very small quantity available for picking, due to late frosts which killed the buds as well as the continuous rains which caused mold/fungal problems. So wherever you contemplate visiting, I would phone first.

My favorite orchard for heirloom apples simply didn't produce this year. Yet in the very same area someone said there are apples available at Royal Oak Farm Orchard, however I would phone first to verify if apple picking is really happening.

You can also refer to the Michigan Ag Tourism or on the Useful Stuff Board there is Farm Direct, which offers information on Illinois AG sources.

You may want to use the search function of this website because there have been several threads this year on apples and apple picking.

hattyn wrote:I know I previously mentioned Goebbert Farms.Two locations.I remember one is in South Barrington.I am not certain if they have both apples and pumpkins.

We went to the location in Hampshire (an extra 15 minutes west and quite a bit cheaper) this past weekend. You drive past the pumpkin patch on your way in, but you don't pick your pumpkin out of the patch. I didn't see any apples. They have a number of activities for kids.

For the last two years, I've gone to Jonamac Orchard in Malta, but I know they're also out of apples this year. You might still enjoy going, though, as I believe you can still pick your own pumpkins. There's also a corn maze.

http://www.jonamacorchard.com/index.html

Hi,

Apple picking is largely over for our region according to the Chicago Tribune. Wherever you may want to go, please call in advance. Royal Oak Orchards in McHenry County still had some last weekend.

Regards,

The Apple Barn north 4miles of Elkhorn Wisc. still had plenty of apples.