Eckert’s kicks off peach season with largest harvest in farm history
Pick-Your-Own opens this Saturday at Belleville; now available at Grafton
For the first time in its history, Eckert’s Farm is celebrating its largest-ever peach crop, nearly doubling its Pick-Your-Own (PYO) yield from last year.
Guests can experience the bounty firsthand when Pick-Your-Own peaches open this Saturday, June 28, at the Belleville farm.
Peach picking is already underway at Eckert’s Grafton location, which is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
At the Belleville farm, Pick-Your-Own hours will be temporarily adjusted this week only (June 25–26) due to extreme heat, with fields open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Regular PYO hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. will resume starting Friday, June 27.
Entry requires a field access pass, which can be purchased in advance online. Fresh-picked peaches are also available in half and full-peck containers at Eckert’s Country Store.
“Thanks to an incredible growing season, we’re seeing the largest peach harvest in our farm’s history, which means more opportunities than ever for families to come out and enjoy picking,” says Chris Eckert, president of Eckert’s Farms. “Our orchards are full of ripe, beautiful fruit, and we’re excited to welcome guests to enjoy the season with us.”
Pick-Your-Own blackberries remain open at both Belleville and Grafton farms:
- Belleville: Tuesday–Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. this week only (due to heat; regular hours resume Friday)
- Grafton: Tuesday–Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Pricing: $5.99 per pound (blackberries) | $2.99 per pound (peaches)
Peach Sunrise Picking & Farm-Style Breakfast – July 26
Eckert’s will host Peach Sunrise Picking & Breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 26. Guests will enjoy early access to the peach orchards before official opening hours, followed by a hearty, farm-style breakfast at the Cider Shed, featuring scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, and Eckert’s famous cider donuts. Seasonal cocktails, mocktails, and sweet apple cider will also be available. Tickets to the event are available through Eckert’s website.
For more information on Eckert’s or to reserve tickets for Pick-Your-Own, visit the website and follow along on social media (Facebook, Instagram) where the team shares daily updates from the farm.
Photos courtesy Eckert’s Farm.
Eckert’s Inc. is the largest family-owned and operated Pick-Your-Own orchard in the United States. Originally established as a farm and simple roadside stand in Illinois, the Eckert family now owns and operates farming, entertainment and retail entities in Belleville, Grafton and Millstadt, Ill., as well as most recently, Versailles, Ky. For a century, Eckert’s has been a local source for agricultural products including asparagus, beets, zucchini, kale, squash, onions, peppers, strawberries, blackberries, peaches, apples, pumpkins, and more. Guests of Eckert’s farms get to experience the farming practices firsthand with the farms’ Pick-Your-Own produce experiences during growing seasons. Today, Eckert’s offers year-round programming for all at their farms and Country Store. For more information, visit www.eckerts.com Follow on social media @eckertfarms on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
