Farm Fresh Fun: Take Your Pick at Orchards & Roadside Stands

There's no better way to get outside with the family and practice social distancing than by visiting local orchards and roadside stands where there is plenty of room to roam.

And the orchards themselves are ensuring everyone enjoys a healthy visits with COVID-19 safeguards in place.

Take your pick of apples and pumpkins throughout September and October at a wide variety of U-Pick-Em orchards in the Great Rivers & Routes region or just pick up your locally grown favs at a roadside stand.

Delight the senses with the brilliant orange of pumpkins, the vibrant yellows of squash and reds, yellows and greens of apples dangling from the limbs of trees as you wander through orchards in search of the perfect pumpkin or bushel of apples. From the early McIntosh and Honeycrisp apples in early September to Red and Golden Delicious in late September and the Granny Smith and Fuji apples in October, there is always a "ripe" time to select your fruits.

Produce Tip: Be on the look out for "blue pumpkins." Yes, it is a real thing. Pumpkins come in a range of colors including orange, yellow, royal blue and light blue!

Be sure to check with each orchard and roadside stand for the current availability of produce.

liberty apples at an orchard in southwest Illinois
pick your own pumpkin at a local farm in southwest illinois