• Apples

    They say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, which is why at Riverfront Berry Farm we are dedicated to growing the best apples. We grow several varieties of apples--sweet and tart--that taste delicious when used in cooking or when eaten plain. All our apples are grown locally and picked only when ready, which is why they have the best flavor of any apples you'll eat all season. Read More

  • Strawberries

    The garden strawberry is actually a hybrid between several other types of berries and was created in the mid 18th century. Nowadays, strawberries are a summer staple--no fruit salad or summer picnic is complete without them, and for some, summer doesn't start until they've had their first strawberry. At Riverfront Berry Farm, we take pride in our delicious day-neutral strawberries that are grown locally and picked fresh. Read More

  • Potted Trees

    At Riverfront Berry Farm, you can purchase potted cherry trees, potted peach trees, and potted apple trees. If you have a green thumb, can't get enough fresh produce, or want an apple, peach, or cherry tree to spruce up your backyard, you should come see Riverfront Berry Farm's selection of potted orchard trees. While it can take 3 to 4 years for a fruit tree to mature enough to bear fruit, most people find the wait is worth it. Read More

  • Peaches

    Riverfront Berry Farm sells fresh, locally grown peaches in the summer. Peaches require a chilled season in order to grow properly, and can withstand very cold temperatures, which makes them a great candidate as an Illinois crop. As a result of our weather and location, Riverfront Berry Farm's peaches are sweet and delicious when picked in mid-summer. We know you will enjoy the taste of our sweet, juicy, locally grown peaches when you visit Riverfront Berry Farm. Read More

  • Cherries

    Cherries are a popular product at Riverfront Berry Farm. Our cherries are usually harvested from late June to early July, and are perfect for pies. Our cherries are slightly bitter and large in size, and contain antioxidants that can help reduce pain related to inflammation, so if you have sore joints, the addition of cherries into your diet can have many benefits. For locally grown fresh cherries, come to Riverfront Berry Farm for the perfect cherries for your recipes and… Read More

  • Red and Black Raspberries

    As a berry farm, we are proud to grow our celebrated red raspberries and black raspberries. Sometimes called black cap raspberry or thimbleberry, our amazing black raspberries ripen in mid summer along with their cousin, the summer red raspberry. Read More

  • Pears

    Riverfront Berry Farm grows and harvests fresh pears during the summer and into fall. Pear skins contain the majority of the vitamin C and dietary fiber found in pears, making them a great fruit to eat plain, although there are many good cooked pear recipes. For locally grown sweet and fresh pears, come to Riverfront Berry Farm and check out our seasonal selections. Read More

  • Peppers

    At Riverfront Berry Farm, we sell a variety of peppers, including bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, sweet banana peppers, hot banana peppers, serrano peppers, pablano peppers, and habanera peppers. Our delicious peppers, which range from hot and spicy to sweet, are harvested during summer and fall. Read More

  • Potted Flowers

    At Riverfront Berry Farm, we have several varieties of potted flowers and bedding plants. Our potted flowers and bedding plants include potted carnation plants, potted lilly plants, and potted hosta plants. We chose these varieties because they hold up well in the midwestern climate and are a great addition to any garden, no matter how much gardening experience the gardener has. Read More

  • Berries

    If you love berries, you have to try Riverfront Berry Farm's sweet and juicy berries. Riverfront Berry Farm's crops include many types of berries, some of which are blueberries, gooseberries, and our red and black raspberries. Our blueberries, gooseberries, and red and black raspberries are all picked in summer at the peak of freshness, so they have maximum sweetness and ripeness. We grow six varieties of blueberries, each having a different ripening period, to extend the fresh harvesting time throughout… Read More

  • Potatoes

    Riverfront Berry Farm grows the Early Red Norland variety of potatoes. This variety of potato not only has great taste and cooks well but also maintains its deep red color better than other varieties after harvest. For our Early Red Norland potatoes, which are planted and harvested a bit earlier than some other varieties of potatoes, come to Riverfront Berry Farm and check out our potato selection. Read More

  • Sweet Corn

    How would you like to taste the future? At Riverfront Berry Farm we grow two varieties of sweet corn. Our sweet corn varieties include Seneca Arrowhead and Mirai (pronounced ME-rye), which means "taste of the future" in Japanese. Read More

  • Tomatoes and Tomatillos

    Tomatoes are another specialty at Riverfront Berry Farm. We grow several varieties of tomatoes, allowing for ripe fruits from late June through the first hard frost (below 28 degrees). Our main variety is Mountain Spring, which produces 10-12 oz fruits which travel well and are almost always blemish free. This is extremely important to us since our produce must travel to farmers' markets as well as hold up at our on-farm market without bruising or cracking. Read More

  • Garlic

    Our variety of garlic is named Music. Music garlic is a hard neck variety which produces a large garlic bulb, and our garlic has a reputation for its incredible size. To increase bulb size, we harvest and sell the immature garlic scapes (seed stalks and heads) which are very tasty when used alone or in place of regular garlic. Read More

  • Pumpkins

    Our pumpkin varieties include the traditional golden colored Halloween pumpkins, as well as the beautiful Rosa de Castilla variety of pumpkin squash. The Rosa de Castilla pumpkin variety we produce and market is multicolored, decorative, and very attractive for fall decorating as well as eating. For pumpkins of many sizes and beautiful color, Riverfront Berry Farm has all you need. Read More

  • Asparagus

    Asparagus is an extremely labor-intensive crop and at Riverfront Berry Farm, we take pride in our asparagus crop and continuously increase our asparagus acreage to meet our customers' demands for the flavorful crop. We grow the delicious Jersey Giant variety of asparagus, which we harvest by hand, not with a machine. Our asparagus is harvested daily by hand over a six week period to ensure its freshness, so our customers know the asparagus they purchase from us is the highest… Read More

  • Peas and Radishes

    Riverfront Berry Farm grows both snow peas and snap peas. Peas are early growers and available from the middle of May through June. After a short break from the summer weather, as snow peas and snap peas do not toerate heat well, our snow peas and snap peas are available again in September through October. These unique vegetables make for easy healthy eating, and our locally grown snow peas and snap peas are a must for our customers who love… Read More

  • Peas and Radishes

    Riverfront Berry Farm grows both snow peas and snap peas. Peas are early growers and available from the middle of May through June. After a short break from the summer weather, as snow peas and snap peas do not toerate heat well, our snow peas and snap peas are available again in September through October. These unique vegetables make for easy healthy eating, and our locally grown snow peas and snap peas are a must for our customers who love… Read More

  • Green Beans

    This summer product is available from July through the first frost of the year, sometimes extending to the late fall. We grow the variety Tema green beans, occasionally called Tema Bush Beans. These beans are crisp and flavorful and have exceptional eating quality, and customer feedback regarding our green beans has been excellent, which is why we have continued to make it available year after year. Read More

  • Beets and Swiss Chard

    Beets and Swiss chard are both initially available from mid May until the very end of the growing season. Both beets and Swiss chard tolerate frosts and survive quite well until the temperatures drop beneath 25 degrees. Beets have bitter and somewhat salty greens which contrast with the sweet root of the beet. Both vegetables can be used in many recipes and are very healthy, and Swiss chard is one of the highest rated vegetables for its nutritional content. Read More

  • Cucumber, Zucchini, and Pickles

    Riverfront Berry Farm grows and markets both slicing and pickling cucumbers as well as zucchini. These vegetables are available from late June through September. Depending upon the timing of the first frost they are sometimes available into October. Slicing cucumbers are used in many recipes. Pickling cucumbers can be used similarly to slicing cucumbers but are more frequently pickled. Read More

  • Broccoli

    Broccoli prefers cool weather and loses some of its vigor for growth during the heat of the summer. At Riverfront Berry Farm we manage our planting schedule to insure adequate availability even during the height of the summer heat. Broccoli rebounds with energy during the cooler months of September and October and often beyond. Broccoli is good with melted cheese as well as plain old Ranch dressing as an appetizer or a side dish. Broccoli also complements many other vegetables,… Read More

  • Winter Squash

    Sweet varieties of squash, when baked, are an autumn comfort food. Riverfront Berry Farm grows several types of winter squash including butternut squash, acorn squash, buttercup squash, and spaghetti squash. These squash types are harvested in September and October until winter, making butternut squash, buttercup squash, acorn squash, and spaghetti squash good winter vegetables. While all these types of squash are delicious baked with a little brown sugar, they can also be used to make thick, comforting fall soups like… Read More

  • Kohlrabi and Cabbage

    You may be wondering what kohlrabi is, as it is an uncommon vegetable in many gardens in our local area. Kohlrabi comes from the same family as cabbage, though it is smaller in size. Both the thick part of the vegetable and the leafy greens are edible, as with a cabbage head. While kohlrabi is one of the most interesting-looking vegetables, its leaves can be used in place of kale or collards, and the vegetable is sweeter than most types… Read More

  • Eggplant

    Eggplant, much like tomatoes and tomatillos, is available from late June through the first frost of the season. Its growing season is usually curtailed by the first frost, so while it can sometimes grow until October, it is very weather-dependent. Our eggplant is characterized by its deep purple, shiny skin, which indicates healthy, great-tasting plants. While eggplant is bitter when it is raw, it becomes very soft and flavorful when properly cooked. Read More

  • Okra

    Okra is very similar to eggplant in its harvesting season and is available from July through the first frost of the year. Okra is very intolerant to frost, which is why we recommend our customers get our okra fresh while they can during summer, since okra's growing season can be cut off very suddenly. Read More

  • Purslane

    While many in the United States consider purslane a weed, this vegetable can be eaten in its entirety: stem, leaves, and flower buds. Purslane is a warm season crop at Riverfront Berry Farm and is available from July into most of September, though its availability decreases as the temperature drops. Purslane is a great vegetable choice for those who want to expand their culinary knowledge and try something new. Read More

  • Spinach

    At Riverfront Berry Farm, we grow varieties of spinach that are more tolerant to heat than most, resulting in the season going from late April through October. The majority of our spinach is harvested in the spring and early fall. The warmth of summer slows production causing us to recommend placing an order or arriving early to the farmers' market during the peak heat of summer. If you love spinach, you will love the spinach you'll find at Riverfront Berry… Read More

  • Spinach

    At Riverfront Berry Farm, we grow varieties of spinach that are more tolerant to heat than most, resulting in the season going from late April through October. However, production diminishes somewhat during the warmer months, so though it is available in summer, the majority of our spinach is harvested in the spring and early fall. If you love spinach, you will love the spinach you'll find at Riverfront Berry Farm. Read More

  • Spinach

    At Riverfront Berry Farm, we grow varieties of spinach that are more tolerant to heat than most, resulting in the season going from late April through October. However, production diminishes somewhat during the warmer months, so though it is available in summer, the majority of our spinach is harvested in the spring and early fall. If you love spinach, you will love the spinach you'll find at Riverfront Berry Farm. Read More

  • Honey and Popcorn

    At Riverfront Berry Farm, we sell fresh and locally produced honey and popcorn. Both popcorn and honey can be purchased fresh daily at our on-farm market, as well as at the farmers' markets we attend. For fresh popcorn and locally produced honey, visit Riverfront Berry Farm. Read More
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About Us

Rivefront Berry Farm

Riverfront Berry Farm originated in 1994 after Bob and Coleen Blain retired as educators in suburban Chicago and returned to the Illinois farm where Bob grew up. Coleen had always kept a garden and shared her produce with friends, who enjoyed it so much they encouraged her to market and sell more of her produce, which Coleen and Bob decided to do when they retired. They started farming 1/4 of an acre at the beginning of their retirement but the farm currently exceeds 18 acres of fruit and vegetable-bearing produce.

Sadly, Coleen died in 2011. Her absence has resulted in a greater amount of responsibility delegated to employees, who have readily accepted the new challenges. Their input has resulted in the addition of new vegetables and added techniques in the growing, harvesting, and marketing procedures of our products.

The farm was originally purchased by Bob's grandfather, Gilbert Demierre, in 1904. Bob is the third generation of his family to operate the farm, after his father and grandfather. The farm is located in northeast Iroquois County and borders the Iroquois River, resulting in the name Riverfront Berry Farm.

Fruits grown on the farm include strawberries, red raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries, apples, cherries, peaches, and black raspberries. Vegetable crops include asparagus, garlic, sweet corn, and over 30 other garden vegetables.

Freshness and excellent quality produce are the main goals to us at Riverfront Berry Farm. Produce is picked fresh daily throughout the growing season, and items which benefit from cooling, such as strawberries and raspberries, are in coolers within 20 minutes of being picked. These items are sold directly from the coolers whenever possible.

Read more: About Us

Farmers' Markets

  • The Kankakee Farmers' Market +

    Last Saturday of April through the last Saturday of October
    Hours: 7:00 am to 12:00 pm

    Corner of Schuyler & Merchant Streets
    Kankakee, IL

  • The Lockport Farmers’ Market +

    Mondays from mid June through mid October

    Hours: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

    The grounds of the Village Hall

    Lockport, IL

  • The Summit Farmers' Market +

    Wednesdays from mid June to mid October

    Hours: 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

    Located at 5700 S. Archer Road

    Summit, IL 60501

  • The Cullom Farmers' Market +

    Wednesdays from May to October

    Hours: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

    Located in the parking lot of the Cullom Community Market

  • Alsip Farmers' Market +

    Tuesdays from June 11-October 8

    Hours: 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

    Located at 12521 S. Kostner Ave., Alsip, IL
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Contact Us

map2799 N. 1700 East Rd. Martinton, IL 60951

815-428-7382
815-471-7383

facebook-gray Follow Us on Facebook

farm-maps-barnWe are also on Farmer Maps.

Good Agricultural Practices

GAPs, or “Good Agricultural Practices,” is a comprehensive program intended to reduce the risk of food products carrying pathogens such as salmonella, e-coli and others which could potentially lead to food borne illnesses.
Read more: GAPs