Valley Orchard

Cherry Valley, IL

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At a glance

Address: 911 East State Street, Cherry Valley, IL 61016
Activities: 🍎 Apples
Phone: (815) 332-9696
Typical season: Aug to Oct (apples, varies by farm)
Listing updated: Feb 2024
Email: [email protected]
Contact details from: USDA Local Food Directories
Social: Facebook
County: Boone County, IL
Hardiness zone: USDA zone 5b
Source: USDA Local Food Directories

Picking weather

National Weather Service

Loading the forecast…

Weather only. It does not tell you whether the farm is open, so check hours with the farm.

Make a day of it

Public restroom 1.3 mi
Playground Caribbean Cove 1.3 mi
Gas station Shell 0.6 mi
EV charger Tesla Supercharger 2 mi
147 places to eat within 5 mi Cattle & Cream, Tia Nana's Taco Stand, Surfside Cafe

Farmers markets nearby

Rockford-Shumway Farmers Market Rockford · 3.6 mi
Colonial Village Farmers' Market Rockford · 4.6 mi
HCC Realty Farmers Market Rockford · 4.7 mi

CSA farm shares nearby

Open in Apple Maps · Google Maps directions

Nearby places from OpenStreetMap (straight-line distance). Markets and CSAs from the USDA Local Food Directories.

Weather here in a typical year

Nov here: highs around 47°F, lows around 30°F, about 2.3 in of rain, 9.7 hours of daylight.

29°14°J

33°18°F

46°28°M

60°38°A

71°50°M

81°60°J

84°64°J

82°62°A

75°54°S

62°42°O

47°30°N

34°20°D

🌱 Last spring frostApr 24
🍂 First fall frostOct 17
☀️ Frost-free season174 days
🧭 Hardiness zone5b

NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Rockford Gtr Rockford Ap, IL station (8.4 mi); USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University PRISM). Averages, not a forecast. Crops ripen earlier after warm springs.

What you can pick here

ApplesAug to Oct

Typical US ranges from extension service crop calendars, not this farm's own dates. Seasons shift by region and weather, so check with the farm.

Before you go

Check that it is open. Call the farm: hours and crops change with the weather.
Bring cash and a card. Some farms take only one.
Water, sun protection and closed-toe shoes.
A bag or box for the ride home, if the farm allows your own
Comfortable shoes for orchard rows
Hand wipes
Ask about pets before you bring a dog.

More tips: your first u-pick visit.

How to pick like a pro

Is it ripe?
Ripe apples come off with a gentle lift and twist. If you have to yank, it is not ready. Background color shifts from green to yellow or cream.
How to pick
Lift the apple up and twist; do not pull straight down or shake the branch. Leave the stem on. Set apples in the bag, do not drop them, because bruises spread.
Best time to go
Weekday mornings. Weekend afternoons in late September and October are the busiest.
Keep it fresh
Refrigerate; most varieties keep for weeks. Keep away from bananas and greens, because apples release ethylene.

Farm country: Boone County

Boone County had 416 farms in the latest USDA Census of Agriculture (2022). Of those, 25 sold food straight to the public and 3 earned money from agritourism like u-pick and tours.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2022 Census of Agriculture. Some county numbers are withheld to protect individual farms.

Check hours before you go. Listings come from public directories and many were last updated in 2024.

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Plan your trip

When is apple picking season? Varieties by month3 min read · Nov 2026 How to pick apples and store them so they last3 min read · Nov 2026 U-pick etiquette and how pricing usually works3 min read · Nov 2026

Questions about Valley Orchard

Is Valley Orchard open today?

We do not track live hours. Call the farm at (815) 332-9696 before you go. Our listing comes from public directories and was last updated Feb 2024.

When is the season at Valley Orchard?

Apples typically run Aug to Oct in much of the US. Exact dates depend on the farm, the region and the weather, so confirm with the farm.

Where is Valley Orchard?

The listing gives the address as 911 East State Street, Cherry Valley, IL 61016. Use the Directions button for turn-by-turn directions.

Can I bring my dog to Valley Orchard?

Pet rules vary by farm and by field. Many u-pick farms do not allow dogs in picking areas for food safety. Ask the farm before you go.

Is this listing wrong?

Farms can fix or claim a listing for free on our add or claim your farm page.