Curtis Orchard is open July 20 through December 20 and offers many activities for the visitor. It includes a pick-your-own and pre-pick orchard with 25 acres of apples and peaches (some new plantings and varieties), a 20 acre pumpkin patch. The Flying Monkey Café is open daily for lunch and the country store offers a variety of products including preserves, honey, apple butter salad dressings, popcorn, gift baskets, and unique kids toys that are favorites. Visitors to the bakery will find donuts, fritters, pies and cobbler. Fun activities include: a petting zoo, giant slide, putt and play, a toddler area, live music, private parties and cider making, apple grading tours and presentations about honey bees.
The new 100 acre University of Illinois Fruit Research and Education Center was established in 2008 south of campus is used for teaching, research, outreach/extension education programs relating to fruits and vegetables. The perennial plants at the farm consist of 15 acres of apples, 3 acres of peaches, Asian pears, grapes, and small fruits. The research focus includes disease resistant cultivars, root stock compatibility, applied entomology and plant pathology. In addition, a genetic-source orchard is maintained for germplasm to be used for future genome mapping. Plans also include developing demonstration plots that will serve farmers and the general public on such topics as genetically engineering fruits, sustainable fruit production, nutritional components, integrated pest management, and impact of production on consumer health.
Registration: Reduced UIUC Extension registration donation is $10 per person. Pre-registrations accepted by mail. By phone at 309/530-7678 (cell), 309/828-8929, or at ilsthortsoc@yahoo.com, pay upon arrival. Advance reservations are appreciated. Please pre-register on or before June 11. On-site registration begins at 8:00 a.m. on June 13.
For additional information on presentations, contact Mohammad Babadoost phone: 217/333-1523 or email: babadoos@illinois.edu.
