Flamm Orchard
Customers wear masks while buying strawberry treats at Flamm Fruits and Cream Shop, which sells strawberry shortcake and strawberry sundaes. An outdoor seating area was removed due to the pandemic. (Photo by Austin Flamm)
From the Cultivating Our Communities Stories series BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek
Strawberries selling out daily on southern Illinois farm
Strawberry-hungry customers start lining up at 6:30 a.m. -- hours before Flamm Orchards opens its on-farm store near Cobden in Union County.
“I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know anybody liked strawberries that much,” Austin Flamm told FarmWeek.
Since opening their store 9 a.m. April 27, the Flamm family had sold out of each day’s fresh strawberry supply well before the 6 p.m. closing. One day, customers bought everything within the first half-hour; other days, the supply was gone by noon. On Monday, Flamm estimated enough strawberries had ripened to keep the retail store doors open for an entire business day.
“This is an exceptional year with the foot traffic that is coming,” said the Union County Farm Bureau Board director. “Our (crop) volume is going up. We have multiple varieties coming in. Overall, all the varieties are looking good.”
In addition to fresh berries, an on-farm Fruits and Cream Shop, open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., offers strawberry foods, including jam and strawberry shortcake and sundaes. Daily updates of product availability for the store and shop are posted on Facebook.
Retail sales have been so fruitful that the loss of Flamms’ largest wholesale strawberry customer hasn’t hurt too much, according to Flamm. Plus, the orchard has started selling strawberries to all the Kroger grocery stores in southern Illinois and several “mom-and-pop grocery stores,” he said.
Before any COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Union County, the family took precautions to protect themselves, their workers, and the public. They’ve expanded public safety measures with the opening of a seasonal retail store.
Staff from Shawnee Health Service came to the orchard to train workers in English and Spanish how to properly wear and use personal protective equipment. Additional translators were brought to ensure the employees’ families also understood. Flamm was awaiting delivery of thermometers so each employee’s temperature can be monitored before starting work each day, he said.
For the first time, workers harvesting strawberries are wearing gloves and masks as an extra precaution for public safety, Flamm said. The orchard has implemented Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.
Flamm customers are reminded to follow CDC guidelines when on the farm. In addition, plexiglass barriers to protect customers and employees were installed in the store, and six-foot “social distance” spots were marked on the floor. Hand sanitizer stations were mounted in the retail store and beside all food shop windows. Outdoor seating was removed near the food shop with customers encouraged to eat in their vehicles.
“Coronavirus is not something we’re scared of, but we’re taking precautions to stay ahead of it,” Flamm summarized. “I think the key is to protect yourself, your workers and the public.”
On-farm store precautions
Flamm Orchards has introduced additional safety precautions for customers, as well as employees, and posted the information on Facebook. The family specialty farm is observing all COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control.
At the on-farm retail store and the fruits and cream shop, one customer per vehicle is asked to enter the store or approach the window.
Customers are asked to observe social distancing and stay six feet away from others.
Customers are asked to take purchases and takeout food orders to their vehicles to reduce potential exposure to others.