Rendleman Orchards
Southern Illinois orchard shares fruits of season all year long
From the 2020 Cultivating Our Communities Stories series
Anyone hungry for Illinois peaches and apples can satisfy their cravings by shopping Rendleman Orchards’ online store and get a jump on summer.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton highlighted the Union County orchard Wednesday as part of her Cultivating Our Communities campaign.
Stratton shared information and web links for Rendleman Orchards through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Her goal is to connect consumers statewide with farmers and businesses who grow, raise and process diverse foods in the state.
The family raises 850 acres of peaches, apples, and nectarines. About 75% of their tree fruit crop is sold wholesale and the remainder sold retail through their on-farm store that opens June 15. In addition, the Sirles grow zucchini, yellow squash, and cucumbers.
Currently, the family’s online store offers a gift box of apple butter, peach preserves, and strawberry preserves.
As a way for people to show support for farmers during the pandemic, Michelle and her daughter, Hilary, designed and are selling online a “Farmers are my kinda people” T-shirt. The family is sharing the proceeds from T-shirt sales with the American Farm Bureau Federation Foundation.
“Farmers are working through despite COVID-19,” she told FarmWeek. “That’s the farmer spirit to press on and get ’er done.” Sirles’ goal is to send a public message that farmers are persevering and continuing to provide the county a secure food supply.
In addition to a website, Rendleman Orchards may be found on Facebook and Instagram.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Sirles said she has seen a renewed sense of pride in the country and on family farms. “People want to shop small and get their food directly from farmers,” she added.
Hear what the Sirles family are doing to help keep themselves, their employees, and the public safe and healthy during the pandemic in the video below.