BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Black raspberry season has arrived at Eckert's Farm, but only for a limited time.
Guests will have a chance to pick the rare and limited crop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, and June 7-9. Eckert's is located at 951 S. Green Mount Road, in Belleville, Illinois.
Field access passes are required for the pick-your-own experience. Passes start at $4 for weekdays and $7 on weekends. Click here to purchase your ticket.
Pick-your-own black raspberries cost $4.99 for a six-ounce container, according to a press release.
“Our black raspberry plants are looking healthy and we’re thrilled to be able to offer this unique crop for picking again for a short window of time,” says Chris Eckert, President of Eckert’s Inc. “Due to the rareness of the crop, we have expanded our orchard to provide more black raspberry plants than ever before, so we can now offer the short picking season for two weekends instead of one. They’re here and gone in a flash, and we hope people enjoy them as much as we do.”
Black raspberries, also known as "black caps" or "thimbleberries," are hard to find at grocery stores. They are usually grown in the wild and found in the northeastern part of the United States, according to Eckert's.
If you miss the pick-your-own experience, black raspberries are available now at the Eckert's County Store for $6.99 per six-ounce container.
If you miss the limited-time experience, Eckert's will begin their pick-your-own blackberry season in mid-June. Blackberries will be $5.99 per pound.
Find more information on Eckert's Farm and buy your pass for the pick-your-own experience here.
