MURPHYSBORO, Ill.— Mileur Orchard is excited to be the host for the third of four summer twilight meetings on Monday, July 8, 2019 starting at 6 p.m. University of Illinois Extension Local Food Systems & Small Farms Educators, Bronwyn Aly and Nathan Johanning, have been partnering with area farms over the past five years to provide evening “twilight meetings” to highlight and demonstrate diverse farming enterprises across southern Illinois. At this meeting we are partnering with the Jackson and Union County Farm Bureaus to further support education about our local farms. Anyone involved or interested in local food production or learning more about farms in our region is encouraged and invited to attend. The Mileur’s farm has been in the family since the mid 1800’s and the first fruit trees were planted in 1961. Owners, Howard and Lisa Mileur, have continued this fruit growing tradition since Howard’s father first planted those original trees. In 2010, they expanded their retail space, building a new retail market which included a new cooler and small commercial kitchen. They use the commercial kitchen to make fruit cobblers and desserts to sell at the market. Additionally, they sell at the Urbana Farmers Market and market some fruit wholesale.
Over the course of the evening, the Mileurs will discuss experiences growing and marketing over 30 varieties of peaches, 9 varieties of apples, along with some apriums, pluots, and plums. At the end of the meeting, participants will have a chance to sample local produce from the orchard and area farms. We encourage anyone interested in learning about production and marketing of fruit in southern Illinois to capitalize on this on-farm learning and networking opportunity. Come out and learn more about your local farms!
The meeting will be held Monday, July 8, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. Mileur Orchard is located at 172 Mileur Orchard Rd in Murphysboro. To get there from Murphysboro, travel west out of town on IL 149. The orchard will be on the north side (right) of the highway shortly after you leave town. It is about two miles west of downtown Murphysboro. This program is provided at no cost but pre-registration is appreciated. To register, please call (618) 695-6060 no later than July 5, 2019.
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in programming, contact your local registration office. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your needs.
News Sources:
Nathan Johanning, 618-687-1727, njohann@illinois.edu
Bronwyn Aly, 618-695-6060, baly@illinois.edu