On a recent trip to the Pacific Coast, The Wife and I had the experience of stopping at the Tillamook Creamery Visitor’s Center in Tillamook, OR. Can you say “steroids”? Not the cheese or the cows, but rather the marketing and promotions efforts that are involved in their elaborate processing and visitor’s center in that tiny town of 5,200 people. Those efforts seem to be on steroids. It’s the truth to say, “I have never seen anything quite like it”.
That visit made me more conscious of the several agribusinesses in this part of southwestern Illinois that are well-established, or, maybe are taking a “first” step like the Tillamook area dairy farmers did in 1909.
Recently, I had a chance to visit one of those local agribusinesses that is far from a start-up: Eckert’s Country Store, which is southeast of Belleville on busy Illinois Highway 15. The Eckert’s emigrated to the area in 1837 and have been marketing through roadside stands since the 1920’s and, not unlike Tillamook, have become a mega-success, but rather than with milk products, by growing fruits and vegetables and, later on, adding entertainment to their staples.
Their seven generations of success in this area are a testimony to hard work, ingenuity, and the just plan German stubbornness of the family.
Country Restaurant’s fried chicken and hard cider: An unbeatable combination
I was on the premises to attend a meeting of the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club, which has members from both sides of the river, and we enjoyed their fried chicken and recent foray into the “hard” cider world. No doubt, they will be as successful with the latter as they have always been with the former.
Country Market has pumpkins everywhere
Walking from the restaurant to the Country Market takes you past the frozen custard shop with “too” many choices, but I managed to get by it (for the moment) and move on toward the store. More on this custard stop later.
To reach the Market you have to work your way through a maze of pumpkins and other fall produce, but once inside the market you’d better grab a large grocery cart because you are going to fill it.
Fruits, vegetables and wine thrive in Eckert’s country store
A wide variety of fruit wines are available. Fresh fruits and vegetables already been picked for you, if you desire. The bakery display case at Eckert’s has something for every sweet tooth.
The market has every fruit and vegetable that you could possibly need, plus you might like a bottle or two of Eckert’s wine from their vineyards north of Grafton, IL. Most of the store’s items are branded by Eckert’s but they also handle products from other growers.
Be aware that inside the front door, a baked goods display case is waiting to ambush you before you can catch your breath.
What’s going on today?
A large chalk board neatly points out that: U-pick apples are in season, as are pumpkins and hayrides. Now that you’ve been advised as to their existence, it’s time to move along in search of those items and more activities.
Garden Center attached
Of course, in the attached greenhouse, there are always some “in-season” plants to satisfy your green thumb and more of those gorgeous pumpkins in a display shaped like a one-story house. But resist a little longer because you have work to do first.
On to the orchard: Let’s pick apples
Friendly tractor drivers patiently load the trams and pull them to the orchard in search of fresh apples. Somehow, they are better when you pick them yourself. Ask some of the expert employees, which apples are best for apple pie and then heed their advice when you get home. Then invite me over! LOL
Fun Corral: Made for family fun with playground and furry animals
Let your kids pet these “kids” and some friendly lambs just begging to be petted. The playground area can keep the youngest children entertained and there are also lots of props set up for family photo opportunities.
This whole facility is “kid friendly” and after returning from the orchard, take time to work your way through the Fun Corral, which will probably involve some petting of friendly goats and sheep, plus climbing on several devices designed to help kids burn off some energy and also provide settings for family photo opportunities. It’s easy to “record” a memory at Eckert’s.
Eckert’s have survived many trends: Future looks good
Chris Eckert, the current president, spoke to our group and graciously told us about his family’s history in Southern Illinois. They obviously have succeeded by adapting to many changes. From wholesale sales of apples and peaches, they have seen the market move to the popular “u-pick” method. They have also seen the need to add entertainment and become a “destination” business where folks come and spend a lot of time as they have also increased the acres in their operation, which has several locations.
Their business is very seasonal with 20% of their revenue coming in 20 days during September and October and with three quarters of a million visitors each year. Schnuck’s grocery stores in the St. Louis area are also a major marketing partner.
In the future, he sees expansion into other metro areas (They recently purchased a Kentucky orchard near Lexington.), success in the hard cider market, apples moving back into the wholesale market, and the growing and marketing of more peaches than ever. The future couldn’t look brighter for the next generations of Eckert’s.
Saying farewell to Eckert’s Country Store
Saying farewell is like saying good-bye to an old friend. On your way to your vehicle, swing by any of several pumpkin displays to make that purchase you have been delaying.
Last stop: Frozen custard
Finally, head for the frozen custard shop as your last stop at Eckert’s and you’ll get a straw with a large enough diameter through which you can suck “concrete”. Do all of these things before you promise yourself that you will be back again soon.
