A Sweet Slice of Fall: Okaw Valley Orchard
Ever heard of a Scruffy? Or a Ludicrisp? You will after a visit to Okaw Valley Orchard near Sullivan, where you can wander the rows, let the kids loose on the playground, and head home with a bag of your new favorite apple varieties (plus a warm cider doughnut…or two…or three).
Farm History
Jennifer and Mike Mitchell are the current owners and operators of Okaw Valley Orchard, a farm that began as a small dream and a back-porch apple stand. Jennifer’s parents, Jim and Linda Bailey, started the orchard in 1980. Jim had a strong interest in growing apples and even considered moving to Washington State to start an orchard—but ultimately chose to plant roots closer to home in central Illinois.
He began by planting apple trees and selling apples right from the back porch of their farmhouse. The farm also included a five-acre strawberry patch, and the farm offered u-pick strawberries before apple season kicked in. What started as a hobby quickly turned into something bigger, and customer interest grew rapidly. By 1999, Jim built a farm store and added what would become a signature favorite: apple cider doughnuts.
As visitor traffic grew, the orchard began welcoming school groups for farm tours in 2002. Gradually, Jennifer and Mike took over daily operations and management of the orchard and store. Today, it’s a full family operation. Jennifer and Mike’s own kids are involved in helping run the orchard, the store, and the business overall. The fourth generation, literally in its infancy, will continue the legacy.
While apples are the main crop, the orchard also has some peach trees. Because peaches can be tricky due to the central Illinois climate, the Mitchells partner with peach growers in southern Illinois to offer fresh peaches and peach-based baked goods in summer.
Thoughtful growing, delicious results
The Mitchells love giving families a place to pick and buy truly fresh fruit right here in central Illinois. They also love helping visitors understand what it takes to grow tree fruit in this climate—the challenges, the trade-offs, and the joys.
Mike, in particular, is passionate about how the apples are grown. Over the years, he’s focused on improving soil their soil, replanting new varieties, and moving toward more ecological approaches to fruit production. They use only select chemicals when necessary to manage difficult diseases. And as the original orchard matured, they replanted sections using an intensive training technique called espalier, which supports healthy trees and efficient production.
Just as important as the fruit is the feeling: Okaw Valley prides itself on being welcoming, friendly, and genuinely helpful, providing excellent customer service.
The Orchard's Sweet Spots
With 14 apple varieties in production, one of the Mitchells’ favorite things is helping people find “their” apple—whether it’s best for eating fresh, cooking, or baking. They also love introducing first-timers (and regulars) to their homemade cider doughnuts and fresh apple cider.
Jennifer and Mike keep the experience approachable and family-friendly: no admission fee, a free playground and picnic areas, and plenty of space to wander the orchard at your own pace. There’s also a small petting pen with goats. They intentionally keep it simple and authentic—an orchard experience without the over-the-top “bells and whistles” many agritourism spots lean into today.
As for favorite apples, Mike’s top pick is an old variety called Scruffy—a little “ugly,” but the perfect mix of the sweet and tart. Jennifer loves Ludicrisp, a newer variety with a sweet-tart flavor and a surprising tropical note. Both are bred for the Midwest climate.
Flavors of the season
Okaw Valley’s small size is part of its charm. The experience feels personal and low-key, even on busy weekends. Visitors can still explore the far rows without feeling crowded. Because it’s truly family-run, guests often see the owners doing the work in real time: helping customers in the store, making doughnuts and cider, or tending trees out in the orchard. Their three kids even help manage the website and social media, which makes the whole place feel like a living family project.
The orchard also offers seasonal events. In late May (usually Memorial Day weekend), Okaw Valley’s season kicks off with Strawberry Day. The small u-pick patch is still part of the fun—but the popular event’s biggest draw is the strawberry doughnuts and strawberry cider. In late July, their Peach Party brings live music, kids’ activities, fresh peaches, and plenty of peach treats. Late August features the Honeycrisp Hoot ’N Anny, with activities, u-pick, and music.
During fall weekends, the orchard adds music and grilled foods—hot dogs, burgers, fries, and sides—with a fan-favorite that has developed a loyal following: the apple butter burger, made to order with cheese and house-made apple butter. They also serve locally produced hard cider made from their apples by a cidery in nearby Brockton, Illinois.
And during peak apple season (September through mid-October), Okaw Valley becomes an education hub, hosting thousands of school kids for tours and tastings. Visitors can also check out the orchard’s educational beehive alongside the trees and farm store. The store typically closes for the season the day before Thanksgiving.
Future Plans
Jennifer and Mike would love to expand over time—more apples, a larger farm store, and a bigger cider room—but many of those plans are likely to fall to the next generation. In the nearer term, they plan to offer more educational tours not only for school groups, but also for seniors and visitors with disabilities. In 2025, they hosted their first “Christmas at the Orchard,” a two-day mid-December event featuring holiday cheer, cozy treats, and a little Christmas magic in the orchard.
Okaw Valley Orchard has stayed special by doing something surprisingly rare: keeping things simple, friendly, and genuinely rooted in family. Whether you come for the u-pick experience, a new favorite apple variety, or “just one doughnut,” you’ll leave with a little more sweetness than you planned—and a reason to come back next season.
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