Geneva Green Market: Geneva, Illinois - A Local Food Green Farmers Market

Hillside Orchards is a small family farm that started in 1836. We have been selling at the South Bend, Indiana Farmers’ Market since it started over 75 years ago. We have sold in Chicago locations since 1991. We specialize in apples, peaches, nectarines, sweet cherries, apricots and chestnuts for high quality and exceptional taste. We use consultants to identify a problem and only spray if the threshold is passed. We were the first to use a sprayer that uses a laser to measure the tree and spray the tree and not the empty space. We use pruning and other practices to produce high quality, good-tasting fruit. We hate spaying as it costs time and money.

We use insect pheromone, insect growth regulators and organic materials first. We use other materials second and only the ones that are safe for people, wildlife and the environment and have short- lived, low leach-ability. We only apply these materials late at night and early in the morning to reduce drift and have orchards planted in different directions to take advantage of conditions. We also use buffer areas to prevent drift. We use approximately half of the farm for production. The open land is allowed to rest for several years to build up the soil, and we have a five-acre woodlot for wildlife. Brush piles are allowed to dry one year to provide wildlife cover and food for the winter. Open fields are not mowed until after pheasants have hatched and left the area. We use integrated pest management and follow the EPA requirements.

We use only the newest, safest materials. In 1998, Paul was named Conservation Farmer of the year by the St. Joseph River Conservation District. In 2002, the St. Joseph River Conservation District presented Paul with the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship award for groundwater protection practices applied on the farm.
We are now one of the largest chestnut growers in the state of Michigan.  We belong to the Chestnut Growers, Inc. and Michigan Nut Producers. These organizations promote growing, marketing and product development. We have a fresh, peeled and frozen product. We also carry thin sliced, and dehydrated chips and have gluten-free flour made from chestnuts. Paul serves on both boards of directors and holds undergraduate degrees in automotive engineering and a graduate degree in business.

Visit Hillside Orchard online at www.hillsideorchards.us