SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SUMMER TWILIGHT SERIES
AGRINEWS PHOTOS/JEANNINE OTTO
Austin Flamm discusses the strawberry crop at Flamm Orchards during a recent Twilight Series meeting.
Berry Bounty Strawberries in sync during ‘different kind of spring’
By Jeannine Otto
AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS
COBDEN, Ill. — The University of Illinois Extension 2021 Southern Illinois Summer Twilight Series started off on a sweet note as guests interested in strawberry production and plasticulture gathered at Flamm Orchards. The meeting in mid-May marked the return of the series, which is now in its seventh season, after a year’s hiatus due to COVID-19. “It was a different kind of spring,” said Alan Flamm, who oversees the farm’s strawberry production. Flamm Orchards started in 1888 on 117 acres near Cobden. Today, the farm has about 2,000 acres in multiple locations. Flamm Orchards grows peaches and apples, along with
Austin Flamm, who manages the farm with his cousin, Parker Flamm, with their fathers, Jeff and Mike, and their cousin, Alan, welcomed the guests to the farm. Austin and Parker are the sixth generation to operate the orchard. Alan Flamm answered questions and discussed the management and production of the strawberries. He said they plant several different varieties, including Chandler, Camarosa, Rocco, Ruby June and Fronteras. “Some years you will set more Flamm Orchards currently has 10 blooms on one or two varieties acres of strawberries, as well as than the others, so it’s kind of 350 acres of peaches, 250 acres nice to have more than one or of apples and around 200 acres of two varieties,” he said. zucchini, squash and cucumbers in The Flamms work with production. McNitt Growers in Carbondale to source their strawberry plthe 10 acres of strawberry pro- ants. The plants include a mix duction, and some wholesale See Berry page 20 vegetable production.
Ag Mag – 19
