Here’s 4 spots where you can buy fresh local produce in Belleville this spring
The Belleville Old Town Farmers Market won’t be in full swing downtown until May, but there are still ways to get fresh, local produce in the meantime.
Here’s where you can get your greens this spring:
Belleville Farmers Market weekly crates
The Belleville Farmers Market is offering a curated crate each week that includes a selection of fruit, vegetables and other local treats. This week’s crate includes a small bag of Chicago-style popcorn, a mixed fruit plate, two oranges, four bananas, an avocado, one pint of white mushrooms, a bag of spinach and a red onion. To order a crate, call 618-235-9500 for a pickup at 1901 N Belt W or 618-235-2445 for a 500 N Illinois St. pickup.
A crate costs $19.99. More information about what is included in each week’s crate is available at the market’s Facebook page. You can also order the market’s produce through Doordash.
Lehr’s Vegetable Farm
Lehr’s Vegetable Farm is located in Columbia, and the family run business was founded in 1918. It produces peas, onions, radishes, lettuce and spinach. The farm’s bees produce around 50 to 60 gallons of honey per summer.
You can buy Lehr’s produce and honey at the Old Town Belleville Farmers Market’s upcoming pop-up April 16. Lehr’s produce is also available at the Monroe County Farmers Market from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursdays in the Schnucks parking lot at 1000 Columbia Center and 7:30 to noon Saturdays at 901 Illinois Ave. in Waterloo.
Bryan Lehr and his dad, brother, daughter and son work on the farm. He said his favorite part about working on the family farm is getting to nurture and enjoy what he plants.
“It’s an art form,” Lehr said.
Lehr’s carries novelty produce such as yellow and pink tomatoes, and the family’s produce is also sold to a distributor who sends them to St. Louis restaurants.
Scheel Street Garden Farms
Scheel Street Garden Farms grows produce using a hydroponic nutrient film technique system. The farm sells vine ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, sweet peppers, jalapenos and a variety of lettuce and greens. It is located at 427 Scheel St.
Eckert’s Belleville Farm
Eckert’s Belleville Farm allows customers to pick their own produce. The spring crops include strawberries, blackberries and a variety of vegetables. The farm is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and picking entry fees vary. Eckert’s also has a garden center where you can buy plants and supplies, and nursery experts are available to provide advice.
This story was corrected at 8:50 a.m. March 31, 2022, to reflect that Lehr’s Vegetable Farm is located in Columbia.
This story was originally published March 28, 2022 at 12:07 PM.
