URBANA – Bob and Coleen Blain retired as educators in suburban Chicago in 1994 and returned to Bob's roots in Iroquois County to a farm originally purchased in 1906 by Gilbert Demierre, Bob's grandfather. River Front Berry Farm takes its name from its border along the Iroquois River in Martinton. The farm is the location of a tour sponsored by University of Illinois Extension on Tuesday, September 22.

Visitors will learn about growing strawberries, red and black raspberries, blueberries, and gooseberries as well as other fruits such as apples, cherries, and peaches. And although "berry" is in the name, the farm also grows and sells vegetable crops such as asparagus, garlic, sweet corn, and over 20 other garden vegetables.

The Blains sell their produce at farmers' markets, but because they can't always be available to their customers at the farm, they rely on the honor system for the on-farm market. Signage in the market instructs customers on self selection, weighing, and packaging of the produce. Then customers are instructed to place payment for their purchase in the money can and to record their purchases on the form provided.

"We are very proud and honored to have customers who seek out our quality produce and respect our situation enough to honestly accommodate these conditions," said Bob Blain. "This system has worked very successfully since the origin of River Front Berry Farm. We regularly brag about how our customers allow this system to work. They are truly wonderful people."

The tour will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude at 1:00 p.m. after lunch at the farm.

"The Ford-Iroquois Unit has many outstanding producers such as the Blain family who have successfully established sustainable and organic enterprises," said Karen Moore, Ford-Iroquois County Extension Director. "It's interesting to learn how these endeavors move twenty-first century agriculture forward from the traditional crops grown by our ancestors."

More information about River Front Berry Farm can be found at http://www.riverfrontberryfarm.com.

A fee of $20 per person will be charged for the tour, which includes lunch.

Registration at least one week in advance is required. Visit https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/default.cfm?RegistrationID=2845 to register and for more details about each of the tours, including a map and agenda. To register by phone, contact Donna Cray at 217-241-4644. For more information, contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant (217-968-5512; cvnghgrn@illinois.edu).

University of Illinois Extension is a statewide educational network that links the resources and research of the University of Illinois to the people of Illinois. The programs and workshops, which take place throughout the state, address issues involving youth, families, community development, agriculture, and natural resources. If reasonable accommodations are needed in order to participate in any of the programs, call 217-241-4644.

The tours are sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension, the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Professional Development Program, Agriculture and Tourism Partners of Illinois (ATPI), Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP) at the University of Illinois, the Peoria Chapter of the Initiative for the Development for Entrepreneurs in Agriculture (IDEA, River Front Berry Farm, and University of Illinois, Extension Iroquois County Unit Office.