Rendleman Orchards -- peachy keen in Illinois hill country

By Jim Obert

Business Today

ALTO PASS, Ill. -- Nestled in the hills just north of the hamlet of Alto Pass, and part of the Shawnee Hills Orchard Trail that weaves and wanders through Southern Illinois, an orchard that started as a family farm in 1873 is churning out prodigious produce.

Rendleman Orchards began as John and Isabelle Rendleman's 88-acre homestead complete with chickens, cows and corn. Five generations later, Wayne Sirles, whose mother was a Rendleman, is vice president of the business, which has grown to cover about 800 acres in fruits and vegetables.

In mid-July, a farm market was built near the produce-packing facility that is used to ship peaches, nectarines, apples, zucchini, squash, yellow squash and cucumbers to wholesalers and other customers throughout the Midwest. In the past, local customers bought fresh fruits and vegetables off the loading dock..

The 3,000-square-foot farmer market, which faces Highway 127 about 1 1/2 miles north of Alto Pass, is geared toward retail sales of Rendleman Orchards' produce and other products. It is open from early July to Christmas.

"Our peach harvest is under way," said Sirles, adding that about 100 acres are used to grow peaches. "We're harvesting early season varieties that include red haven, bel-aire and jim dandy."

The business employs 15 workers year-round and about 65 workers for seasonal work that includes harvesting, packing and maintaining the orchards.

Sirles said his fruit crops are peaches, nectarines and apples, and his vegetable crops are cucumbers, zucchini, squash and yellow squash. Besides being shipped commercially, they are sold in the farmer market.

Also sold in the farmer market are produce purchased from other growers. When in season, fruits such as blueberries, cantaloupe and watermelon are available. Vegetables include sweet corn, tomatoes and green beans. During the fall, customers will find pumpkins, mums, cider and gourds.

Sirles said he tries to carry as much locally-grown produce he can. Corn comes from the Shawneetown area; blueberries are raised by a neighbor; and tomatoes are grown "just down the road."

Specialty items in the farmer market include jams and jellies, baking mixes, nuts, salsa, pickled items, fudges, candies, fruit smoothies, fruit slushes and gift boxes.

"Our apple gift boxes make a great corporate or individual gift," said Sirles, standing under weathered barn boards that line the ceiling. "We ship gift boxes direct with a customer's personal message enclosed."

In order to save some of the family legacy, Rendleman Orchards president Ren Sirles, father of Wayne, salvaged boards from his great-grandfather's 100-year-old barn. The boards not only line the ceiling of the farm market -- they are used as trim on the walls.

Recycled tin, pine shelving and vintage fabrics add to the decor. There is a window cupola and a weather vane. Antiques and treasured photographs from the early farming operations and farm homelife of the Rendleman family accent the walls.

"It's obvious we've never thrown anything away," said Ren Sirles, adding that his mother, Helen, 91, is paymaster and helps with bookkeeping, and she lives in the original farmhouse that dates to 1873.

Wayne Sirles and his wife have several children, and the children often greet customers at the front porch of the farm market. That makes Rendleman Orchards a six-generation business.