McCarthy Farms stand opens
Originally published July 14, 2016
Located toward the west end of town, McCarthy Farms stand at 9700 W. 167th St. in Orland Park is now open! Fresh fruits, vegetables, and other produce are available daily.
On a very rainy Thursday morning, I met with owner and first generation farmer Jerry McCarthy and his aunt, Rose Broniarczyk, who is the bookkeeper for McCarthy Farms in Peotone. A midst ample land was a neat and orderly trailer, where the business of the farm is conducted.
Just over Broniarczyk’s shoulder was a computer screen that was tracking the impending storms. The juxtaposition of the simple stand with the modern weather tracking technology was curious in that – as much as the growing of plants is reliant on natural occurrences like soil conditions, rain, and the amount of sun (even the farm stand opening dates are tied to the weather) modern technology can provide insight into upcoming weather events.
Daughter Meghan McCarthy provided information on the history of the farm. Currently owned by Jerry and Ann McCarthy, this family owned farm was originally on 104th Avenue between 179th and 167th streets in Orland Park. That land was purchased in 1931 by Jerry’s maternal grandparents, Jerry and Clara Chiak. Jerry McCarthy was raised on the original 104th Avenue farm, along with his four younger sisters. The road that leads to the Swallow Ridge subdivision on 104th Avenue (at around 174th) was the original driveway for the property.
The property was not originally used as a farm. In 1968, then high school sophomore Jerry McCarthy tilled the land so he could farm on it. The land also was used for raising dairy cows, ducks, chickens, sheep, and pigs. The livestock was phased out and the farm became more focused on grain farming and produce (vegetables). Jerry currently farms 1,000 acres of grain a year.
The land was family owned until 2000, when the property was sold and the farm moved to 29608 Scheer Road in Peotone. The Peotone location, which is 12 acres, has two buildings. The produce sold at the Orland Park stand is: sweet corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, pickles, green beans, zucchini, and other seasonal vegetables. The fruit available at the farm stand comes from various farms in Michigan. Fruit available at the farm stand is: peaches, plums, strawberries, blueberries, apples, concord grapes, nectarines, watermelon, and muskmelon.
The farm stand always has been family owned and managed. Various family members, including daughters, Meghan McCarthy and Kristen Trenkamp, have worked at the farm stand over the years. The stand is now managed by son-in-law Arnold Gonzalez. Son-in-law Craig Trenkamp manages all of the advertising (visit their Facebook page at McCarthy Farms).
The original farm stand, which started in 1981, was located at the corner of 179th and LaGrange Road in Orland Park. A second stand opened on 159th Street, just east of 104th Avenue in Orland Park, in 1986 until 2013 when it moved to the current 167th street site.
The farm stand is open through October; and then re-opens the day after Thanksgiving for the sale of fresh Christmas trees and wreaths.
McCarthy Farms hours are: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday.
McCarthy Farms also sells fresh produce Fridays 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Orland Park Farmers Market at the Orland Park Village Center, 14700 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park.