We recently traveled to Cobden to visit Flamm Orchards! Mr. Jeff Flamm, Mr. Austin Flamm and Mr. Parker Flamm shared their morning with us and we experienced their farming operation in action. We also enjoyed some of their “Flamm-tastic” doughnuts!!!🍎🍩🎃
This family farm has been in business since 1888. Brothers Jeff and Mike are the 5th generation and cousins, Parker and Austin, the 6th to farm it. The UCCEO team has visited Flamm Orchards for over 10 years and I have been privileged to visit for the last 6. It is honestly a gift to see how Parker and Austin are continuing with their family business and how since each now has a son of his own, there is the possibility that a 7th generation may continue this legacy. The Flamm family has so much history, passion and commitment to their business and we are honored to learn about it.
Many of you are familiar with their retail business and the Fruits and Cream stand! From strawberries to peaches to apples, each season holds some baked goodness in addition to the fresh fruit! They have also have added Apple Cider to their products. It is self stable for 9 months and will stay good in the refrigerator for 30 days!
This year, they built a larger commercial kitchen to make baking up their fresh, homemade cobblers, dumplings, donuts and jellies a little more convenient and to be able to produce more products in the future. We were excited to see the new facility!
Flamm Orchards also has a large wholesale business and currently supply apples to all of the Rural King stores, nationwide. They added a Mobile Peach Tour this year to be able to bring their fresh peaches to a larger market, traveling to many different communities in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. It was very successful and they really enjoyed getting to meet people in that setting!
In adddition to their business skills, the Flamm family generously gives back to their community in many ways. Cobden Jr-Sr High
student and team member Alyssa Fabian shares this information:
“On Tuesday, we met at Flamm Orchards in Cobden, Illinois. Jeff, Austin, and Parker Flamm were our guest speakers. I was quite excited because I had interviewed Jeff Flamm earlier in the year for my history fair project. His contribution, I believe, helped the board win regionals, going as far as a state finalist. When I spoke to him at the beginning of the year, it was clear just how knowledgeable he was. But something else also became abundantly clear - he was compassionate and passionate, all in one. . .
Lastly, I was able to step aside and ask Austin Flamm some questions about how their partnership with the Peach Festival works. I learned that they donate 50 cobblers and contribute to the peaches that are given away at Peach Fest. I loved hearing how Flamms give back to the community, not only with the business, but with their individual persons as well. I hope to contribute to my community like they do, whether it be through myself, a business, or both.”
A BIG Thank You to Jeff, Austin and Parker for their continued support and involvement with the UCCCEO program! We appreciate your time, expertise and generosity and always look forward to this visit!
