Michigan Farm, Tinley Brewery Partner In Fresh Produce Program

TINLEY PARK, IL — Tinley Park and area residents have a chance to enjoy the freshest of produce, hand-picked and packed just a day before it's handed over to customers.

Mick Klüg Farms this April brings its Community Supported Agriculture program—a subscription-based service that brings produce grown on a Michigan farm to the Chicago area fresh each Thursday—to Tinley Park. Banging Gavel Brews, 17400 Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park, will serve as a south suburban pick-up spot for the program.

Customers can subscribe for a month, or a full season of hand-picked and packed produce, with selections based on what looks best each week, Mick Klug Farm owners tout.

"We'll also always include a recipe that will tie everything together," said Laurie Melcher of Mick Klug Farms.

Pick-ups at Banging Gavel Brews began the first Thursday in April, recurring each Thursday 4 to 5:30 p.m. Banging Gavel Brews owners were "totally onboard" when the farm reached out about serving as a location.

"As a small family-owned brewpub committed to sustainability, we're thrilled to partner with Mick Klüg's CSA program," said Banging Gavel Brews Co-owner Beckie O'Connor. "Serving as a pickup spot is a win-win-win scenario for us. With this, we can bring fresh, local produce to our community weekly. Mick Klüg Farms' five-generation legacy, dedicated to farming for our families in Chicagoland, makes it an honor for us to bring this to Tinley Park and the surrounding suburbs."

Based in St. Joseph, Michigan, Mick Klug Farm is in a unique position for growing.

"Our location in Berrien County creates a micro-climate due to its proximity to the lake, allowing us to grow some really neat crops not all of the Midwest is able to offer," Melcher said.

Donut peaches, in particular, are a specialty.

"They are so delectable," Melcher said. "They look like a smooshed peach, hence the name donut peach."

The donut peach flavors can range from mango to pineapple.

"They’re great for snacking," Melcher said. "They’re really popular. Especially for people that know what they are, they get really excited for the donut peaches. Very few farms grow them."

Family-owned and run Mick Klug Farms focuses on providing sustainably farmed, hand-harvested, quality fresh fruit and vegetables.

"We really value Mother Nature," Melcher said. "She is how we get this wonderful produce we’re able to grow."

Mick Klug grew up on a 40-acre farm his parents established in the 1930s. He took ownership in 1974, and expanded the land to over 120 acres, according to the farm's website. Klug has worked closely with his daughter, Abby Schilling, and son-in-law, Mark, successfully sharing management and ownership responsibilities to ensure the land, operations and customer relationships stay within the family. In 2018, Mark's brother, Ben Schilling, and sister-in-law, Bae, joined the team, and now Abby, Mark, Bae and Ben own and operate both Mick Klüg Farms and Schilling Family Farms together.

The climate is key to the farm's produce lineup.

"We’re really lucky, within Berriend County, there is this micro-climate," Melcher said. Everything that is coming in off the lakeshore is comparable to the Mediterranean, because of hills and valleys."

They're able to grow a wide variety, ranging from tree fruits, to asparagus, to stawberries, apples. September through November, it's more pears, grapes, and apples, Melcher said. A growing schedule is available below.

The CSA program was launched during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"People weren’t wanting to or able to leave their home," Melcher said, "This way they were able to get the fresh produce."

It has tripled in size since then, Melcher said, with as many as 50 people a week at a pick-up spot, with 10 pick-up spots throughout the Chicago suburbs, she added.

Subscriptions can be tailored by number of people to be served, with a standard size package recommended for 1 to 2 people, and a plus size package for 3 or more. Orders are placed online and pre-paid. Each box and its contents will be standard for every member each week, with no omissions or substitutions.

"That’s truly a beauty of the CSA model; it encourages people to learn how to treat, eat and enjoy unfamiliar and novel products, and share with others!" farm owners said.

The farm this year offers monthly subscriptions from April to November, as well as its Seasonal CSA program. Seasonal customers have the choice of full-season (May to October, 27 weeks) or peak-season (June-August, 13 weeks) subscriptions. All customers have the option of paying up front or choosing a recurring payment per weekly box. Subscriptions will be pro-rated based on purchase date, and customers can change their pick-up location at any point.

Find out more about Mick Klüg Farms and its CSA program on their website.