Illinois Agribusiness goes against the grain and finds success in 2020 By Christopher Heimerman For the Illinois Press Association BLOOMINGTON – Apple orchard and pumpkin patch operators can pick out a number of surprise benefits from doing business during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a Thursday afternoon session at the virtual Illinois Specialty Crop Conference, operators of two of the state’s biggest such companies went over unforeseen boons – from a more productive relationship with government officials to more fruitful use of social media. The biggest surprise, perhaps? Sales went up year-over-year, according to Chris Eckert, president of Eckert’s Country Store and Farms in Belleville.