About Gooseberry Acres
Gooseberry Acres Market & Bakery is a small-batch sourdough bakery and provisions shop in Dwight, Illinois.
We bake naturally leavened breads and fresh pastries in-house and stock our shelves with a thoughtful mix of pantry goods and products from local and regional producers.
Our approach is simple: focus on quality ingredients, traditional methods, and a slower, more intentional way of making and sharing food. We believe good food starts with how it’s grown and made, and that everyday staples can be both practical and deeply satisfying.
At Gooseberry Acres, the goal is to create a place that feels warm, welcoming, and worth returning to, whether you’re stopping in from down the street or making the drive from Bloomington, Peoria, or Chicago.
Meet the Owners
Meredith Donaldson
Meredith Donaldson is the co-founder of Gooseberry Acres Market & Bakery and the primary force behind its bakery and customer experience.
With over a decade of experience in travel and hospitality, Meredith brings a refined understanding of what makes a place feel memorable. Her approach to Gooseberry Acres is rooted in creating something that feels both elevated and welcoming, where thoughtful details, quality ingredients, and a strong sense of place come together.
As a baker, she focuses on naturally leavened sourdough breads and small-batch pastries, blending traditional techniques with a modern, seasonal approach. During her travels, she trained in kitchens around the world, bringing that experience and flair to her artisan breads and pastries. Her work is guided by a simple idea: that good food, made with care, has the power to bring people together.
Luke Atkinson
Luke Atkinson is the co-founder of Gooseberry Acres and oversees the market and farm operations.
Raised on hobby farms and deeply connected to rural life from an early age, Luke brings both hands-on experience and academic insight to his work. His background includes advanced study in climate change policy, with a focus on food, water, and energy systems.
At Gooseberry Acres, Luke is focused on building a business that supports local producers, strengthens the regional food system, and reflects a long-term commitment to sustainability and land stewardship. His work ensures that the market is not only thoughtfully curated, but grounded in values that extend beyond the storefront.
Our Mission
At Gooseberry Acres, our work is rooted in a simple belief: good food has the power to nourish more than just the person eating it.
We focus on making and sourcing food with care, from our baked goods to thoughtfully chosen products on our shelves. Behind each provision is an intention to support quality ingredients, traditional methods, and the people who grow and produce them.
But our approach extends beyond what we sell.
We believe access to good, nourishing food should not be limited. As we grow, we are committed to finding meaningful ways to help address food insecurity in our community, whether through partnerships, giving initiatives, or simply making space for others at the table.
Gooseberry Acres is also grounded in a broader vision of community. We see the market and bakery as more than a place to shop, but as a place to gather, connect, and build relationships around food and shared experience.
Our hope is to create something that feels both timeless and lasting, a business that supports local producers, strengthens our community, and offers a small but meaningful contribution toward a more resilient and connected way of living.
