2024 Olympia Area of Washington State Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org
Find a pick-your-own farm near you! Then learn to can and freeze! Since 2002! We update continuously; Beware the copycat websites!
Search pickyourown.org
Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Olympia Area of Washington State in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for strawberries that we know of in this area.
Not all areas of a state have strawberries farms that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!
Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!
PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.
Search pickyourown.org
Lewis County
Lewis County Farms - strawberries, boysenberries, raspberries, porta-potties are available, inflatables or bounce houses, school tours, group reservations 107 Pinkerton Rd, Ethel, WA 98542. Phone: (360)281-4514. Email: abctreefarms@yahoo.com. Directions: Follow highway 12 East from I-5. Stand is located on the corner of highway 12 and Pinkerton Road. For a map to our farm, . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Lewis County Farms Alternate Phone: (5030916-1754Fax: (503)916-1776 u pick on Wednesday- Sunday; in 2019, $10 a bucket and by appointment for school or group trips; Hours and availability updated daily on phone line Inflatables available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting Memorial Day weekend; Available the whole week of 4th of July; Along with fireworksEBT accepted. (ADDED: May 20, 2016)
Pierce County
Duris Farms - Strawberries, green beans, pickling cucumbers, slicing cucumbers, zucchini and yellow squash, and dill. 6012 - 44th St. E , Puyallup, WA . Phone: 253-922-7635. Open: during strawberry season from 9 am to 3 pm in June, and cucumber season, 9 am -6 pm in August to September. Click here for a map and directions. They are in the Puyallup "valley" midway between Puyallup and Tacoma on Highway 167 (River Road Highway). Vegetables: Beans, Green Cucumbers, Pickling Cucumbers, Slicing Squash, Summer Zucchini Fruits, Nuts and Berries: Strawberries, Everbearing and Canning Supplies Honey Jams, Jellies, Vinegars, Syrups Great place to get cukes to make your own stash of pickles! Beginning about June 1 for strawberries, July 15 for veggies. The farm continues to offer as its specialty pickling cucumbers, along with everything else you need to make pickles. In addition, it offers a wide assortment of local fresh fruits and vegetables. It is Tom Duris, who now runs the farm along with his sister Sondra Andrews, who manages the thriving roadside market. Becky and Mark Duris contribute by selling the early summer strawberry crop at local Farmers Markets. Comments from a visitor on June 30, 2012: "It was easy to get to in Kent, right off the freeway - easy to find. Friendly staff."
Picha Farms - strawberries, restrooms, picnic area 6502 52nd Street East, Puyallup, WA 98371. Phone: 253-841-4443. Email: info@pichafarms.com. Open: Strawberry Upick starts the last week of June; Once open, Upick is available most days, weather permitting, from 8 am. Directions: Visit Picha Farms website for driving directions. From River Road \(highway 167\), turn onto 66th Avenue E. \(Right if coming from Tacoma, left if coming from Seattle through Puyallup\). Take the first right onto 52nd Street E. and we are on the left \(we are on the corner of 66th Avenue East and 52nd Street E between Puyallup and Tacoma, just off River Road\). Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Picha Farms Facebook page. Visit website for driving directions. From River Road (highway 167), turn onto 66th Avenue E. (Right if coming from Tacoma, left if coming from Seattle through Puyallup). Take the first right onto 52nd Street E. and we are on the left (we are on the corner of 66th Avenue East and 52nd Street E between Puyallup and Tacoma, just off River Road)Strawberries (We Pick/UPick) - June/Early July. Varieties includes Shuksan, Totem, Rainier, & Puget Summer. Raspberries (We Pick) - July; includes Tulameen, Cascade Delight & Cascade Early Dawn. Blackberries (We Pick) - July; Kotada.
YMCA Farm - - Apples, strawberries and raspberries, cherries, and garden produce 6613-114th Ave Ct E., Puyallup, WA . Phone: 253-840-8110. Open: to YMCA members. Directions: corner of Benston Dr. & 114th Ave Ct E., between Puyallup and Sumner on North bank of the Puyallup River. Raspberries , Two varieties of apples now, Liberty and Jonagolds. We have added a full stock of spring and fall flowers in our greenhouses. Here is the big change, since we are a YMCA property, we are ONLY . Click here for a map and directions. open Make your own apple juice with our apple press by appointment. Formerly the Gwendon Farm. A visitor writes on January 27, 2014: "I found the phone number for the farm and talked to someone so I thought I'd let you know since there wasn't a phone number listed and I had to do a little tracking down. This is such a jewel of a place. I don't think they are only open to YMCA members since I am not a member, but I picked berries here after seeing a craigslist ad. A man named "kelly" is in charge of the place. "
Thurston County
Pigmans Organic Produce Patch - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), strawberries, U-pick and already picked, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals, school tours 10633 Steilacoom Road Se, Olympia, WA 98513. Phone: 360-491-3276. Email: PigmansProduce@gmail.com. Open: Strawberries and raspberries usually start in June and continue throughout the summer. Directions: Take exit 114 of I-5, follow Nisqually Valley Cutoff to the corner of 7th Avenue We have entrances on 7th and Steilacoom road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Pigmans Organic Produce Patch Facebook page. Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesWe are certified organic for all crops! We offer canning quantities of berries, beets, pickling cucumbers, green beans and kraut cabbage as well.Pigmans Produce is a six acre vegetable and berry farm located in the lush Nisqually Valley and operated by Jan and Dean Pigman. We maintain soil fertility by using only natural fertilizers, adding organic matter and trace minerals, and rotating our crops. The beneficial insects are abundant, and largely keep pests under control. The farm has been certified organic for the past 20 years, and although we did not pursue certification in 2016, our farming practices have not and will not change. We have you pick strawberries and raspberries in the summer and a pumpkin patch in the fall. Comments from a visitor on August 08, 2012: "My family went raspberry picking for the first time ever at Pigman's. Their raspberry season is just about over at the time of this review, but they mentioned they have late strawberries now. The raspberries were sweet and tart at the same time, just like they should be. The owners were very knowledgeable and helpful. I was very thrilled with the price which was significantly less than what I would find in a grocery store for organic berries. My kids got a chance to feed the chickens and talk to the little turkeys. We will be back next year!"
Spooner Berry Farm - strawberries 5528 Hamptons St NE, Olympia, WA 98501. Phone: 360-456-4554. Open: from 8 am to 5 am in June for about 10 days; call before you go, to verify. Click here for a map and directions.
Strawberry
Strawberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
In the U.S. strawberries typically peak during April in Florida and Texas,
May in the deep South, and in early June in middle sections and later June in the
far North and Canada. Keep in mind that crops are ready at various times of the
month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce
good local strawberries, producers depend on ideal spring weather conditions.
Before you leave to go to the farm:
Always call before you go to the farm - strawberries are affected by weather
(both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are
in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL
first!
Leave
early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
Most growers furnish picking containers designed
for strawberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring
containers.
If you use your own containers, remember that heaping
strawberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries.
Plastic
dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good
containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can
work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the
sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring
along if it has been rainy.
Tips on How to Pick Strawberries
Grasp the stem just above the berry between the
forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.
With the stem broken about one-half inch from
the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.
Repeat these operations using both hands until
each holds 3 or 4 berries.
Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into
your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
Don't overfill your containers or try to pack
the berries down.
General Picking Tips
Whether you pick strawberries from your garden or at
a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Be careful that your feet and knees do not
damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part
the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
To help the farmers, also remove from the plants
berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury or other defects and place them
between the rows behind you. If they are left in the plants, the rot will
quickly spread to other berries.
Berries to be used immediately may be picked any
time, but if you plan to hold the fruit for a few days, try to pick in the
early morning or on cool, cloudy days. Berries picked during the heat of the
day become soft, are easily bruised and will not keep well.
Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunshine any
longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or
shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible
after picking. Strawberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few
days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor
and tends to shrivel.
For interesting and fun strawberry facts and
trivia from the California Strawberry Commission,
click
here!
When you get home
DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them. Washing
makes them more prone to spoiling.
Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting
berries
Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the caps
(green tops) off the others and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make
jam right away) See this
page about how to freeze strawberries.
If you like the strawberries you picked, ask the farm what variety they
planted, and not the weather conditions the week or two before. The flavor
of a strawberry is affected by the variety, the weather and the degree of
ripeness when picked.
Picking the best strawberries:
Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries DO NOT continue ripen after
they are picked! In the photo, only the berry on the far right is
completely ripe.
Strawberry festivals: Most areas that grow strawberries have a strawberry festival, at which you
can taste all kinds of fresh strawberry foods, pies, jams, cakes - and most
commonly, fresh strawberry shortcake. To find out where and when there
is one near you, see this
page for a list of strawberry festivals, sorted by state!
Strawberries measurements: government agriculture
websites tell us that 1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups and is about the
same as 1 liter and 1 quart of fresh strawberries weighs 1 lbs to 1.25 lbs (or
450 to 600 g).
Of course, the weight
varies on variety and weather conditions. 1 quart is normally
enough for 4
servings, although I'll admit my son can eat 1 pint by himself!
How much to pick? In general, 1 quart of fresh, whole, just-picked strawberries =
approximately 3.5 cups hulled, whole berries. In other words, removing
the caps/hulls and the occasional mushy berry means you lose 1/4 cup to 1/2 (it depends how much fruit you remove with the hull) or
about 7 to 12% of every quart you pick.
One cup of strawberries contains only about 50 calories
U-pick strawberries are much healthier than store-bought. Consumer
reports says store bought strawberries have so many pesticide and fungicide
residues on they, that they don't recommend you eat them at all!
U-pick strawberry farms typically sell berries by the
pound. 1 lbs of fresh strawberries is about 2/3 of a quart.
It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to pick a quart, if the berries
are reasonably plentiful
The strawberry plant adapts to wide variety of soil conditions, but does
not tolerate drought well, and the berries quickly rot if the weather is
rainy. For this reason, the plants are usually grown on raised beds through
plastic mulch!
Cultivation of strawberries began in Europe in the 1300's, but the berry
only became very popular in the early 1900's in California.
Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase
as strawberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a
couple of days in the refrigerator.
You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just
wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much
air as possible. Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of
this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
Strawberries were originally called strewberries because the fruit was
'strewn' amongst the leaves of the plant.
California is king of strawberry productions because: California
produces 75 percent of the nation's strawberry crops; one billion pounds
of strawberries each year. If all the strawberries produced in
California in one year were laid berry to berry, they would go around
the world 15 times. Each acre of land in California in strawberry
production produces an average of 21 tons of strawberries annually, with
a total of 23,000 acres of strawberries planted in California each year.
More conversions
1 pint (2 cups) of fresh whole strawberries
= about 8 oz (1/2 lb) of strawberries
= 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
= 1
cup pureed strawberries
= 12-14 large strawberries
2 quarts of fresh strawberries are needed for a 9" pie
A 10 oz package of frozen berries is about the same as 1 cup of sliced
fresh strawberries