2024 San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties in California Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties in California in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for blackberries that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have blackberries orchards 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.

San Luis Obispo County

• Cal Poly Fruit and Crops - apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, olallieberries, pears, peaches, pumpkins, raspberries
  California Polytechnic State University Use the Highland Drive entance off of Hwy 1, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407. Phone: 805-756-2224. Email: orchardmanager@calpolyfruitandcrops.com. Directions: From Hwy 101 in San Luis Obispo, Take Highway 1 north toward Morro Bay, Right on Highland Drive, Follow the signs to the designated U-Pick area, Parking is free on weekends. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Better call before you go; their website disappeared over the winter, so I put a link to the department's website; Saturdays 10am to 1pm Occasionally Wednesdays 3pm to 5pm Picking is available when the crops are ready. Crops are usually available all year. We have Satsuma Tangerines in the Winter months and Various Navel Oranges, blood oranges and other citrus for most of the year. We also have many varieties of prepicked avocados that change throughout the year. (UPDATED: May 02, 2018, JBS)
• Rutiz Farms - strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, pumpkins
  1075 The Pike, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. Phone: . Email: info@rutizfarms.com. Open: Tuesdays and Fridays: 1-6 pm Saturday 10 am-3pm. Click here for a map and directions.
• Talley Farms - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, boysenberries, loganberries, olallieberries, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (yellow), gift shop, restrooms, picnic area, school tours, group reservations
  Talley Vineyards 3031 Lopez Drive, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. Phone: (805) 489-5401. Email: FreshHarvest@TalleyFarms.com. Open: Talley Vineyards is open seven days a week, 10 am to 4:30 pm. Directions: We are approximately 10 miles inland from Pismo Beach, on the way to Lopez Lake. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Talley Farms Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (805) 489-0446. Fax: 805-489-5201. . Our CSA boxes are available for sign up at our winery and farm stand. We can deliver our farm boxes most anywhere in the Western United States. (ADDED: May 02, 2018)

Santa Barbara County

• Blueberries Ole'!, LLC - No pesticides are used, blackberries, blueberries, flowers, lavender, strawberries, tomatoes, Honey from hives on the farm, farm market, porta-potties, picnic area you may bring your own food, school tours
  3665 Dominion Road, Santa Maria, CA 93454. Phone: (805) 260-0497. Email: upickberries@yahoo.com. Open: Typical season is Aril through August, open Wednesday through Sunday, from 9 am to 4 pm; Closed Monday and Tuesday. Directions: From Highway 101 at the South end of Santa Maria, take the Clark Avenue Exit \(Orcutt\) and head East on Clark to the end \(2+ miles\). Make a left turn onto Dominion Road and go 1.8 miles to our UPICK Farm. We are on the left side of the road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Blueberries Ole'!, LLC Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (805) 361-0360. . Typical season is Aril through August, open Wednesday through Sunday, from 9 am to 4 pm; (Closed Monday and Tuesday). From Highway 101 at the South end of Santa Maria, take the Clark Avenue Exit (Orcutt) and head East on Clark to the end (2+ miles). Make a left turn onto Dominion Road and go 1.8 miles to our UPICK Farm. We are on the left side of the road. Blueberry season usually wraps up in July, while blackberry season starts in June and ends in September; Strawberries are ripening in February and continue through the summer;. We do not use pesticides on the crops. Check our website or Facebook page for updates on events and specials. (UPDATED: February 12, 2020)
• Santa Barbara Blueberries at Restoration Oaks Farm - Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries
  1980 US Highway 101, Gaviota, CA . Phone: 805-686-5718. Email: info@santabarbarablueberries.com. Open: Call for availability and hours; during the season typically starts in May from 10 am to 6 pm; UPick closes at 5:30 pm; Fall Hours Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm for UPick raspberries and blackberries. Directions: Email, or call or . Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate phone: 805-683-2143. . Call for availability and hours; during the season (typically starts in May) from 10 am to 6 pm; UPick closes at 5:30 pm; Fall Hours Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm for UPick raspberries and blackberries. The farm store will be stocked with already picked raspberries and blackberries as well as lots of other fun stuff through the weekend. see this page. Blueberry UPick season is from late May through June and July every year, and if the weather is good, we may open as early as April and have blueberries into August. After many surveys of our regular pickers, we planted 6 varieties of raspberries that will be ripe and ready from August through October. We will also have watermelons, cantaloupe and other fun fruits and veggies for picking in the late summer and fall. Every year, we open the fields for a day or two in the off-season to our registered VIP guests. The select fields will be open, even though the freeway signs will say "closed". We've had these VIP private field openings as late as Dec 10th. To participate in our private field openings, add your name to our VIP Email list. (UPDATED: March 19, 2021 JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on May 26, 2009: " I've been driving by and seeing their huge Pick Your Own Blueberries sign for months but I have not gone there yet. I just called to confirm they are open and my daughter and I plan to go this weekend and pick blueberries"
• Summerset Farm & Dale's Nursery - apples, blackberries, raspberries (Autumn, red), strawberries,
  3450 Baseline Ave, Santa Ynez, CA 93460. Phone: 805-895-1199. Email: summersetfarmsyv@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 4:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 to 3:30. Directions: Hwy 154 At Baseline & Edison. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check Produce Stand, Pick-Your-Own Berries Local Honey, Homade Jams. . Alternate Phone: 805-895-7902. . Eggs, and the Greatest Pumpkin Patch in the Santa Ynez Valley.
  Comments from a visitor on June 30, 2010: "Went in June so we picked berries. They'd just finished their artichoke season and they have other crops and a pumpkin patch in the fall.,The farm is small but friendly and very convenient just off the main road and easy to pick fruit and vegetables in a contained area with a variety of easily-accessible produce. Also, right in the middle of Santa Ynez wine country so just adds to the experience of the region!"
• U-Pick Blueberries - blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, tomatoes, lavender, apricots & plums
  3665 Dominion Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93454. Phone: (805) 260-0497. Email: upickberries@yahoo.com. Open: Starting June 6th, Everyday 10AM-4PM; see their Facebook page or website. Click here for a map and directions.
  U-Pick Blueberries Facebook page. . Fun family outing! We offer spray-free in season..for you to pick! Bring your family and friends out for a fun outdoor experience and learn all about all the wonderful things Central Coast Farming has to offer. At , not only can you have fun harvesting seasonal berries, but you can sample while you pick because we don't spray any pesticides! You can also find us on Saturdays at the local farmers markets below:Templeton and San Luis Obispo. Facebook page. (ADDED: June 27, 2022, JBS)

 

Blackberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S. Blackberries typically peak during June in the South, and in July in the North. 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 Blackberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions. See this page for a list of blackberry festivals around the U.S.

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
    
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for Blackberries, 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 Blackberries 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.
4. 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 Blackberries

1. There are two types of blackberries to know about: thorny and thornless! Obviously, the thornless are easier to pick, but some people claim the thorny varieties are sweeter. With the thorny plants, you want to reach into the plant in the gaps, so you don't need to touch anything but the berry you're after, avoiding the thorns.
2. A ripe blackberry is deep black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug.  If the berry is red or purple, it's not ripe yet.
3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries.Unlike strawberries, blackberries are usually pretty tough, I dump mine into the bucket. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
4. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick Blackberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Pick only the berries that are fully black. Reach in between the stems to grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the plant and you will find loads of berries that other people missed!
2. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunlight 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. Blackberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week, 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.

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash  off the others, drain them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) Blackberries are less perishable than blueberries or strawberries, but refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the blackberries (while they are in the fridge)!
4. Even under ideal conditions blackberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase

Blackberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions

1. How to make Blackberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free Blackberry jam directions - very easy!
2. How to make Blackberry jelly
3. How to freeze berries
4. Blackberry syrup, make and can it! 
5. Seedless blackberry pie!
6. Blackberry Festivals: Where, When and More to Find an Blackberry Festival Near You this year:

Blackberry Facts and Tips

• Black Raspberries, also known as "black caps" are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• The USDA says 1 cup of blackberries has about 62 calories.
• 1 cup of blackberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• Select plump, firm, fully blackberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
• Oregon Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
• Blackberry tea was said to be a cure for dysentery during the Civil War. During outbreaks of dysentery, temporary truces were declared to allow both Union and Confederate soldiers to "go blackberrying" to forgage for blackberries to ward off the disease.
• Blackberries were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout.
• The blackberry leaf was also used as an early hair dye, having been recommended by Culpeper, the English herbalist, to be boiled in a lye solution in order to "maketh the hair black".
• Guide to blackberry varieties
• Researchers have known for quite some time that berries contain antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals.  A study at the University of Ohio has found that blackberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
• U-pick Blackberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Blackberries 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.
• Want to go to a blackberry festival? See this page for a list!

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers