2024 Far Northwest Oregon Boysenberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Boysenberry U-Pick Orchards in Far Northwest Oregon in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for boysenberries that we know of in this area.

Not all areas of a state have boysenberries 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.

New! As inflation remains high, see this page for reliable (tested) brands of generic canning lids at lower costs, and cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
 If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather.  See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Washington County

• Blooming Junction Farm and Garden - No pesticides are used blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, flowers, marionberries, other berries, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, school tours, group reservations
  35105 Nw Zion Church Rd, Cornelius, OR 97023. Phone: (503) 681-4646. Email: info@bloomingjunction.com. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Take the North Plains exit off of highway 26 and go south towards Hillsboro. Go approximately 1 12 miles and take a right turn onto Zion Church Road. Go about a mile and a half and we are on the right side, just past the intersection of Zion Church with Susbauer Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, WIC Vouchers.
  Blooming Junction Farm and Garden Facebook page. Take the North Plains exit off of highway 26 and go south towards Hillsboro. Go approximately 1 1/2 miles and take a right turn onto Zion Church Road. Go about a mile and a half and we are on the right side, just past the intersection of Zion Church with Susbauer RoadWe do not use pesticides on the cropsNote: The flowers to pick are sunflowers. (UPDATED: July 19, 2020)
• Heikes Farms - blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries (red), strawberries, restooms
  9400 Sw Heikes Drive, Hillboro, OR 97123. Phone: 503-628-7226. Open: Monday thru Saturday from 9 am to 6:00; We are closed on Sunday; We are open as the berries ripen which is typically mid to late May through July. Directions: From Hillsboro, go south onto highway 219 for about 6 miles, turn left onto Farmington road, go 1.3 miles and turn right on Heikes Drive. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Heikes Farms Facebook page. We have restroom facilities onsitePClick here for our Facebook page . In their seasons, we have Boysenberries, Blueberries, strawberries and Raspberries available already picked in our Fresh Market and available for UPick. The fields are beautiful and well groomed. There are bathroom facilities available. Bring your own containers, or you can purchase some from us. All berries are priced $1.75/lb to UPick. Call the Fresh Market to confirm availability.
  Comments from a visitor on June 22, 2010: "I went there today (June 22, 2010)and the strawberries were great. There are two varieties, one being Hoods. They are $1.25 lb/PYO. The owner said they sometimes spray to prevent rot but she was not sure if her husband had sprayed this year. She said they DO spray their blueberries. The farm is so neat & the people are right there near the fields. "
  Comments from a visitor on June 03, 2009: "They are very nice and they have a fresh market to if you don't want to pick your own. They don't use pesticides and they have outdoor and indoor restrooms but what I was impressed with was how organized their u pick was. I will be returning to them a lot and their hoods are only $1.00 a pound and everyone else is around $1.25 to $2.00 a pound. They also had free containers for us to use and bigger ones that only cost 50 cents and $1 for the full flat size. They said they will have 20 acres of blueberries for u pick in early July. I am so excited. "
• Rowell Brothers, Inc. - red raspberries, black raspberries, Logan berries, Boysenberries, Marionberries, blackberries, blueberries
  24000 SW Scholls Ferry Road, Hillsboro, OR 97123. Phone: 503-628-0431. Open: everyday 9 am to 6 pm. Directions: We are located on Scholls Ferry Road between Scholls Sherwood Road and Hwy. 219. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Rowell Brothers, Inc. Facebook page. U-Pick or same day we pick. Feel free to roam the fields sampling fruit, so you can be sure your getting the variety and ripeness you prefer. Ten varieties that you can choose from and all you can eat free. Willamette red raspberries, Coho red raspberries, Monger black raspberries, Logan berries, Boysenberries, Marion berries, Siskiyou blackberries, Duke, Chandler, and Jersey blueberries. Rowell Bros. Berry Farm Facebook page. Expanding acreages with Black Hawk and Jewel black Raspberries, Brandy wine purple Raspberries. Triple crown, Waldo, NZ 9351 and NZ 9128 and OR 1369 blackberries. Opening day June 17 now harvesting Willamette red raspberries and Logan berries June 25 Monger black raspberries and Siskiyou blackberries. Usually available: Mid June and July.
  Comments from a visitor on July 16, 2011: "Visited this farm on Friday. It was very clean and I had tons of fun. The fruit was delicious, beautiful, plentiful, and there was lots of variety. The people running the U-Pick were friendly and helpful. I took my booty home and it's already in jam jars. I will continue to go here as different berries start to ripen this year and will make this my u-pick for berries. Yum!"
• Smith Berry Barn - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, gooseberries, loganberries, marionberries, other berries, peppers, raspberries, tayberries, tomatoes, prepicked produce, gift shop, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals
  24500 SW Scholls Ferry Road, Hillsboro, OR 97007. Phone: 503-628-2172. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: 10 miles SW of Washington Square in Scholls. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October Seasonal hours vary, please check our website for current information. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified OrganicAdditionally we grow numerous varieties of squash and over 25 varieties of apples that are ready picked. At right is a TYPICAL (that word is emphasized for a reason) harvest schedule - CALL before you go!!!!) (UPDATED: July 11, 2018, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on July 10, 2012: "AMAZING! Cannot say enough good things about this farm. The berries were plentiful and they had more than one variety for each type of berry. They are no spray. The Farmer and workers are super friendly and helpful. They have a really cute cafe and gift shop as well as a picnic area. Today we picked raspberries and they were huge and delicious. We plan on going back this week for blueberries. "
  Comments from a visitor on July 18, 2010: "We visited the not once but TWICE already this season. First for strawberries - which were wonderful, sweet and juicy and then again for raspberries. I made jam out of both. The selection of raspberries was really nice - lots of big berries that were delicious! They have quite a few different berries from strawberries to tayberries. We plan to go back today to get blackberries. The farm was clean, buckets are provided and they accept debit cards. There were some chickens that we looked at and some really cute little goats too. Gift shop was well stocked and they have FRESH BERRY MILKSHAKES!!! Really yummy. Lots of plants available to purchase. Overall it was wonderful and this is now my go to farm for berries."
• West Union Gardens - summer & fall raspberries, boysenberries, black raspberries, marionberries, loganberries, tayberries, thornless blackberries, gooseberries, red & black currants
  7775 NW Cornelius Pass Road, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Phone: 503-645-1592. Open: Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 8 pm, closed Sunday. Directions: Close and easy to find- 1.7 miles north of Hwy 26 on Cornelius Pass Road. Our farm stand is full of fresh wholesome berries and vegetables, direct from our own fields. We grow everything we sell. U-pickers and children are welcome in the berry fields. Prepicked: tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, beans, garlic and lots more. Usually available: July-September. . Click here for a map and directions.
  West Union Gardens Facebook page. After Labor Day, call for open hoursis a family farm near Hillsboro, Oregon, which is open to the public during Oregon's bountiful berry season. We raise dozens of varieties of berries for u-pickers and for sale already picked in our farm stand. Our farmstand and u-pick will open when the first berries are ready, which could be mid-June to late June, depending on weather

 

Boysenberry

Boysenberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Boysenberries originated in Anaheim, California, in the 1920s when horticulturist Rudolph Boysen, a Swedish immigrant with a ranch there in the Napa Valley, developed the boysenberry by crossing a dewberry-loganberry hybrid with raspberries and blackberries. The plant is hardy, vigorous and thornless. The history is still a bit muddled, but this is the most accepted genealogy. Boysen later gave the boysenberry to Walter Knott of Knott's Berry Farm who popularized it.

Boysenberries look like small blackberries, about 1/2 inch to 1 inch across, but have a sweeter, flavor with fewer smaller seeds and hints of raspberry flavor. Boysenberries prefer a mild, damp climate, but still survive in hot climates, although it they do not get enough water, the berries will be more dense, like a raison, rather than plump and juicy. This is probably the easiest berry to grow, bar none.

 They typically peak during June in the South of the U.S., and in July in the north and in Canada. 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 Boysenberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions. See this page for a list of blackberry festivals around the U.S. (Yeah, boysenberries are lumped in with blackberries)

See this page for a master list and guide to all blackberry varieties and hybrids

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 Boysenberries, 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 Boysenberries 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 Boysenberries

1. I've only ever seen thornless Boysenberries, although, I suppose somewhere, someone has one with thorns (but its' probably not a true Boysenberry)! Obviously, the thornless are easier to pick,
2. A ripe boysenberry 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, boysenberries 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 Boysenberries 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. Boysenberries 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) Boysenberries 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 boysenberries (while they are in the fridge)!
4. Even under ideal conditions boysenberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase

Boysenberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions

Blackberry recipes work exactly the same with Boysenberries

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

Boysenberry Facts and Tips

• Black Raspberries, also known as "black caps" are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• The USDA says 1 cup of boysenberries has about 62 calories.
• 1 cup of boysenberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• Select plump, firm, fully boysenberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
• OOregon Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
• Guide to blackberry varieties
• Researchers have known for quite some time that all blackberries varieties contain antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals.  A study at the University of Ohio has found that boysenberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
• U-pick Boysenberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
• 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.

 

 

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