2024 East Central Ontario Corn U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Corn U-Pick Orchards in East Central Ontario in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a province or region have corn 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.

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

Frontenac (Kingston, Inverary)

• Fruition Berry Farm - beans, peas, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, and prepicked produce, picnic area, wagon rides
  3208 Hughes Road, Kingston, ON K7L4V3. Phone: 613-548-3378. Email: christine@fruition.ca. Open: June, July, September, October. Directions: From 401 exit Hwy 15 \(Kingston exit #623\) Travel North on hwy 15 approximately 5km. Turn left onto Hughes Road. Travel 2km, berry farm is on the left. We are . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Interac and Cash. . From 401 exit Hwy 15 (Kingston exit #623) Travel North on hwy 15 approximately 5km. Turn left onto Hughes Road. Travel 2km, berry farm is on the left. We are open see the website for our hours. Corn maze and pumpkin patch September 1st until October 31st. Frontenac County.
• Fruition Berry Farm - beans, peas, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, and prepicked produce, picnic area, wagon rides
  3208 Hughes Road, Kingston, ON K7L4V3. Phone: 613-548-3378. Email: christine@fruition.ca. Open: June, July, September, October. Directions: From 401 exit Hwy 15 \(Kingston exit #623\) Travel North on hwy 15 approximately 5km. Turn left onto Hughes Road. Travel 2km, berry farm is on the left. We are . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Interac and Cash. . From 401 exit Hwy 15 (Kingston exit #623) Travel North on hwy 15 approximately 5km. Turn left onto Hughes Road. Travel 2km, berry farm is on the left. We are open see the website for our hours. Corn maze and pumpkin patch September 1st until October 31st. Frontenac County.

Hastings (Bancroft, Belleville, Madoc, Trenton)

• McCaw Farms / West Moira Orchards - corn, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, beef,
  970 Harrington Road, Frankford, ON K0K 2C0. Phone: 613-962-8228. Email: mannypcortes@gmail.com. Open: daily June to October from 9:30 am to 6 pm. Directions: Located on Harrington Road in Frankford, approximately 15 minutes West of Belleville. Click here for a map and directions. Directions from our Store to our Farm. Our Farm is . From West Moira Street, take Wallbridge-Loyalist Road North to Vermilyea Road. Turn left on Vermilyea Road. Turn left onto Harrington Road and follow it to McCaw Farms.
• McCaw Farms / West Moira Orchards - corn, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, beef,
  970 Harrington Road, Frankford, ON K0K 2C0. Phone: 613-962-8228. Email: mannypcortes@gmail.com. Open: daily June to October from 9:30 am to 6 pm. Directions: Located on Harrington Road in Frankford, approximately 15 minutes West of Belleville. Click here for a map and directions. Directions from our Store to our Farm. Our Farm is . From West Moira Street, take Wallbridge-Loyalist Road North to Vermilyea Road. Turn left on Vermilyea Road. Turn left onto Harrington Road and follow it to McCaw Farms.

Prince Edward (Picton)

• Campbell Orchards - strawberries, apples, corn maze, wagon rides, corn maze, farm market
  1633 County Road 3, Carrying Place, ON K0K 1L0. Phone: 613-962-3751. Email: info@campbellsorchards.com. Open: see their website; year round, but hours vary by season. Click here for a map and directions.
  Campbell Orchards Facebook page. Facebook page. We have 25 different varieties of Pears and Apples to try! Visit us year round! Campbell's Orchards has 25 different Apple and Pear varieties to choose from. Such as: Paula Red, Zestar!, Ginger Gold, MacIntosh, Liberty, Empire, Cortland, Royal Gala, Snow Sweet, Ambrosia, Spy, Honey Crisp and lots more!! Come in to discover Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream (in the summer time), Maple Dale Cheese, Fresh Curds, Local Honey, Maple Syrup, Our Jams and Preserves, Fresh Baking, frozen fruits and vegetables and sparkling cider. We specialize in very unique and personalized gift baskets that are made to order or many are ready to go. In the Fall we have a corn maze and wagon rides. Payment, cash, cheque, debit cards and credit cards. Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash and not in the store. (ADDED: April 5, 2021 JBS)
• Campbell Orchards - strawberries, apples, corn maze, wagon rides, corn maze, farm market
  1633 County Road 3, Carrying Place, ON K0K 1L0. Phone: 613-962-3751. Email: info@campbellsorchards.com. Open: see their website; year round, but hours vary by season. Click here for a map and directions.
  Campbell Orchards Facebook page. Facebook page. We have 25 different varieties of Pears and Apples to try! Visit us year round! Campbell's Orchards has 25 different Apple and Pear varieties to choose from. Such as: Paula Red, Zestar!, Ginger Gold, MacIntosh, Liberty, Empire, Cortland, Royal Gala, Snow Sweet, Ambrosia, Spy, Honey Crisp and lots more!! Come in to discover Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream (in the summer time), Maple Dale Cheese, Fresh Curds, Local Honey, Maple Syrup, Our Jams and Preserves, Fresh Baking, frozen fruits and vegetables and sparkling cider. We specialize in very unique and personalized gift baskets that are made to order or many are ready to go. In the Fall we have a corn maze and wagon rides. Payment, cash, cheque, debit cards and credit cards. Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash and not in the store. (ADDED: April 5, 2021 JBS)
• Creasy's Apple Dabble Farm - apples, beets, cabbage, corn, cucumber, onions, pears, peppers, plums, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes
  3091 Cty Rd 8, Picton, ON K0K 2N0. Phone: 613-476-5142. Open: daily 9 am to 5 pm; September to November; call for crop availability. Directions: Located in the village of Waupoos on Cty. Click here for a map and directions. Farm is . Rd. 8, 15 km east of Picton. We offer a variety of Apples, Pears, and Plums. Also available are Seasonal Vegetables such as Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Cabbage, Onions, Squash and Pumpkins
• Creasy's Apple Dabble Farm - apples, beets, cabbage, corn, cucumber, onions, pears, peppers, plums, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes
  3091 Cty Rd 8, Picton, ON K0K 2N0. Phone: 613-476-5142. Open: daily 9 am to 5 pm; September to November; call for crop availability. Directions: Located in the village of Waupoos on Cty. Click here for a map and directions. Farm is . Rd. 8, 15 km east of Picton. We offer a variety of Apples, Pears, and Plums. Also available are Seasonal Vegetables such as Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Cabbage, Onions, Squash and Pumpkins
• Laundry Farms - beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumber, eggplants, flowers, honey, maple syrup, peas, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries, squash, strawberries, tomatoes
  530 County Rd 1, Picton, ON . Phone: 613-476-1066. Email: jeanoram@aol.com. Open: daily, Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm; Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. (UPDATED: April 5, 2021 JBS)
• Laundry Farms - beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumber, eggplants, flowers, honey, maple syrup, peas, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries, squash, strawberries, tomatoes
  530 County Rd 1, Picton, ON . Phone: 613-476-1066. Email: jeanoram@aol.com. Open: daily, Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm; Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. (UPDATED: April 5, 2021 JBS)

 

Corn

Corn Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Corn reaches it's peak sweetness and flavor when the kernels are full, and just touching each other, like a good set of teeth!  They should not be bloated and smushed so tightly that there is no space left at all. The bloated overripe ears will have a bland, starchy taste.

Here's what to look for:

• The tips of the silks coming out of the ear should be a light brown.
•  If you break a kernel with your fingernail, the liquid should be slightly milky in color.
•  The ears should be filled out and have developed good girth but not bloated.

Harvesting

 To harvest, snap off the ears by hand with a quick, firm, downward push; then twist and pull.
 Avoid twisting or yanking the ears, as this can damage the stalk or the ear itself.

Storing the corn

Corn is at its prime eating quality on the stalk for only 72 hours before becoming over mature. The most important factor is cooling it as soon as possible after harvesting it.  Get it into the fridge or cover it with ice! Many farmers say you should remove the shucks right away, too.  I've found that removing most of the shuck, but leaving a few leaves to cover each ear is best to prevent the kernels from drying out.  See this page for more about storing corn before using it.

Cooking:

The worst mistake people make is overcooking corn.  In fact, corn isn't really cooked; it's just heated up. If you cook it form more than a few minutes (3 minutes), then you are simply breaking down the sugars and turning a nice, crisp sweet ear into bland mush. It's not a pot roast; the purpose of heating it is NOT to break down the cells, just to heat them to bring out the flavor and melt the butter!

Here's how to cook the corn:

1. Fill a large pot (large enough so the shucked ears can fit inside, laying down) about 2/3 full of water and start bring it to a boil
2. Shuck the ears, and snap off the stalk end and the very tip of ear (especially if you will use "corn stickers" , (handles) to hold the ears.
3. When everyone is sitting down at the table and you are serving the rest of the meal, put the corn in the boiling water and set the time for 3 minutes.
4. After 3 minutes, using tongs, retrieve the ears and serve them with butter (Corn boats are wonderful for corn!

 

Freezing Corn

You can easily freeze the sweet corn and have that great taste in the dead of winter! 

• Freezing whole ears of corn on the cob
• Freezing corn, cut off the cob

Canning Corn

This too, is easy... but it DOES require a Pressure Canner.  You cannot safely do this with a water bath canner.  Food poisoning is no joke!

• Here is how to can corn!
•  how to make canned creamed corn.
• Southern Chow-Chow (also called Piccalilli)
• Pickled corn relish

Other corn recipes

• How to make sweet corn ice cream
• Corn bread, or sweet corn muffins (like Chi Chi's)

• Corn fritters (a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast

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