2024 California Loganberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Loganberry U-Pick Orchards or farms in California in 2024, by area of state

Keep in mind, not all areas of a state have loganberries orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

These are the areas of the state that have loganberry orchards to pick loganberries. Click on the area closet you!

• Alameda and Contra Costa counties in California
• Kern County, California
• The San Francisco / San Mateo County area of California
• San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties in California

 

Loganberry

Loganberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Loganberries typically peak during June in the U.S. South, and in July in the North and Canada.

What are Loganberries

Loganberries are a hybrid cross between blackberries and red raspberries cross, it is purple almost black when ripe. Only the Tayberry is more flavorful. The Loganberry tastes like a mix of blackberries, raspberries and strawberries.  Loganberries offer a deliciously sweet and tangy flavor, making them a favorite among berry enthusiasts, making the best jam you've ever tried.

Loganberries are larger than raspberries and have a deep red to purplish-black color when fully ripe. They often have a conical shape with a glossy appearance and a slightly tart flavor. The taste is often described as a perfect balance between sweetness and tanginess, with hints of both raspberries and blackberries. They taste much like an equal mix of blackberries, raspberries and strawberries.

Loganberries are delicious when eaten fresh, sweeter than blackberries and with a complex flavor. You can add them to fruit salads, smoothies, or enjoy them on their own as a healthy snack. Loganberries are also great for baking, as they hold their shape well and add a delightful flavor to pies, tarts, muffins, and jams.

Loganberries are known for their excellent jam-making qualities. They are naturally high in pectin, which helps the fruit set into a rich and flavorful jam.

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 Loganberries, 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 Loganberries 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 Loganberries

1. Loganberries are very thorny with tiny thorns, so if you wear some neoprene type gloves, you'll be fine. Without gloves, ou 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 loganberry is deep purple-almost black with a plump, full feel. When they are dead ripe, they are plump, soft and sweeter (than unripe). It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug.  If the berry is red, it's not ripe yet.
3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries .U 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 Loganberries 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 ripe. 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. Loganberries 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) Loganberries are perishable so refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the loganberries (while they are in the fridge)!
4. Even under ideal conditions loganberries will only keep for about 3 or 4 days  in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them or freeze them as soon as possible after purchase

Loganberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions

The blackberry directions work exactly the same for loganberries

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

Loganberry Facts and Tips

• The USDA says 1 cup of loganberries has about 62 calories.
• Like other berries, loganberries are a nutritional powerhouse. They are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and dietary fiber. These berries are also low in calories, making them a guilt-free indulgence. Adding loganberries to your diet can contribute to your overall health and well-being.
• 1 cup of loganberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• Select plump, firm, fully loganberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
• Oregon Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
• 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 loganberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
• U-pick Loganberry 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 Loganberries 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.

 

 

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