2024 Chester County and Delaware County, Pennsylvania Pear U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Pear U-Pick Orchards in Chester County and Delaware County, Pennsylvania in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have pears 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.

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Chester County

• Highland Orchards Farm and Market - apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, corn (sweet), nectarines, pears, peaches, plums, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), rhubarb, strawberries, Other fruit or veg, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, restrooms, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, face painting, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations
  1000 Marshallton Thorndale Road, West Chester, PA 19380. Phone: (610) 269-3494. Email: events@highlandorchards.net. Open: The last shuttle leaves 1 hour prior to Market closing; Fields close 30 mins before Market closing. Directions: From PHILADELPHIA -- King of Prussia Take Schuykill Expressway West, to 202 South, to Route 30 West, to Route 340 Thorndale Exit. Turn left off of exit ramp onto Bondsville Rd 340E. Stay on the road, the road name changes. Go Apx. 6 miles to Highland Orchards on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Highland Orchards Farm and Market Facebook page. Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesFrom PHILADELPHIA -- King of Prussia Take Schuykill Expressway West, to 202 South, to Route 30 West, to Route 340 Thorndale Exit. Turn left off of exit ramp onto Bondsville Rd/ 340E. Stay on the road, the road name changes. Go Apx. 6 miles to Highland Orchards on the rightFall Harvest Weekend Celebrations run September 15 until Halloween; Food vendors, artisan crafters, and PickYourOwn activities every weekend;. We use integrated pest management practices (IPM). No appointment is necessary to pick, but you might want to call on the day you would like to pick to confirm picking status. Particularly if driving a distance as conditions can change daily. You register to pick in our Farm Market before going to the field. Registration closes at 5pm. We ask that you pay for what you pick. (UPDATED: May 29, 2018)

Delaware County

• Ablin Acre - apples, blackberries, grapes, pears, peaches, summer squash, tomatoes, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises)
  1882 Larkin Road, Boothwyn, PA 19061. Phone: 610-494-0987. Email: abport62@gmail.com. Open: Each Friday 9am to 3pm June 15 thru October 31 beginning 2016. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
• Indian Orchards - Uses natural growing practices, apples, apricots, beans, blackberries, blueberries, carrots, figs, melons, nectarines, pears, peas, peaches, peppers, plums, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (black), summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, restrooms, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, group reservations
  27 Copes Ln, Media, PA 19063. Phone: (610) 564-0794. Email: indian.orchards.farm@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm. Directions: 27 Copes Ln, right off of PA-352, which connects with I-95 and US-1. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Indian Orchards Facebook page. Already picked or Pick your own fruit--July thru November Our Fruits and vegetables are grown using organic techniques, natural, sustainable, minimally sprayed; we also use IPM or integrated pest management as well. Typical, average, approximates Harvest dates (call before you go!) : June: RaspberriesJuly: blueberries, raspberries, peaches, blackberries, vegetables (including bell peppers, cucumbers, and hot peppers - tomatoes show up sometime in July)Indian Orhcards Pick your own raspberriesAugust: blackberries, plums, nectarines, peaches, pears, apples, vegetables (tomatoes have definitely joined the veggie crowd) September: raspberries, blackberries, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears, apples, pawpaws, vegetablesOctober: Cider, Organic Apples, Pumpkins & Mums at the farmstand. Raspberries, pears, *apples (available at farmstand, but see note above - PYO apples are done for 2017), persimmons November: Apples and cider (freshly pressed, on-site weekly!), pumpkinsDecember: Christmas trees & holly (we cut Christmas trees in advance, or you can select your own and have us cut it for you) (UPDATED: July 14, 2016)
• Linvilla Orchards - Apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, grapes, melons, nectarines, pears, peaches, peppers, plums, raspberries, summer squash, strawberries, tomatoes, Christmas trees-you choose and you cut, Precut Christmas trees, Living Christmas trees (to plant later), Christmas wreaths and boughs, Mistletoe, Santa appearances, Christmas decorations, saws provided, trees bagged, trees tied, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, train rides, corn maze, straw or hay bale maze, child-sized haybale maze, and prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides, face painting, pony rides, petting zoo
  137 W. Knowlton Road, Media, PA 19063. Phone: . Email: info@linvilla.com. Open: 8am to 6:45pm daily; Last hayride departs at 6pm sharp to begin picking; The fields will close promptly at 6:45pm; Crop availability changes quickly due to weather, the number of visitors, how much they pick or the abundance of a particular crop at any given time. Directions: From Philadelphia via Interstate 95, Take 95-South to Exit-6 \(352 320-Widener University\)., Follow signs for 352-North., Follow 352-North for approximately 4 miles through Brookhaven borough., Look for the Pathmark K-Mart Shopping Center on your right., Continue about 12 mile to the next traffic light, which is Knowlton Rd., Turn left onto Knowlton Road - Linvilla Orchards is 34 mile on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Linvilla Orchards Facebook page.

 

Pear

Pear Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

pears, also known as serviceberries or Juneberries, are delicious and nutritious berries native to North America, mostly in the western Canada and northwestern U.S. . These small blue-purple berries grow on shrubs or small trees and have a unique flavor that is often described as a combination of blueberries, raspberries, and almonds. Here's what you need to know about pears, how to use them, when to harvest them, and how to do it:

Flavor and Uses:

pears have a pleasantly sweet and slightly tart taste, making them a versatile ingredient in various culinary creations. They can be enjoyed fresh, added to fruit salads, used in baked goods such as pies, muffins, and tarts, or even incorporated into jams, jellies, and sauces. pear berries also freeze well. They can be substituted for blueberries in recipes.

If you're looking for great, easy to follow recipes to make jam, jelly, freeze or make pear pie from Saksatoons / Juneberries, see these pages:

• How to make pear jam
• How to freeze pears
• World's best and easiest pear pie
• How to Can pears
• How to make pear jelly
• How to make and can pear syrup
• How to make home-canned pear pie filling to use later
• pear buckle coffee cake: illustrated directions for this great crumb-topping pear coffee cake

Harvesting Season:

The exact timing of pear berry harvest can vary depending on your location and climate, but it generally occurs in the summer months. In most regions, you can expect to start harvesting pears from late June to early August. Keep an eye on the berries as they ripen to determine the best time for harvesting.

Determining Ripeness:

Ripe pear berries are plump, firm, and have a deep purple-blue color. They should come off the plant easily when gently pulled or twisted. Look for berries that have a uniform color and avoid those that are still green or red. Taste a few berries to ensure they have reached the desired sweetness before harvesting the entire crop.

How to pick or harvest:

To harvest pear berries, simply hold the branch beneath the cluster of ripe berries and gently pluck them off with your fingers. It's best to place a container or basket beneath the branch to catch the berries as they fall.

The easiest and fastest way to pick them is hold your bucket under them in one hand and with your other hand, cup a ripe bunch and gently rub them with your fingers.  The ripe berries will drop into your bucket, while the unripe ones will remain attached to the bush.

Be careful not to squeeze or crush the berries while harvesting to maintain their shape and quality.

Handling and Storage:

Handle pear berries with care as they are delicate and can bruise easily. After harvesting, sort through the berries and remove any damaged or overripe ones. Store the freshly picked berries in a shallow container, preferably in a single layer, to prevent crushing and allow for proper airflow. Refrigerate the berries and consume them within a few days for optimal freshness. If you have an abundant harvest, consider freezing the berries for longer-term storage.

• Once picked, don't place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form in the container.
• Don't wash berries until just before using, to prevent berries from becoming mushy.
• Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. Store your fresh pears in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If refrigerated, fresh-picked pears will keep 10 to 14 days.
• Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening.  Place berries one layer deep. Freeze, then pour the frozen berries into freezer containers. Because unwashed pears freeze individually, they can be easily poured from containers in desired amounts. Remember both frozen and fresh berries should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries in cold water.

 

 

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