2024 Milwaukee area of Wisconsin Pear U-Pick orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Pear U-Pick orchards in Milwaukee area of Wisconsin in 2024, by county

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

Dodge County

• Pieper's Fruit Farm - apples, pears, pumpkins, corn maze
  W2423 Hwy 49, Brownsville, WI 53006. Phone: (920) 583-3056. Email: pieperapples@outlook.com. Open: If you have driven by our place recently, you may have noticed that we have a for sale by owner message posted on our road sign. Click here for a map and directions. Pieper's Fruit Farm . We have decided to sell the orchard and after about 85 years as a family business, it was a hard decision, but it is time. If you would like more information or are interested please call our number at . Serious inquiries only please. Providing that the orchard isn't sold yet, we will still be open this fall with our regular operations. has been a family business since 1934. We have about 23 acres of pears and apples, which include over 40 varieties. A prepicked bushel for most apples is $52. Pick your own apples is sold by a 10 lb. Bag, which is $15/bag. Free wagon rides are available on the weekends from 9 am to 3 pm if you pick your own apples or pumpkins. (ADDED: May 10, 2019, JBS)

Ozaukee County

• Barthel Fruit Farm - strawberries, apples, peas, pears, plums, pumpkins
  12246 N Farmdale Road, Mequon, WI . Phone: 262-242-2737. Email: info@barthelfruitfarm.com. Open: strawberry hours are as follows: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm, weather and berries permitting. Click here for a map and directions. . Closing time varies daily; we close when we run out of ripe berries for the day or at closing time, whichever comes first. ALWAYS CALL FOR A PICKING UPDATE BEFORE DRIVING OUT. 242-2737 or 242-2774 (PYO hotline). Also picking sugar snap peas and snow peas, supply permitting. Fall hours are 9 am to 6 pm Mon through Saturday and 10 to 5 pm Sunday, mid August through New Year or depending on crop. Pick your own as available. Cider, baked goods, pears, plums etc. (UPDATED: June 13, 2020 JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on July 02, 2010: "We just went there today, July 2nd 2010, and the strawberries we got are great! I was worried it was too late in the season, but I personally picked 18lbs myself and they weren't all tiny berries! Plenty of good reg. and big size if you are willing to dig around a little! Extremely friendly & helpful staff, prices are awesome, and a HUGE variety of things to choose from - strawberries, sugar snap peas (picked a whole bag of those too), tomato plants, beautiful flowers, several kinds of apples in fall, on and on!!!! GO - it's worth the trip! We drove an hour and it was well worth the trip! Kids welcome as well! :o) 2 THUMBS UP!"
• Roesch Farm (Frank Roesch) - Apples, pears, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, corn, zucchini, yellow squash, red, yellow, green, purple and white bell peppers, hot peppers, tomatillos, all kinds of tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, pumpkins, dill, parsley, basil, chives, mint. , restrooms, pumpkin patch in the field, pumpkins brought in from the field, farm animals, tours of the operation
  12422 Farmdale Road, Mequon, WI 53097. Phone: (262) 242-0669. Open: They are usually open daily. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Roesch Farm (Frank Roesch) Frank allows local schools to bring children there on field trips and organizes tractor rides and farm tours for them.
  Comments from a visitor on October 05, 2012: "This was a very nice farm, had all the vegetables. It was well organized, and they had kids play area which helped the kids take some time off the field. The prices were much cheaper compared to the grocerry stores. Apple pickign was not allowed this year due to bad weather casuing the Apples to go bad."
  Comments from a visitor on August 02, 2012: "I have been going to this farm for almost 15 years and it is one of my favorite tranquil places to go. I have picked a large variety of fruits, veggies and herbs at "R" Apples. Frank has been farming his entire life. He really takes pride in his work and loves to show customers around the farm. He also has an little antique store inside the barn and raises chickens, turkeys and other farm animals. Frank grows a large variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. I can get all the produce I need there for a fraction of the cost of a grocery store. The farm is well maintained and their produce is delicious. Its a family owned business and Frank is one of the nicest people I have ever met. "

Racine County

• Apple Holler - apples, pears, peaches, pumpkins, U-pick and already picked, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, restrooms, inflatables or bounce houses, jumping pillow, pedal kart track, mining for gems, pony rides, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, group reservations, events at your location (call for info)
  5006 S Sylvania Avenue, Sturtevant, WI 53177. Phone: (262) 884-7100. Email: info@appleholler.com. Open: Everyday 10 am to 5 pm in season. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . . Everyday 10 am to 5 pm (in season). Peaches: July - August Apples: August - Early November Pears: September. located between Racine and Kenosha, off I-94 on west frontage road. is a farm to table restaurant, bakery, gift shop, orchard and family farm, including pyo, peaches, pears & pumpkins. Visitors will enjoy 4 seasons of family fun and activities including; orchard and farm tours, children's shows, school field trips, hay rides, sleigh rides, barnyard animals and outdoor play areas. A perfect indoor/outdoor wedding venue and Agritourism destination. (UPDATED: June 13, 2018)
• Klee's Out On A Limb Acres - pick-your-own apples, pears, Red Raspberries, Currents, and Gooseberries
  4704 West 7 Mile Road, Caledonia, WI 53108. Phone: (262) 835-7728. Click here for a map and directions. . Mid-August thru October, Fridays-Sunday only; Other days by appointment; Open Friday from 12 pm to 4 pm, Saturday/Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm. From I-94 exit 326 travel West on 7 Mile Road 1.5 miles. We are on the North side of 7 Mile Rd. between 43rd and 51st Streets. We are a small Wisconsin orchard offering roadside sales of pre-picked modern as well as heirloom apples and pears. By appointment beginning in July we also offer, pick-your-own Red Raspberries, Currents, and Gooseberries. Please call ahead for availability!!! Apple varieties: Cortland, Wolfriver, Snow, McIntosh, Greening, Yellow Transparent, HoneyCrisp, SnowSweet, Russetts, Red Delicious, Centinial Crab, Dolgo Crab, and Yellow Newtown Pippin. We have a lot more cultivars planted but they are not producing yet. Other Fruit: Pears (we been told we have the BEST pears!), Red White and Black Currents, Several varieties of Gooseberris, Red Raspberries. (UPDATED: May 10, 2015, JBS) (ADDED: April 15, 2010X)
• Old Homestead Orchard - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, flowers, pears, Turkeys, Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, group reservations
  7814 Raynor Ave, Franksville, WI 53126. Phone: (262) 895-6747. Email: oldhomesteadorchard@yahoo.com. Open: Typical season is from late August to first part of November; in season, Friday, from 1pm to 6 pm; Saturday and Sunday, from 9am to 5 pm. Directions: Located on the corner of highway 45 and 7 Mile road Conveniently nestled between Milwaukee and Chicago, Just West of Highway 94. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, ApplePay, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Old Homestead Orchard Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (414) 640-0432. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Apple season is typically: August 29 to November 1 Sunflower season is typically mid September to end of October. We use integrated pest management practices. We are a family run PYO orchard featuring over 20 different types of new and heirloom apples and pears. Don't worry we do offer Honeycrisp. When you are finished picking in our orchard you can head over to our PYO sunflower patch. Please check our web-page for the weekend events! Stop in the try some of our famous apple cider donuts and honey lemonade. Homemade jams, jellies and butter. Homegrown pumpkins, squash, gourds, and popcorn. We also have fresh apple cider and honey from our own hives. (UPDATED: August 14, 2020)

 

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