2024 Simcoe area of Ontario Raspberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Raspberry U-Pick Orchards in Simcoe area of Ontario in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a province or region have raspberries 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.

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Dufferin (Amaranth, Honeywood, Maple Grove, Mono, Orangeville, Shelburne)

• Birkbank Farms - Strawberries, Raspberries, vegetables
  6113 Wellington Cty Rd. 24, Orton, ON L0N 1N0. Phone: 519-855-6519. Email: birkbank@sympatico.ca. Open: mid Apr - late Dec. Click here for a map and directions. Fax: 519-855-6061Daily 9 am to 6 pm. PYO season 8 am to 8 pmTrafalgar Road north to Hillsburgh. Just 2km north. They have a market with a full range of fresh produce, bakery, homemade jams, crafts, gifts, asparagus, strawberries; some organic produce available. (UPDATED: January 31, 2013, jbs)
• Jenala Farms - raspberries, strawberries, and prepicked produce
  475080 Dufferin County Road 11, Shelburne, ON L0N 1S5. Phone: 519-925-5464. Email: info@jenalafarms.com. Open: July, August. Directions: Straight south from Shelburne 6.5 km >From Orangeville watch for our blue tourism Ontario signs on highway 10 and 109 . We are . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. erin County Road 11, Shelburne, ON L0N 1S5Fax: 519-925-2346 open Our hours are: Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm; Saturday 8 am to 5 pm; Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Strawberries approximately June 28 - July 15 Raspberries approximately July 20 - August 5 Ready picked asparagus available at roadside mid-May to late June. Ready picked sweet corn and potatoes available August/September

Simcoe (Barrie, Bradford West, Innisfil, Midland, New Tecumseth, Orilli, Pentanguishene, Tay, Wasaga Beach)

• Barrie Hill Farms - beans, blueberries, peas, raspberries, strawberries
  2935 Barrie Hill Road, RR#2, Barrie, ON L4M 4S4. Phone: (705) 728-0571. Email: info@barriehillfarms.com. Open: June, July, August, September. Click here for a map and directions. Fax: (705) 739-3549 . We are open The fruit stand: Monday to Friday from 8 am-8 pm; Sat 8 am to 5 pm; Sunday from 8 am to 8 pm. Pick your own fields: 8 am to 4 pm Saturday, Sunday & Holidays (Last wagon to the field leaves at 4pm) 8 am to 8 pm on Monday to Friday (Last wagon to the field leaves at 8pm) Crop report line (705)728-0571 6th Annual Blueberry Pancake Festival Saturday and Sunday near the end of July from 8 am to 3 pm both days .
• Cardinal Berry Farm - blueberries, currants, raspberries
  136 Line 5 South, Oro Station, ON L0L 2E0. Phone: 705-487-3935. Open: daily 9 am to 8 pm; Phone ahead call for crop availability and hours. Click here for a map and directions. From Barrie, take Hwy. 11 north toward Orillia for 8 km. At Line 5 of Oro Twp., turn east and go 0.5 km.
• Chapman's Berry Farm - currants, raspberries
  6414 Line 3 North, Midland, ON L4R 4K3. Phone: 705-835-5314. Open: Daily 8 am to 8 pm, Closed Sunday Call for conditions and call for crop availability, dates and hours. Click here for a map and directions. From Hwy 93 at Waverley go east 5 km on Vasey Rd. From Midland, take Old Fort Rd to Vasey Rd. Red currants.
• Clarke's Vegetables - blueberries, raspberries, strawberries
  1571 Nursery Road, Minesing, ON L0L 1Y0. Phone: 705-728-4369. Open: June to September; Call ahead for hours. Click here for a map and directions. Located 4 km north of Springwater Park (Hwy. 26) on Nursery Rd.
• Ego's Farm Market and Greenhouses - pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, peas, tomatoes
  596 Horseshoe Valley Rd., E., Coldwater, ON L0K 1E0. Phone: 705-326-9922. Open: daily from 9 am to 6 pm; strawberries 8 am to 8 pm. Directions: Located in the heart of Oro-Medonte Township on Horseshoe Valley Road, fifteen minutes drive from Orillia, and about 20 minutes from Barrie. Click here for a map and directions. We are . 8 km west of Hwy 12 and 18 km east of Hwy 400. We also have fresh picked beans, peas, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes. Farm market June to October, featuring farm fresh produce in season, such as fresh-picked sweet corn, strawberries, tomatoes, pumpkins and much more! We also welcome you to our farm to pick-your-own strawberries, raspberries, peas and tomatoes as well. Follow the Twitter feed on the Pick-Your-Own page for updates.
• Fernwood Farms & Market - blackberries, blueberries, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (black), strawberries, Turkeys (organic, not-hormone-fed), Honey from hives on the farm, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
  7865 highway 26, Stayner, ON L0M 1S0. Phone: 705-428-3171. Email: fernwoodfarms@rogers.com. Open: Call for hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates- Rr#2
• Foster's Farm - Strawberries, Raspberries
  RR#7, Midland, ON L4R 4K4. Phone: 705-526-8149. Click here for a map and directions. . Fax:Near Midland. Also: Roadside market, Vegetables.
• Giffen's Country Market - apples, raspberries, strawberries, Farmstand
  55 Station St., Glen Huron, ON L0M 1L0. Phone: 705-443-8199. Open: year round Monday to Friday from 7 am to 5 pm, Saturday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. We also have fresh picked apples, asparagus, corn, peas, preserves, raspberries, strawberries.
• Kent Kreek Berries - blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, and prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area
  3173 Hwy # 3 West, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4J9. Phone: 519-426-0924. Open: June, July, August, September; Open all week from 9 am until 6 pm Strawberries: June 15-July 1, Raspberries June 25-July 15, Blueberries July 15-August 25. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. zelem@kwic.com 6 km West of Simcoe Ontario on Highway 3 (see website for directions)
• Murphy's Farm Market - blueberries, pumpkins, raspberries (red), strawberries, restrooms
  5163 County Road 10, Alliston, ON L9R 1V2. Phone: 705-435-2141. Email: info@murphysfarmmarket.com. Open: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm; Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, May until October 31; Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during November and December. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Cheque, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Murphy's Farm Market Facebook page. (ADDED: August 25, 2015)
• Oak River Produce - Strawberries, Raspberries
  RR#1, La Salette, ON N0E 1H0. Phone: 519-582-0058. Email: mdmac@kwic.com. Open: call or email. Click here for a map and directions. Near Simcoe.
• R Family Farm - beans, blackberries, corn (sweet), peas, raspberries (red), strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked, farm market, porta-potties are available
  3560 3rd Line, Cookstown, ON L0L 1L0. Phone: (705) 812-2373. Email: contactus@rfamilyfarm.ca. Open: Please see our website or call for current hours. Directions: In Innisfil - On the 3rd Line, east of side road 5 \(County Road 53\), between highway 89 and Innisfil Beach Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards. In Innisfil - On the 3rd Line, east of side road 5 (County Road 53), between highway 89 and Innisfil Beach RoadStrawberries: Mid June to Mid July, Raspberries: July, Sweet Corn: August to September, Blackberries: SeptemberContainers available for purchase or you can bring your own. Please no smoking or pets.
• Sovereign Farms - Strawberries, Raspberries
  130 Lutesville Road, Waterford, ON N0E 1Y0. Phone: 519-443-4061. Email: sovereign.farms@selectcom.ca. Open: call or email. Directions: Near Simcoe. . Click here for a map and directions. Click here for a map.
• Thunder Beach Berry Farm - blueberries, cut flowers, raspberries, strawberries
  1369 Chemin du loup, Lafontaine, ON L9M2H7. Phone: 705 533-2345. Email: berries@tbbf.ca. Open: Fields are open for picking daily from 7 AM to 1 PM; Our Fruit Stand is open daily at 7 AM Until Sold Out. Directions: see their website. From serious berry eaters to families looking for a fun day in nature, everyone will LOVE their time at our farm. Subject to availability, we may have a variety of Apples this year. Pre-cut flowers, Peonies and Gladiolas are available by mid summer. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Thunder Beach Berry Farm Facebook page.

 

Raspberry

Raspberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Raspberries can produce an early summer crop or  a late summer and Fall crop. In the U.S. Spring / Summer raspberries (called florocanes) typically peak during June in the South, and in July in the North. The primocane varieties, which produce raspberries on shoots that come up each Spring are typically read from August until frost.

In addition to the variety a farm plants, the berries are ready at various times depending the local climate, such as which part of the state you are located. See this page for a list of raspberry festivals around the U.S.

And for those of you from the upper midwest through the west and up to Canada, if you are interested in Thimbleberries, see this page.

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 raspberries, 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 raspberries 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 raspberries

1. Raspberry bushes don't have thorns, but they are a pick prickly, so if you want to hold the stem while picking, a pair of lightweight gloves is helpful.

   Raspberries Nutritional Data
   (fresh)

   Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
   Energy	220 kJ (53 kcal)
   Carbohydrates	11.94 g
   Sugars	4.42 g
   Dietary fiber	6.5 g
   Fat	0.65 g
   Protein	1.2 g
   Vitamins
   Thiamine	(3%) 0.032 mg
   Riboflavin2	(3%) 0.038 mg
   Niacin3	(4%) 0.598 mg
   Pantothenic acid5	(7%) 0.329 mg
   Vitamin B6	(4%) 0.055 mg
   Folate9	(5%) 21 μg
   Choline	(3%) 12.3 mg
   Vitamin C	(32%) 26.2 mg
   Vitamin E	(6%) 0.87 mg
   Vitamin K	(7%) 7.8 μg
   Minerals
   Calcium	(3%) 25 mg
   Iron	(5%) 0.69 mg
   Magnesium	(6%) 22 mg
   Manganese	(32%) 0.67 mg
   Phosphorus	(4%) 29 mg
   Potassium	(3%) 151 mg
   Zinc	(4%) 0.42 mg
   Other constituents
   Water	85.8 g
   Units μg = micrograms • mg = milligrams IU = International units
   Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source:

   
   
2. A ripe raspberry is deep color with a plump, soft but firm feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug. The center will remain on the plant. Keep in mind, raspberries come in many colors: red, yellow, black, purple, so you want to pick the darker shade of whichever it is.
3. 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!
4. I find it helps to hold the stem with one hand, while picking with the other.
5. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
6. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down. Ideally, the collection containers should be wide so the pberries aren't more than a few deep.
7. Pick berries into a shallow container. If they get piled too deep they will crush each other.
8. 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.

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. DO refrigerate! Right after picking, place raspberries in the fridge. If your fridge tends to dry out produce, lightly cover the container.
3. Raspberries don't store for very long, usually just a few days. The reason the ones from the grocery store last longer is they are covered with fungicides!
4. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
5. 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) raspberries 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 raspberries (while they are in the fridge)!
6. Even under ideal conditions raspberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase
7. See this page for illustrated freezing instructions.

Raspberry Recipes

1. Now, get ready to make raspberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free
   raspberry jam directions - very easy! or for a jam with a little kick, try raspberry chipotle jam
2. And if you want to freeze them to use later, see my How to freeze berries page.
3. You can also make your own raspberry vinaigrette,
4. See this page for an easy recipe to make raspberry chipotle sauce

 

Raspberry Facts

• Raspberries are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• Raspberries contain more vitamin C than oranges, are super high in fibre, lhave a good amount of folic acid, are high in potassium, vitamin A and calcium.
• The USDA says 1 cup of raspberries has about 62 calories.
• 11 cup of raspberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• An average raspberry has 100 to 120 seeds.
• Select plump, firm, fully raspberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Raspberries belong to a large group of fruits known as brambles, such as blackberries, in the plant genus Rubus.
• Raspberries come in red, yellow, orange, purple and black colors.
• Yellow raspberries are red raspberries that don't make red pigment.)
• In most areas, raspberries begin to bloom in late May or early June.
• Bumblebees, honeybees, and other wild bees love to visit brambles.
• 60-70 pints of fruits can be harvested from 100 feet row.
  Raspberries can be harvested from early summer through fall, usually right up until a freeze
• The United States is the world's third-largest producer of raspberries (FAOSTAT, 2013).
• Production occurs across much of the country, although most of it is concentrated in California, Oregon and Washington. California leads the nation in both black and red raspberry production (NASS, 2015).
• According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, the United States has 8,052 raspberry farms totaling 23,104 acres (Census of Ag, USDA, 2012).
• U-pick raspberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/4 pounds of fresh berries.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as raspberries 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.
• Want to go to a raspberry festival? See this page for a list!

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