2024 Topeka and Northeastern Kansas Raspberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Raspberry U-Pick Orchards in Topeka and Northeastern Kansas 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 any state, nor even every state, 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.

Atchison County

• St. Andre Orchard - apples, blackberries, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums, raspberries (red),
  5443 Rawlins Rd, Atchison, KS 66002. Phone: (913) 360-2592. Email: standreorchard16@gmail.com. Open: By Appointment. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  St. Andre Orchard Facebook page. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Blackberry season is typically July 1 pm to 15 Peach season is typically July 1 pm to 31. (ADDED: June 21, 2017)

Brown County

• Grimm's Gardens - blueberries, cherries, apples, peaches, apricots, raspberries, persimmons, aronia, chesnuts, plums, elderberries, Honey from hives on the farm, prepicked produce, restrooms
  2991 Goldfinch Road, Hiawatha, KS 66434. Phone: 785-459-2586. Email: info@grimmsgardens.com. Open: dawn to dusk on picking days; Normal hours are Monday to Friday 8 to 6 and Saturday 8 to 4. Directions: 4 miles west of Hiawatha on highway 36 and 6.5 miles north on Goldfinch Rd. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. . Fax:. . Crops are usually available in July, August, September. Opening blueberry patch July 4 Thursday, raspberries are ready also; Always call ahead for specifics.
  Comments from a visitor on June 29, 2011: "My 3 year old and I went to Grimm's Garden near Hiawatha KS on Monday. It was everything the website said it would be and more. The staff was friendly and helpful, even looking up questions that they did not know the answer too. Raspberry picking was awesome and a quick relax in a shaded hammock was well earned. I was very excited to find a HUGE assortment of water plants for the pond I am building. "
  Comments from a visitor on July 22, 2008: "My husband and I visited this morning and picked 30lbs of blueberries. They're beautiful, a lot of them are the size of grapes. This farm is really something to see. I will be returning many times I'm sure. They have peaches, raspberries, black raspberries, apples and wonderful flowers and landscaping. The best I've seen."

Douglas County

• Lawson Brothers Farm - blackberries, raspberries (Spring, red), strawberries, PUMPKINS, picnic area
  1862 N. 700 Road, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Phone: (785) 594-3936. Email: info@lawsonbrothersfarm.com. Open: See our Web site for current hours. Directions: From Kansas Highway 10, take the Douglas County Road 1057 exit; drive south on E. 1900 Road for seven miles; turn right on N. 700 Road and drive west for 14 mile; our farm is on the right \(north side of the highway\). . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . From Kansas Highway 10, take the Douglas County Road 1057 exit; drive south on E. 1900 Road for seven miles; turn right on N. 700 Road and drive west for 1/4 mile; our farm is on the right (north side of the highway).

Franklin County

• Innisfree Fruit Farm - blueberries, raspberries, strawberries,
  2309 Riley Road, Ottawa, KS 66067. Phone: 785-242-8313. Email: berrygood@innisfree-farm.com. Open: Picking times are 8am to 7pm Monday through Friday, and 8am to 1pm on Saturday; Closed Sundays; Open Memorial Day. Directions: Exit #187 off of I 35. Go west into Ottawa on highway 68. From the intersection of highways 59 and 68, go 4 miles north to Riley Road, then 2 miles west. From Lawrence, Riley Road is 17 miles south of highway 10 on highway 59. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Innisfree Fruit Farm Facebook page. . . Crops are usually available in May, June, July. Note: formerly called Berry Good Farm.
  Comments from a visitor on May 30, 2009: "WOW!!! The owner's of Berry Good Farm are KID friendly! Selling Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries! The owners have parking in the shade and a beautiful pond. The kids could go play on the playground while I picked fruit. Restroom and cold drinks were available for purchase. I would take a lunch and eat in the back of my car!They provide bug spray-but I brought my own!They provide the buckets and give you a ride in the golf cart if you can't make it back to the car! Clean berries-NO PESTICIDES!!! Tasty! I would highly recommmend! I highly liked it and would tell all my friends to go! Free eating of the berries is encouraged from the owners! Make sure to get there early-they sell out of blueberries FAST! Take cash or checks They have two dogs-friendly just BIG!"
• Wellsberry Farm - Uses natural growing practices, raspberries (black), U-pick and already picked
  416 E. 7th Street, Wellsville, KS 66092. Phone: 316-708-3737. Email: wellsberryfarm@gmail.com. Open: Sunday to Saturday 7 days a week, from 8am to 8pm. Directions: We are located just west of Highway 33 on Seventh Street, at the intersection of Seventh and Pine in Wellsville. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . Sunday to Saturday (7 days a week), from 8am to 8pm. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic.

Leavenworth County

• Oregon Trail Farm - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, blueberries, other berries, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), raspberries (Autumn, black), Honey from hives on the farm
  18962 Santa Fe Trail, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Phone: 520-249-0480. Email: oregon.trail.farm@gmail.com. Open: June through August Tues - Sunday 1008 am to 1900 when berries are ripe. Directions: 4.9 miles from Fort Leavenworth KS back gate along the Santa Fe Trail. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Oregon Trail Farm Facebook page. . . June through August (Tues - Sunday 1008 am to 1900 when berries are ripe). Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Berries Mid-June through August. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. We began amending the already fertile soil by incorporating horse manure from local stables and over 10,000 pounds of coffee grounds and coffee chaff in the first year alone. Working with numerous local tree trimming services more than 70 tons of wood chips were saved from landfills and aid in weed control and water conservation. (ADDED: May 21, 2015)

Osage County

• Fieldstone Orchard and Farm - Uses natural growing practices, apples, asparagus, blackberries, cherries, grapes, other berries, pears, peaches, plums, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), rhubarb, Other fruit or veg, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), gift shop, porta-potties are available, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, school tours, group reservations
  7049 East 149th Street, Overbrook, KS 66524. Phone: 785-665-7643. Email: info@fieldstoneorchard.com. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: From Topeka: south on highway 75, east on highway 56, 2 miles past Overbrook north on Stubbs Road, west on 149th Street. From Lawrence: south on highway 59, west on highway 56, 13 miles, north on Stubbs Road, west on 149th Street. From Kansas City: south on Interstate highway 35 to exit 202. Drive through Edgerton, north to highway 56, west on highway 56 past 59 highway 13 miles to Stubbs Road, north 1 mile, west on 149th Str eet. First driveway south, park in paddock by Sale Barn. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Fieldstone Orchard and Farm Facebook page. . Fax:. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Please check website for specific dates as each year has been different; These dates are approximations: Asparagus: April 15 to May 15; Cherries (sour and sweet) June; Blackberries: July to August; Raspberries: July to first frost; Summer apples: July; plums: July to August; 38 varieites of apples including heirloom begin August to November 15; 5 varieties of Asian Pears begin September 1 to October; concord and wine grapes 3rd week in September or so;. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Chemical free orchard and farm us ing organic foods, products, herbs to feed the crops and trees to create nutrient dense foods and balance the ecosystem including beneficial bugs for pest control. We are using Beyond Organic practices. All produce is planted from organic and/or heirloom seed and grown organically. No pesticides, herbicides or chemicals are used on our property. Contact us for information about the Kaw Valley Farm Tour the First Full weekend of October and other events we may have throughout the year. .

Shawnee County

• 86th Street Orchard - apples, cherries, grapes, pears, peaches, raspberries (black), tomatoes, other vegetables, already-picked produce (of the pyo crops), school tours
  5332 Northwest 86th Street, Topeka, KS 66618. Phone: (785) 246-1442. Email: cathy_kenny@yahoo.com. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . Thursday to Saturday, from 9am to dusk; Other days and times by appointment; Please call or email before stopping by so we can let you know what's ripe and ready. We have changed our fruit to mainly apples, peaches and Honey. We are strictly a u pick orchard with no other activities No groups do to us being a small orchard. We do have over 70 trees . Please call 785-409-3224. We have started growing raspberries in the high tunnel, but they are not at the productive stage yet. (UPDATED: May 18, 2022, JBS)

 

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