2024 Northwest Alberta, Canada Saskatoon U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Saskatoon U-Pick Orchards in Northwest Alberta, Canada in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for saskatoons that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have saskatoons 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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Northwest Alberta

• Cross Creek Orchards - Saskatoons
  P.O. Box 78, Nampa, AB T0H 2R0. Phone: 780-925-2447. Email: crosscreekorchards@yahoo.com. Click here for a map and directions. Fax: 780-925-2487.
• McLaughlin's Berries & Trees - Saskatoons
  P.O. Box box 6596, Peace River, AB T8S 1S4. Phone: 780-618-7748. Email: dmclaugh@telusplanet.net. Click here for a map and directions. or 780-332-1294. One acre of berries. Phone for directions to farm and picking times.
• Mr. V's The Place For Trees - apples, cherries, gooseberries, raspberries (red), rhubarb, saskatoons, strawberries,
  8km West Of Boyle At Junction 63 & 663 RR#1, Boyle, AB T0A 0M0. Phone: 866-618-7337. Email: brunowiskel97@gmail.com. Open: Typical season is from late June to early September, Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 6pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Mr. V's The Place For Trees Facebook page. . . Mr. V's also has a variety of hardy fruit trees, ornamental trees and shrubs, as well has round and square bales of hay and dry fire wood. . The following is how our season typically goes; please call ahead first to make sure! The seasons are (this is a generalization, always see their website before you go) Strawberries - 1st week of July to end of July, Green Gooseberries - 2nd week of July Purple Gooseberries - end of July; Cherries - 2nd week of July to end of August; Saskatoons - 3rd week of July to 2nd week of August (our season is earlier this year Raspberries - 1st week of August to end of August, Apples - 2nd week of August to 2nd week of October. Mr. V's also has an assortment of fruit trees for you to start your own orchard! Come on by today to pick your own!!. (UPDATED: June 26, 2018) (ADDED: July 18, 2017)
• Prairie Echo U-Pick - saskatoons
  8km from Peavine corner, High Prairie, AB T0G 1E0. Phone: 780-523-1907. Email: turcotte.l@hfcrd.ab.ca. Open: July, August. Click here for a map and directions. . . We are open Our hours are: Monday to Saturday 9am to 7pm. We will be selling trees during season as well as the berries.
• Summer's Gold - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, beans, beets, carrots, cucumbers, onions, raspberries (red), saskatoons, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms
  71309 Range Road 260, Crooked Creek, AB T0H 0Y0. Phone: 780-957-2911. Email: info@summersgold.ca. Open: In 2011 we are open July 4, to October 15; Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm and Saturday 9 am to 6 pm; Closed on Sundays. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. . Fax: 780-957-2910. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals.

 

Saskatoon

Saskatoon Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Saskatoons, 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 saskatoons, how to use them, when to harvest them, and how to do it:

Flavor and Uses:

Saskatoons 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. Saskatoon 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 saskatoon pie from Saksatoons / Juneberries, see these pages:

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

Harvesting Season:

The exact timing of saskatoon 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 saskatoons 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 saskatoon 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 saskatoon 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 saskatoon 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 saskatoons in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If refrigerated, fresh-picked saskatoons 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 saskatoons 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