2024 Victoria, Australia Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Victoria, Australia in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have strawberries farms 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.

Victoria

• Berry World - strawberries
  26 Egan Street, Timboon, VIC 03268. Phone: (03) 5598 3240. Email: info@berryworld.com.au. Open: PYO on Tuesday to Sunday from 10am, typically early November to late March; During summer, last entry to the field is 4. Directions: Melways ref: X926 F9Last reported prices were $7.00 perkg, BYO containers or purchase them for 20 to 70 cents. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Berry World Facebook page.
• Blue Hills Berries and Cherries - strawberries, blueberries, raspberries,
  27 Parker Rd, Silvan, Silvan, VIC . Phone: (03) 9737 9400. Email: info@upickberries.com.au. Open: The farm is open 7 days a week from 9AM to 5PM from November through to April; Please note ORCHARD ENTRY CLOSES AT 4PM to ensure you have adequate picking time before close of business. Directions: about a 1 hour drive from Melbourne CBD. Self driving is the easiest option. If you prefer to take public transport, you will need to catch a train to Lilydale train station and preferably a taxi from there - call 13CABS to pick you up. We recommend also organising your return trip with the driver at the same time. For bus routes in the area please visit the Public Transport Victoria website. We offer our visitors a unique \'Pick Your Own\' Fruit experience at two locations - 30 Chapman Rd, - truncated. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Blue Hills Berries and Cherries Facebook page. (UPDATED: June 24, 2018, JBS)
• Gentle Annie Berry Farm - blackberries, strawberries, red currants
  520 Penny Royal Valley Road, Penny Royal, VIC 03235. Phone: (03) 5236 3391. Open: typically Melb cup weekend to 30th April. Click here for a map and directions.
  Gentle Annie Berry Farm Facebook page. Facebook page. No entry fee (produce by weight). Thornless blackberriesUPDATE for 2021: OUR PROPERTY IS ON THE MARKET BUT WE WILL BE OPEN FOR PYO BERRY PICKING AND SERVING REFRESHMENTS FROM OUR SHOP.
• Jay Berries - strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries
  140 Wandin Creek Road, Wandin East, VIC 03139. Phone: (03) 5964 4451. Email: info@jayberries.com.au. Open: Sunday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Directions: in the Yarra Valley, 50 Minutes from Melbourne. . Click here for a map and directions.
• Ladybird Organics - Certified Organic, strawberries, restrooms, school tours
  175 Arundel Road, Keilor, Melbourne, VIC 03036. Phone: 0418 170 335. Email: info@ladybirdorganics.com.au. Open: Outside of school holidays Saturday to Sunday from 8am to 5pm During school holidays Thursday to Sunday from 8am to 5pm from start of season October through to May Also open public holidays from 8am to 5pm. Directions: Melways reference map 14, h2. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Ladybird Organics Facebook page.
• Lomas Orchards - strawberries, school tours
  570 Wallington Road, Wallington, VIC 03222. Phone: 438503993. Email: lomasfruit@hotmail.com. Open: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm November - February. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesStrawberries October to March Apricots, Nectarines, Peaches December to JanuaryFollow us on Facebook, for regular updates on what is in season, special prices and news from the farm.
• Naturipe Fruits - apples, sour cherries, sweet cherries, strawberries, peaches, nectarines
  638 Bacchus Marsh Rd, Bacchus Marsh, VIC 03340. Phone: 0419 340 363. Open: 9 am to 5 pm, 7 days from October to May closed Christmas Day, subject to fruit availability, as all fruit is grown on the farm. Click here for a map and directions.
  Naturipe Fruits Facebook page. facebook page. Pick your own and buy farm fresh. Located in the historic Avenue of Honour 45 minutes west of Melbourne, we have U-Pick and freshly picked cherries (including white cherries, sour cherries and sweet cherries), strawberries, peaches, nectarines and apples! (ADDED: February 13, 2023, JBS)
• Patchwork Jungle - Uses natural growing practices, apples, apricots, currants (red), Seedless table grapes, table grapes (with seeds), herbs/spices, nectarines, other berries, pears, peaches, raspberries (Spring, red), strawberries, Fresh eggs, concessions or refreshment stand, farm animals
  30 Main Street, Jung, VIC 03401. Phone: 0428 847271. Email: todjung@iinet.net.au. Open: Seasonally December to February, 7 Days 11am to 6pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard.
• Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm - blackberries, boysenberries, other berries, raspberries, strawberries, potatoes, jostaberries (gooseberry/blackcurrant cross) marionberries and mulberries.
  115 Division Road, Murroon via Birregurra, VIC 03242. Phone: . Email: mkjuleff@pennyroyal.com.au. Open: December - early January from 10 am to 5 pm, daily except Xmas day Ring for availability Directions: SW of Geelong drive to Winchelsea south to Deans Marsh follow signs from General store . Directions: SW of Geelong drive to Winchelsea south to Deans Marsh follow signs from General store . We are . Click here for a map and directions. . December - early January from 10 am to 5 pm, daily except Xmas day Ring for availability open January, December. Tea House open for refreshments, light lunch, berry treats other fresh picks - potatoes, jostaberries (gooseberry/blackcurrant cross) marionberries, mulberriesFacebook page. Pick your own organically grown berries during the summer season; and sample our award winning ciders and delicious berry gins. B&B accommodation year-round. Contact us to book accommodation or to find out if we are open for picking. (UPDATED: March 9, 2021 JBS)
• Sunny Creek Organic Fruit and Berry Farm - Raspberries (Red, Yellow, Purple, Black), Strawberries, Red and White Currents, Logan Berries, Boysenberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Applies, Chestnuts.
  69 Tudor Road, Childers, VIC 03824. Phone: +61 3 5634 7526. Email: sunnycrk@dcsi.net.au. Open: November to June, on Monday to Friday, from 8. Click here for a map and directions.
  Sunny Creek Organic Fruit and Berry Farm Facebook page.
• Surf Coast Strawberry Fields - Uses integrated pest management practices, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked, farm market, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area, school tours
  2 McCanns Road, Mount Duneed, VIC 03217. Phone: . Email: strawberryfields.sc@outlook.com. Open: Monday to Sunday, 9:30am to 5pm Please see website or Facebook page for current hours. Directions: Located on the Surf Coast Highway, 10 minutes before Torquay in Victoria. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Surf Coast Strawberry Fields Facebook page.
• The Little Organic Paddock - Certified Organic, blueberries, strawberries, Day neutral strawberries, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals
  145 Gellibrand Carlisle Rd, Gellibrand, VIC 03239. Phone: 430544349. Email: thelittleorganicpaddock@gmail.com. Open: 9 to 5 every day December to April. Directions: From Gellibrand turn towards Carlisle drive 1.5Km on left. We are certified organic for all . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, All credit cards, AndroidPay, ApplePay, EftPos.
  The Little Organic Paddock Facebook page. (ADDED: August 06, 2023)

 

Strawberry

Strawberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S. strawberries typically peak during April in Florida and Texas, May in the deep South, and in early June in middle sections and later June in the far North and Canada. Keep in mind that crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce good local strawberries, producers depend on ideal spring weather conditions. 

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - strawberries are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. 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 strawberries, 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 strawberries 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 Strawberries

1. Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.

2. With the stem broken about one-half inch from the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.

3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. 

4. Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.

5. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick strawberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Be careful that your feet and knees do not damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
   
2. Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
   
3. To help the farmers, also remove from the plants berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury or other defects and place them between the rows behind you. If they are left in the plants, the rot will quickly spread to other berries.
   
4. Berries to be used immediately may be picked any time, but if you plan to hold the fruit for a few days, try to pick in the early morning or on cool, cloudy days. Berries picked during the heat of the day become soft, are easily bruised and will not keep well.
   
5. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunshine 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. Strawberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.
   
6. For interesting and fun strawberry facts and trivia from the California Strawberry Commission, click here!

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the caps (green tops) off the others and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) See this page about how to freeze strawberries.
4. If you like the strawberries you picked, ask the farm what variety they planted, and not the weather conditions the week or two before. The flavor of a strawberry is affected by the variety, the weather and the degree of ripeness when picked.
5. Now, get ready to make strawberry jam. It is VERY easy - especially with our free strawberry jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy.

Strawberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Strawberries

• How to freeze strawberries!
• Strawberry jam (with pectin) (uses less sugar or honey and less cooking)
• Strawberry jam (without pectin) (requires much more sugar and cooking)
• Strawberry (and other berry) jams without sugar
• Strawberry jelly
• Strawberry-rhubarb jam!
• Homemade strawberry ice cream (regular, low fat, nonfat, low sugar, vanilla and even gelato)
• Canning strawberries
• Make gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries
• How to make fruit juice -  strawberry and other berries
• Strawberry pie filling
• Strawberry pie
• Easy Rhubarb-Strawberry pie
• Fig-strawberry jam
• Fig-strawberry jam, made with Jello gelatin

Strawberry Facts, Measurements and Tips

• Picking the best strawberries: Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries DO NOT continue ripen after they are picked! In the photo, only the berry on the far right is completely ripe.
• Strawberry festivals: Most areas that grow strawberries have a strawberry festival, at which you can taste all kinds of fresh strawberry foods, pies, jams, cakes - and most commonly, fresh strawberry shortcake.  To find out where and when there is one near you, see this page for a list of strawberry festivals, sorted by state!
• Strawberries measurements: government agriculture websites tell us that
  1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups and is about the same as 1 liter and
  1 quart of fresh strawberries weighs 1 lbs to 1.25 lbs (or 450 to 600 g). Of course, the weight varies on variety and weather conditions. 
  1 quart is normally enough for 4 servings, although I'll admit my son can eat 1 pint by himself!
• How much to pick? In general, 1 quart of fresh, whole, just-picked strawberries = approximately 3.5 cups hulled, whole berries. In other words, removing the caps/hulls and the occasional mushy berry means you lose 1/4 cup to 1/2 (it depends how much fruit you remove with the hull) or about 7 to 12% of every quart you pick.
• One cup of strawberries contains only about 50 calories
• U-pick strawberries are much healthier than store-bought.  Consumer reports says store bought strawberries have so many pesticide and fungicide residues on they, that they don't recommend you eat them at all!
• U-pick strawberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. 1 lbs of fresh strawberries is about 2/3 of a quart.
• It takes about  10 to 15 minutes to pick a quart, if the berries are reasonably plentiful
• The strawberry plant adapts to wide variety of soil conditions, but does not tolerate drought well, and the berries quickly rot if the weather is rainy. For this reason, the plants are usually grown on raised beds through plastic mulch!
• Cultivation of strawberries began in Europe in the 1300's, but the berry only became very popular in the early 1900's in California.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as strawberries 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 grow your own strawberries?  Here's an article about how to: Strawberries are an Excellent Fruit for the Home Garden, HYG-1424-98!
• See this page for many more fun and interesting strawberry facts, nutritional information and trivia

Other weird strawberry facts

• Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
• Strawberries were originally called strewberries because the fruit was 'strewn' amongst the leaves of the plant.
• California is king of strawberry productions because: California produces 75 percent of the nation's strawberry crops; one billion pounds of strawberries each year.  If all the strawberries produced in California in one year were laid berry to berry, they would go around the world 15 times. Each acre of land in California in strawberry production produces an average of 21 tons of strawberries annually, with a total of 23,000 acres of strawberries planted in California each year.

More conversions

1 pint (2 cups)  of fresh whole strawberries

• = about 8 oz (1/2 lb) of strawberries
• = 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
• = 1 cup pureed strawberries
• = 12-14 large strawberries

2 quarts of fresh strawberries are needed for a 9" pie

A 10 oz package of frozen berries is about the same as 1 cup of sliced fresh strawberries

References:

• University of Illinois Extension
• Driscolls
• Ohio State University Extension
• Strawberries-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

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