2024 Western Nova Scotia, Canada Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Western Nova Scotia, Canada 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 province or region 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.

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.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Annapolis

• Chipman Farms Ltd. - strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, pears
  Street unknown, Tupperville, NS . Phone: 902-665-2374. Click here for a map and directions. . Call for directions. (UPDATED: July 30, 2014, by a visitor)
• Dempsey Corner Orchards - apples, beans, beets, blueberries, carrots, cherries, corn (sweet), onions, pears, peaches, plums, pumpkins, raspberries (red), strawberries, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, petting zoo, farm animals, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
  2717 Route 221, Aylesford, NS B0P 1C0. Phone: 902-847-1855. Email: dempseycornerorchards@ns.aliantzinc.ca. Open: 7 days a week from 10 until 5 yes, that includes Sunday. Directions: Just North of Exit 16 in the Annapolis Valley and follow the signs. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Cheque, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Pick Fruits and VegetablesWe have 12 different varieties and flavours of cherries.Come pick a peach off the tree. There are 57 varieties of apples to try. Plums come in different colours and sizes, but they all grow on trees and we will let you pick them all.Dig your own potatoes, carrots, onions, and beets. Table grapes and Wine grapes. Pumpkins from the field are way more fun than pumpkins from a shelf at the grocery store. (UPDATED: March 1, 2021 JBS)
• Evan's Family Farm - strawberries, picnic area, snacks and refreshment stand, picnic area
  13808 Highway #1, Wilmot, NS B0P 1W0. Phone: 902-825-3878. Open: Monday to Fri 1-7, Weekends & holidays 10-7. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Corn maze open 25 Aug to 1 Nov. corn maze, sell farm fresh brown eggs
  Comments from a visitor on September 06, 2010: "love it!!!"
• Spurr Brothers Farms Ltd - blackberries, blueberries, raspberries (red), strawberries,
  144 Bridge Street, Kingston, NS B0P 1R0. Phone: (902) 765-4300. Email: katie@spurrbros.ns.ca. Open: Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm; Saturday , from 8 am to 12 pm. Directions: Head West on Highway 1 from Kingston towards Middleton for about 5km. Turn right onto Stronach Mountain Road and head North going over the overpass for about 2km. Turn left onto Bridge Street and head west a short ways and we are on the left hand side of the street. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards. Fax: (902) 765-0970Picking updates: Click here for picking updates (UPDATED: March 1, 2021 JBS)

Kings

• Anthony L. Morse/Morse's Farm Ltd. - pumpkins, strawberries, and prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals
  114 East Main Street, Berwick, NS B0P 1E0. Phone: (902) 538-8446. Email: morsesfarm@ns.sympatico.ca. Open: U-Pick strawberries - open weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm and weekends from 8 am to 5 pm U-Pick strawberries run from mid-June to mid-July. Directions: The 5th generation 200acre family farm is located at the east end of the town of Berwick, Kings County, NS. 15 min to our west is CFB Greenwood, and 25 min to our east is the town of Wolfville, home of Acadia University. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Open daily with special Canada Day weekend deals. Pumpkin season generally runs from mid-late September to the end of October We grow 20 acres of fresh market/u-pick strawberries along with 35 acres of early market table potatoes. We also grow 3-4 acres of pumkins, and 1-2 acres of mixed vegetables (peas, beans, tomatoes..etc.) A 30 cow 'natural' beef herd manages a certain % of our farm land base, along with the hay crops for feed in rotation.
• Bob Ansems U-Pick - strawberries, raspberries
  1949 Lakewood Road, Steam Mill, NS . Phone: 902-679-0757. Email: bob.ansems@xcountry.tv. Open: 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week. Directions: North of Kentville on Hwy. 359, turn right on Lakewood Rd at flashing light. Watch for signs. pre-picked strawberries by request, wholesale orders, pre-picked corn, washroom facilities. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Bob Ansems U-Pick Facebook page. Bob Ansems Facebook page. The U-Pick is located about 5 minutes outside of the town of Kentville, in the beautiful Annapolis Valley. Located about an hour and 10 minutes drive from Halifax/Dartmouth, also about one hour from the South Shore. The U-Pick is right next door to the beautiful Eagle Crest Golf Course and only a short drive to Halls Harbour. (UPDATED: March 1, 2021 JBS)
• Bosveld's Fruit Farm - strawberries, hot house tomatoes and English cucumbers
  , Centreville, NS . Phone: 902-678-8767. Click here for a map of the area. Fax: 902-678-1257north of Kentville, route 221 west to Lakeville General Store, north by store on Lamont Road. See sign.
• Elderkin's Farm Market and U-Pick - strawberries, apples, pears, pumpkins, cherries, blueberries, raspberries and gooseberries, Trout
  #10362 Hwy #1, Greenwich., NS . Phone: 902-542-7198. Email: elderkinsapples@gmail.com. Open: U-Pick Hours are Monday - Saturday: 8 am to 9 pm and Sunday: 9 am to 9 pm. Click here for a map and directions. Fax: 902-542-3842 Take exit 11 off Hwy 101, keep right to wolfville. full line farm market, Scotsburn ice cream, sweet & hard cider, bakery items made from scratch with no additives or preservatives, crafts, gifts, fruit trees, perennials and shrubs for sale, adopt-a -tree. Facilities/attractions: blossom tours, wagon rides, fish pond, farm animals, picnic tables and the best view in the Valley with a pleasant walk. Contact: Peter Elderkin, Elderkin's U-Pick offers the following seasonal varieties: Strawberries, Gooseberries, Cherries , Blueberries, Apples (Jersey Mac, Viking, Bough Sweet), Peaches, Blackberries, Pears. (UPDATED: March 1, 2021 JBS)
• Harry Morse's U-Pick - strawberries
  RR#2, Berwick, NS . Phone: 902-538-9389. Directions: Take Exit 15 off Highway 101. Turn North towards Somerset. Turn left at flashing light. Watch for signs. Wheaton\'s . Click here for a map and directions. Fax: 902-538-1443Take Exit 15 off Highway 101. Turn North towards Somerset. Turn left at flashing light. Watch for signs. Wheaton's Christmas Tree Farm nearby.
• Kennies Strawberry Farm - strawberries,
  1164 Upper Church Street, North Kentville, NS B4N 3V7. Phone: 902-691-5553. Email: droberts@xcountry.tv. Open: Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 8 pm, Saturday and Sunday, from 8 am to 8 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Starting date: late June. (UPDATED: March 1, 2021 JBS)
• Oakview Farm - No pesticides are used, apples, peaches, raspberries (black), strawberries, Fresh eggs, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties
  7 Longspell Branch, Kingsport, NS B0P 1H0. Phone: (902) 582-7454. Email: oakview@xcountry.tv. Open: Hours and availability of crops to pick varies considerably; please call or email for current availability and hours. Directions: Take exit 11 on highway 101, proceed north to Canning and stay on highway 221 to Kingsport. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash or cheque only. Strawberry season is typically July 1 to July 20th; Peach season is typically August 15 to September 15. We do not use pesticides on the crops. We are a non spray farm. We have free run brown eggs available at the farm. We are a small mixed farm with greenhouse. We bought our farm and moved here in December 1996. We have a small flock of free run laying hens, a small herd of beef cows, a small (no spray) strawberry u-pick at the start of the summer and a peach u-pick in August, usually, (UPDATED: March 1, 2021 JBS) (UPDATED: July 10, 2018)
• Stirling Fruit Farms - strawberries, apples, corn maze, pumpkins
  10317 Highway 1, Greenwich, NS B4P 2R2. Phone: 902-542-3763. Email: greatapples@stirlingfruitfarms.ca. Open: daily, but Always check ahead for hours of operation. Click here for a map and directions.
  Stirling Fruit Farms Facebook page. . We have seasonal U-Picks at our Wolfville location in the Annapolis Valley. Join us in the summer for our Strawberry U-Pick and from early September to the end of October for our Apple U-Pick and Pumpkin U-Pick. Enjoy fall fun on our hayrides and get lost in our popular corn maze! Our Stirling Farm Markets are open year round! For directions, and a link to a google map for each location, click on an image below.We have seasonal U-Picks at our Greenwich location in the Annapolis Valley. Join us in the summer for our Strawberry U-Pick and from early September to the end of October for our Apple U-Pick and Pumpkin U-Pick. Always check ahead for hours of operation.(ADDED: July 20, 2018, JBS)

Lunenburg

• Indian Garden Farm - U-Pick Strawberries and Raspberries.
  15401 Hwy 3, Hebbville, NS . Phone: 902-543-1979. Email: indian.garden.farms@gmail.com. Open: daily from 9 am to 6 pm in season. Click here for a map and directions. located off Highway #3 down the hill from the cemetery. This farm has upicks and wagon rides and farm tours in late September. They also have a farm/craft market in addition, called Beulah's Bloomers. The fruit and vegetables sold at the market are all grown on their farm. They include: strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, apples, pears, peaches, plums, tomatoes, peppers, beans, beets, corn, potatoes, onions, cabbage, squash, pumpkins and more. (UPDATED: July 20, 2018, JBS)
• Visser's U-Pick - strawberries
  Highway 103, Newcombville, NS . Phone: 888-301-4434. Email: info@vissersfarm.ca. Open: June, see our website for hours and availability. Directions: Located just off Highway 103 in Newcombville near Bridgewater, Nova Scotia and on the way to Kejimkujik National Park. Click here for a map and directions. We are . We're a family-run strawberry u-pick focusing on recreational pickers. Port-a-potty on site. Cash only. Prices in 2012 were $1.50 per quart

Shelburne

• Lore's Strawberry Farm - strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, peas, beet greens
  5505 Upper Clyde Road, Shelburne, NS . Phone: 902-875-2102. Email: strawberryguyns@gmail.com. Open: 8 am to 8 pm. Click here for a map and directions. Exit from Hwy 103 at Clyde River, 30 km up the Upper Clyde Road. Pre-picked fruit & vegetables (peas, beet greens) and recipe booklets, bird watching

Yarmouth

• Moods Mill Farm - strawberries,
  Mood Road, Saunders, NS . Phone: 902-742-6054. Open: call for hours and availability. Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate Phone: 902-740-0844.Alternate Phone: 902-740-0826 farm is at Mood Road, one quarter mile from Saunders (Braemar) Road, on the same road as Ellenwood Park.
• Riverview Produce Farms - strawberries
  157 Wilson Road, Canaan, NS . Phone: 902-742-0493. Email: produceriverview@gmail.com. Open: canteen open June until December . Click here for a map and directions. 1, 8 am to dark. Produce canteen, 184 Wilson Road, our farm berries and vegetables, .
• Wood Berries Inc. - blueberries, strawberries,
  747 Raynardton Road, Tusket, NS B0W 3M0. Phone: (902) 648-2333. Open: Hours will vary depending on crop availability and weather. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Wood Berries Inc. Facebook page. Strawberry U-Pick (June and July) and High Bush Blueberry U-Pick (August and September). Note that the strawberries and blueberries are at two different addresses: Strawberries are at 747 Raynardton Road, Tusket, NS and Blueberries are at 983 Raynardton Road, Tusket, NS Be sure to check out our Wood Berries Facebook page for U-Pick updates as well as the U-Pick hotline at 902-648-2333. Our strawberry season will start in late June and our high-bush blueberry season will follow in late July/early August so stay tuned! Our berries will be for sale at our road side stand at 747 Raynardton Road and Carl's Store

 

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