2024 Central Ontario (Coburg, Peterborough, etc) Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Central Ontario (Coburg, Peterborough, etc) 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.

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Kawartha Lakes (Little Britain)

• Argyle Farm Market - strawberries, Christmas trees, farmstand, Maple Syrup
  264 Glenarm Road, Woodville, ON K0M2T0. Phone: 705-439-3850. Open: Spring hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday After May long weekend, open daily until Labour Day Monday, then back to part-time hours until Thanksgiving Monday. Directions: Turn onto Regional Rd 15 from Hwy 1248 at Beaverton. Proceed East to Argyle. Located on South side in the Hamlet. OR Take Kawartha Lakes Road 46 North from Highway #7 approximately 18 Km. Turn left in Argyle, 264 is on We also have fresh picked annuals, asparagus, baked goods,, corn, fruits, honey, jamsjellies, maple syrup, vegetables. Strawberry season only lasts from mid June to early July. We are gradually adding additional . Click here for a map and directions. Turn onto Regional Rd 15 from Hwy 12/48 at Beaverton. Proceed East to Argyle. Located on South side in the Hamlet. OR Take Kawartha Lakes Road 46 North from Highway #7 approximately 18 Km. Turn left in Argyle, 264 is on We also have fresh picked annuals, asparagus, baked goods,, corn, fruits, honey, jams/jellies, maple syrup, vegetables. Strawberry season only lasts from mid June to early July. We are gradually adding additional crops which will extend this most enjoyable part of the farming business. We have raspberry and blueberry crops coming next year. (ADDED: June 10, 2014X)
• Holliday's Farm Fresh Vegetables - red currants, black currants, raspberries (Spring, red), strawberries, vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, Maple Syrup from trees on the farm, U-pick and already picked
  1641 Glenarm Road, Woodville, ON K0M2T0. Phone: (705) 374-4182. Email: rsholliday@amtelecom.net. Open: seven days a week 8 am to 8 pm; From mid June to mid October. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. (ADDED: June 02, 2018)
• Lindsay Berries - 2024 assumed permanently closed raspberries (red), strawberries, porta-potties are available
  3075 Highway 7, Reaboro, ON k9v 0h8. Phone: 705-324-3661. Email: lindsayberries@hotmail.com. Open: permanently closed. Directions: 1. Start out going east on Kent Street wProvincial Route 35BProvincial Route 7B toward Lindsay Street South 2. Turn right \(south\) onto Lindsay Street SouthProvincial Route 35BProvincial Route 7BCR-15. Go 3.1 kilometers 3. Turn left \(east\) onto Provincial Route 7Trans Canada highway Provincial Route 7. Go 7.3 kilometers 4. 3075 Provincial Route 7 is on the left \(north\).Your destination is 0.1 kilometers past Post Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . UPDATE for 2024, Their page is done, it is still there, but not working; There's nothing else current about them on the internet, so I assume they have closed. If you have any information to the contrary, please write me. See our website for current hours 1. Start out going east on Kent Street w/Provincial Route 35B/Provincial Route 7B toward Lindsay Street South 2. Turn right (south) onto Lindsay Street South/Provincial Route 35B/Provincial Route 7B/CR-15. Go 3.1 kilometers 3. Turn left (east) onto Provincial Route 7/Trans Canada highway Provincial Route 7. Go 7.3 kilometers 4. 3075 Provincial Route 7 is on the left (north).Your destination is 0.1 kilometers past Post RoadStrawberries: Middle of June to July, Raspberries: Middle of July to End of July, Sweet Corn: Beginning of August to End of September
• Nelson's Berry Farm - strawberries
  3392 County Road #2, Keene, Otonabee County, ON K0L 2G0. Phone: 705-295-6172. Open: Monday to Friday from 8am to noon and 4pm to 8pm; and Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 2pm; Directions: 12 km East of 4 corners of Keene, Ontario . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Monday to Friday from 8am to noon and 4pm to 8pm; and Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 2pm; 1/2 km East of 4 corners of Keene, Ontario are available starting mid-June.
• Sweet Scent Farm - strawberries, raspberries, currants, pumpkins
  250 Thunder Bridge Rd, Kawartha Lakes, ON K9V 4R1. Phone: 705-324-7234. Email: krisher720@hotmail.com. Open: Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. (ADDED: February 09, 2010, found online)
• Welcome Produce Market - Strawberries, Raspberries, pumpkins
  4754 Fourth Line RR1, Port Hope, ON L1A 3V5. Phone: 905-753-2302. Open: 7 days a week, 8 am to 6 pm. Click here for a map and directions. North of Hwy 401 (500m) at exit 461 on Hwy 2, Port Hope. Near Peterborough.Also has prepicked apples and a bakery!

Northumberland (Brighton, Cobourg, Grafton, Port Hope, Roseneath, Trent Hills)

• Burnham Family Farm Market - strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins
  RR 4 - County Road 2, between Cobourg and Port Hope, ON . Phone: 905-373-4578. Email: burnham.market@sympatico.ca. Open: June- December. Click here for a map and directions. invites you to Strawberry Day in June. Our own produce from berries to apples, on-site bakery, preserves & ice cream await while you browse in our friendly market. U-Pick available Strawberry Days 2014 is Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, June 29. Come on out to celebrate another year of fresh summer produce at our annual Strawberry Days festival! Hay rides, ice cream sundaes, burgers and fries, live music, face painting and many games await you at this year's festival. Hope to see you there.
• Carruthers Country Fields - raspberries, strawberries, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, and prepicked produce, gift shop
  9883 Danforth Rd east, Cobourg, ON K9A 4J8. Phone: 905-372-3705. Email: cathyandmalcolm@sympatico.ca. Open: May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. Directions: From Toronto take 401 east to Cobourg ,take exit 474 go south to first lights, turn left onto Densmore Road \(it turns into Danforth Rd\) follow east 7 km to 9883 Danforth Rd Watch for signs. We are . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate phone: 905-373-2879 From Toronto take 401 east to Cobourg ,take exit 474 go south to first lights, turn left onto Densmore Road (it turns into Danforth Rd) follow east 7 km to 9883 Danforth Rd Watch for signs. We are open Our hours are: When asparagus starts in May we are open Monday to Sunday from 8am to 8pm until End of DecemberIn season we have already picked asparagus, green beans, tomatoes, sweetcorn, squash, egg plant, peppers, cucumbers, lots of gourds, Indian corn and lots more. Give us a call for in season produce.
• Moore Orchards - Strawberries, Raspberries, Apples, Pumpkins
  RR#5 - 1497 Moore Orchard Road, Cobourg, ON K9A 4J8. Phone: 905-372-3911. Open: see their page. Click here for a map and directions. ~3 km east of Cobourg on hwy 2. Turn south on Moore Orchard Road. Near Peterborough. Also: Cider, Squash, Sweet corn, Pears. PYO apples when in season. (UPDATED: June 08, 2014, by JBS)
• Van Dorps - raspberries (red), strawberries, U-pick and already picked
  3260 County Road 28, Port Hope, ON L1A 3V6. Phone: 905-885-0207. Email: rachel_vandorp@hotmail.com. Open: everyday 8am to 7pm. Directions: North of the 401 in Port Hope just past Dale Road on the west side on County Road 28 OR South of Peterborough along county road 28 still on the west side before Dale Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Strawberries: Mid or late June to mid July Raspberries: follow right behind strawberries

Peterborough (Braund Port, Downers Corners, Edmison Heights, Hunters Ridge, Nassau)

• Buckhorn Berry Farm - Strawberries, Raspberries, Pumpkins, Pumpkin Festival
  RR#1, Lakefield, ON K0L 2H0. Phone: 705-657-8888. Email: info@buckhornberryfarm.com. Open: starting in mid June for Strawberries. Directions: 20 minutes north of Peterborough, 2 miles south of Buckhorn, off County Road 23 at Deer bay Road. Near Peterborough. Also: Peas, Beans, Potatoes. PYO strawberries will be $3.95lb \(2024 price\). Payment: cash, debit, and credit cardsPYO harvest calendar: Late June: Strawberries, Peas. Mid-July: Red Raspberries, Beans. Late July: Purple Royalty Raspberries, Black Currants. August - September: Tomatoes. October: Pumpkins. Please note, we shut down in the afternoon for raspberry season. This allo - truncated. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash, debit, and credit cards.
  Buckhorn Berry Farm Facebook page. Fax: 705-657-9256PYO STRAWBERRY HOURS: 8 am to 8 p.m. weekdays. 8 am to 4 p.m. weekends. PYO RASPBERRY HOURS: 8 am to 12 p.m. & 4 pm to 8 p.m. weekdays; 8 am to 4 p.m. weekends20 minutes north of Peterborough, 2 miles south of Buckhorn, off County Road 23 at Deer bay Road. Near Peterborough. Also: Peas, Beans, Potatoes. PYO strawberries will be $3.95/lb (2024 price) PYO harvest calendar: Late June: Strawberries, Peas. Mid-July: Red Raspberries, Beans. Late July: Purple Royalty Raspberries, Black Currants. August - September: Tomatoes. October: Pumpkins. Please note, we shut down in the afternoon for raspberry season. This allows daily picking and accommodates customers whose schedule permits only evening picking. Conditions can change at any time, so be sure to verify our Daily Crop Report. Just before you get in your vehicle, call the farm at 1-705-657-8888 or listen to 980 KRUZ at 6:50 am daily, starting in late June. Seasonal Employment: We begin hiring pickers in mid May to harvest our fruit crops. Pickers start in mid to late June and work 7 days a week, 6:30 am to 10:30-11 am, for approximately 4 weeks. Because we are located in a rural area, you must provide your own transportation. Mail orFax: your resume to the farm. Minimum age of 14 yrs. to apply. Facebook page. (UPDATED: June 12, 2024, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on June 02, 2009: "Loved it! "
• Johnstons Farm Market - strawberries, raspberries, farmstand, Maple Syrup
  County Rd. 28, Bailieboro, ON K0L1B0. Phone: 705-939-1737. Open: mid-June to November, market open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Click here for a map and directions. PYO open in JuneOn Hwy 28, second farm south of Bailieboro (15 minutes from Peterborough, 10 minutes north of Port Hope). We also have fresh picked beans, corn, eggs, maple syrup, onions, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, vegetables. In March/April come see our Maple Trees at Johnston's Sugar Bush. Watch how Maple Syrup is made! A Self-Guided tour to Sugar Shack. Call ahead for sap boiling times. (ADDED: June 10, 2014X)
• McLean Berry Farm - strawberries, Maple Syrup, Peas
  2191 16th line of Smith, Lakefield, ON K0L 2H0. Phone: 705-657-2134. Email: smclean@mcleanberryfarm.com. Open: Pick Your Own Opens late June; Strawberries: June and July at 9 am P. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash, debit, and credit cards. Y.O. PYO strawberries will be $3.95/lb (2024 price)at all three locations. Always check their page for crop updates and PYO opening. PYO raspberries early July, PYO Pod and Sugar Snap late June, PYO beans – TBD, PYO black currants early to mid July, Pumpkins - October (UPDATED: June 12, 2024, JBS)
• The Berry Patch - strawberries, Maple Syrup from trees on the farm, U-pick and already picked
  1910 County Road 10, Cavan, ON L0A1C0. Phone: 705-944-5358. Email: btmccamus@nexicom.net. Open: Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm Saturday to Sunday 8am to 6pm. Directions: North of Cavan on County Road 10 Across from North Cavan School. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Already picked corn (sweet), pumpkins,

 

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