2024 Southern Minneapolis and southern suburbs, Minnesota Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Southern Minneapolis and southern suburbs, Minnesota 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.

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

Dakota County

• Afton Apple Orchard - strawberries, apples, raspberries, pumpkins, corn maze, hayrides, weddings, school tours
  14421 So. 90th St., Hastings, MN 55033. Phone: 651-436-8385. Open: Sunday - Wednesday from 7am to 3pm and and Thursday - Sunday 7am to 7pm, weather permitting or until picked out. Click here for a map and directions.
  Afton Apple Orchard Facebook page. . We have 190+ beautiful acres producing delicious Minnesota grown strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins and 13 different varieties of apples that can be picked by our customers at the peak of perfection. Strawberry season starts approximately the second week in June, and runs through mid-July. We are open Always call for an update on picking. Fall Raspberries usually starts early August and goes until mid-October, or until we get a very hard freeze. Our apple orchard is mainly "Pick Your Own" but we do sell freshly picked apples by the peck, 1/2 bushel, and bushel, along with apple cider, honey, jam, maple syrup and other Minnesota grown products. If you like bargains, then come out during the week. It's less crowded and the orchard runs weekday specials. And for great family fun, visit us on the weekends for our hayrides. Throughout our apple season enjoy apple donuts, apple fritters, caramel apples, caramel apple sundaes, hotdogs, chips, soda pop, coffee, hot chocolate and - of course - delicious fresh apple cider all from our concession stand.This huge 15 acre corn maze is calling your name! The maze is divided into 3 phases. Have a wedding, or reception, company event, reunion, retirement party, birthday party, award ceremony, salesperson of the year, finding someone special or getting rid of someone not so special, New Years, or any other get-together in our beautiful building for any special occasion. We can hold up to 300 people inside or many more guests outside. Available are 8' banquet tables, folding chairs, and picnic tables, both inside and outside. We have several options available including tractor drawn hayrides, horse drawn wagon rides, playground, yard games, etc
• Applewood Orchard - apples, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red), rhubarb, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, U-pick and already picked, snacks and refreshment stand, school tours
  22702 Hamburg Avenue, Lakeville, MN 55044. Phone: 952-985-5425. Email: applewoodmn@gmail.com. Open: daily from 9 am to 6 pm; For the strawberry season we are open from 8am to 5pm if there are berries available; Always call before coming for strawberries; You need to call for hours for the raspberry season in late July through October; For apples we are usually open daily from September 1st until October 31st from 9am to 6pm Monday through Saturday and 12pm until 6pm on Sundays; Raspberries July-October. Directions: From the north take Cedar Avenue to 225th Street take a right there, and then a left on Hamburg Avenue From the south take Cedar to 225th take a left there and then a left on Hamburg Avenue We are the first driveway on the left. This year interstate County Road 70 At 35W is under construction, so if you are using 35W take the County Road 50 exit and then continue to Cedar Avenue Take a right on Cedar, continue to 225th and take a right and then a left on Hamburg Avenue. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. We have PYO June strawberries that are usually available mid June to Mid July, red raspberries that are available from late July until the first frost and apples from late August until ThanksgvingWe have hayrides on the weekends during the apple season, a maze for small children and a haystack for children to play on(UPDATED: September 22, 2023, JBS)
• Little Hill Berry Farm - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, blueberries, limited strawberries
  4339 320th St. W, Northfield, MN 55057. Phone: 507-301-7183. Email: info@littlehillberryfarm.com. Open: Blueberry picking season is typically from mid- July to mid-August, During picking season we are normally open Thursday and Friday from 8 a. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash, check and credit card. . m. to noon, Always check our website or Facebook page, before you come to the farm make sure we are open. We have 4,000 blueberry plants are growing in our soil, with many more to come. We are a pick your own berry farm. We grow them - you pick them! We provide picking containers and boxes to take your berries home in. Supervised Children are welcome! We encourage you to sample the berries while you pick. Upick blueberries start in mid July 8th. Autumn u-pick strawberries usually start the first week of August. We offer certified organic, pick your own blueberries. Pre-picked blueberries are also available for pickup at our farm. We offer certified organic strawberries! We have pre-picked strawberries available for pickup at our farm and we are open for a limited number of days for pick your own strawberries. We are growing late season strawberries, so we estimate our strawberry season will be mid-July through September. is the only certified organic pick your own berry farm in Minnesota. (UPDATED: July 09, 2019, JBS) (ADDED: June 11, 2015, JBS)
• Lorences Berry Farm - strawberries and raspberries
  28625 Foliage Avenue, Northfield, MN 55057. Phone: 507-645-9749. Open: May - mid October. Click here for a map and directions. Hours vary. Cedar Ave (Dakota County 23 or Foliage Ave). 14 miles south of Apple Valley or 7 miles north of Northfield. Pre-picked berries and asparagus are available by order - 24 hours in advance. Call before driving to the farm. Families are welcome with children supervised. Containers are provided. The approximate seasons are Asparagus in May-June, Strawberries mid June-early July, Raspberries in August and September.
• Ripe Radish CSA members only PYO - apples, blueberries, strawberries, honeyberries, cherries, currants, raspberries, gooseberries, Grapes, Pears
  12414 191st Street East, Hastings, MN . Phone: (612) 394-0559. Email: Riperadishfarm@gmail.com. Open: permanently closed. Click here for a map and directions. We rolled out a Members-Only, U-pick CSA program in 2022. (CSA is “Community Supported Agriculture. Ours is U-PICK) Families and friends picking their chosen fresh organic food each week was the highlight of the summer! Raspberries are Ripe from mid July- Oct/Nov (until freeze hits). We have both red AND golden varieties. Honeyberries are harvested in late spring or early summer two weeks before strawberries. Gooseberries are plentiful in late June/early July. formerly Sam Kedum Nursery and GardensUPDATE for 2023, A visitor tells me Sam Kedum was sold and reopened as Ripe Radish farm. It's currently a member only farm (CSA).
  Comments from a visitor on July 15, 2021: - I believe that this farm is closed. Sam and his wife retired last winter, from what I've read.
  Comments from a visitor on July 02, 2012: "Very friendly and they have diverse offerings"
• The Bohn Farm - strawberries, raspberries, fresh eggs, poultry, porta-potties are available, farm animals
  17801 Clayton Avenue E, Rosemount, MN 55068. Phone: 651-967-3276. Email: bohnfarm@embarqmail.com. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  The Bohn Farm Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 612-281-5324. See their website or call for dates and hours, we're waiting for an update from the farm (UPDATED: May 10, 2015, JBS)
• Wyatt's Strawberries - Strawberries
  10370 180th St E, Hastings, MN . Phone: 651-437-8479. Open: 7 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday, and 7 am to 4 pm Sturday and Sunday during season May-July. Directions: Located S. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash and checks. 7 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday, and 7 am to 4 pm Sturday and Sunday during season (May-July). Featuring asparagus while in season; early May-June. We will pick to your ordermid June-early July - pick your own. You may bring your own containers. . of Hastings between Hwy 61 & Co. 47 on the corner of Joan Ave & 180th St. From Hwy 52 near the town of Coates, turn left (east) on County Road 46. (46 turns into 48). Go 7 miles to Cty Road 47 and turn right. Go to Joan Ave (#89) and turn left. Go to 180th St. From Hastings: south of Hastings on Hwy 61 to 180th street. Right (west) on 180th, 2 miles to Joan Ave

Rice County

• Cherry Leaf Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, cherries, raspberries (Autumn, yellow), strawberries, Other fruit or veg, U-pick and already picked, restrooms, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals
  9697 Decker Avenue, Northfield, MN 55057. Phone: 612-669-4778. Email: cherryfarmerjohn@gmail.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Cherry Leaf Farm Facebook page. Honeyberries: June 10 to June 30, Cherries: July 5 to July 25, Raspberries: July 5 to July 25. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicalsIn addition to cherries and raspberries, we also have u-pick honeyberries. Honeyberries look similar to a blueberry but larger and taste like a combination blueberry/raspberry/grapefruit. Very tasty fresh and also great for processing. Honey berries aka Haskaps, are a type of honeysuckle. (ADDED: April 29, 2015)
• Silkey Gardens LLC - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, apples, blueberries, raspberries (Autumn, yellow), strawberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties (UPDATED: September 22, 2023, JBS)
  5561 115th Street East, Northfield, MN 55021. Phone: (507) 645-4158. Email: Paul@SilkeyGardens.com. Open: Strawberry Season Weather permitting PYO hours are: Monday through Saturday 6 am to 1 pm Sundays 8 am to 1 pm PYO hours will vary for Raspberry, Blueberry and Apple season please call, check website or Facebook page. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Silkey Gardens LLC Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (480) 544-5055Strawberries available in June/July Raspberries late June early July Blueberries mid to late July Apple available vary by variety; Zestar late August/early September Others including Honey Crisp available late Sept/October; As always please call for updates;. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals(UPDATED: June 26, 2019)
• Straight River Farm - 2024 permanently closed,
  Faribault, MN 55021.Open:  UPDATE for 2024: They retired and are permanently closed, the new owners do not plan to have a PYO.  Thank you for listing our farm on your site for many, many years! I used you as a link for preservation recipes, equipment, etc. for many years, too :-) We have retired from farming and are selling the farmland to an organization that will not be offering pick-your-own. Best regards, Bill & Maggie Hein Straight River Farm.

Washington County

• Natura Farms - 2024 permanently closed for U-Pick, Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, currants, grapes, melons, tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, other vegetables, herbs and flowers.
  19060 Manning Trail North, Marine on the St. Croix, MN 55047. Phone: 651-433-5850. Email: pmo@chof.net. Open: permanently closed. Click here for a map and directions. . Our PYO program has come to an end. has been evolving for several years. As a result, and given two years of evaluation, we have concluded that continuance of our PYO program no longer fits our current business model and future plans. We do plan to continue to offer our berries and produce at our farm stand on Manning Trail. Watch for posts for dates and times.We thank everyone who has supported through all these years.
  Comments from a visitor on September 02, 2008: "I thought it was great. Everything is organic and fresh. The people that work there are kind and helpful. Not to mention, many of them are volunteers that work towards a local church. The entire organization is just fantastic."
• Pine Tree Apple Orchard - Strawberries, corn maze, bakery
  450 Apple Orchard Road, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. Phone: 651-429-7202. Click here for a map and directions. . Strawberry Season - Mid-June through Mid-July, PYO Berry Line, 651-429-8026. Pre-picked and Strawberry Bakery. Apple Season is August through February, Weekends in March, Seasonal Hours. See the website for Tours or Schedule of Events or Maps and Directions. During the fall we offer weekend entertainment, pony rides, wagon rides, and a corn maze; pick your own pumpkins, a large variety of apples, homemade bakery products, caramel apples, fresh cider, gifts and more!
• The Berry Patch - strawberries, raspberries & blueberries
  10456 192nd St N, Forest Lake, MN 55110. Phone: 651-433-3448. Open: daily, June to August, weather & crop permitting. Click here for a map and directions.
  The Berry Patch Facebook page. Pick-your-own & pre-picked strawberries in June and pick-your-own & pre-picked raspberries & blueberries in July; typically in the third or fourth week of June for strawberry picking, followed in July by raspberry and blueberry harvest. Orders for tree-ripened Michigan peaches and sweet cherries also taken. Forest Lake, MN 55110. Five miles east of Forest Lake on Hwy 97. Turn south on County Road 15 (Manning Trail) for 1 three quarters of a miles, then turn right onto County Road 50. Supervised children welcome. Containers provided. (UPDATED: June 13, 2020 JBS) A visitor writes on July 17, 2024: "I went to in Forest Lake, MN. I went to pick blueberries, and it was a good experience. Simple set up, but friendly staff and excellent picking. Prices were better than others I’ve seen in the area. "

 

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