2024 Salem and Marion County Oregon Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Salem and Marion County Oregon 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 any state, nor even every state, have strawberries 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.

Marion County

• Boones Ferry Berry Farm - blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, corn (sweet), loganberries, marionberries, other berries, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (Spring, yellow), raspberries (Autumn, yellow), strawberries, U-pick and already picked, farm market, gift shop, porta-potties are available, picnic area
  19602 Boones Ferry Road NE, Hubbard, OR 97032. Phone: 503-678-5871. Email: berries@boonesberry.com. Open: Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 6 pm; Closed Sunday; May - August. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers.
  Boones Ferry Berry Farm Facebook page. . Hood strawberries, Albion strawberries, Totem strawberries. We are the Snegirev family: Growing and selling Oregon strawberries, Marion berries, Blueberries, and Raspberries right from our farm in Aurora Oregon since 1993. We offer several you-pick (u-pick) berry fields that you and your family can come out and pick as much of any of our berries our farm has to offer. You can easily find our berries for sale at Wholesale foods under our beautiful "Boones Ferry Berry Farms" branded boxes. "These berries are amazing" -Quote by the Wholefoods produce buyer.s Facebook page.
  Comments from a visitor on August 05, 2011: "I love Oregon berries. I grew up picking all types of berries from Strawberries, Marion berries, and all types of blackberries. Waking up 4 in the morning since I was 6 years old. So I know how much hard work goes behind growing delicious Oregon berries here in the Willamette valley.s has to have the best berries I have ever tasted. Not only was their very first pick nice a ripe, but every strawberry, marionberry, blue berry looked as though it was the very first berry from the first harvest (aka: first pick). The berries are not only aesthetically pleasing but are still as delicious and sweet as the first picks berries. Trust me, once you eat one berry, your mouth will "water" for more:)"
• Fordyce Farm - U-pick Strawberries, black currants, gooseberries, Blueberries, Kotataberries, Autumn pumpkin patch and corn maze
  7023 Sunnyview Road NE, Salem, OR 97305. Phone: 503-362-5105. Email: fordyce.farm.info@gmail.com. Open: from mid May- end of October. Click here for a map and directions.
  Fordyce Farm Facebook page. . Alternate phone: 503-362-0132. . Season: Open June-July, 9:00 to 6:00, Monday through Saturday for a full season of berries, vegetables, baked goods, and lots of other good things; Blue & Kotata 7:30-3. We are a family owned berry farm offering a wide variety of u-pick and already picked fruits and vegetables. We have a store, bakery, display garden, beautiful perennial plants, pumpkin patch, and corn maze. We are open
  Comments from a visitor on June 13, 2011: "Fordyce Farm will have u-pick strawberries after June 20, 2011"
• Greens Bridge Gardens - apples, blackberries, boysenberries, cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, loganberries, marionberries, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries (red), summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, Other fruit or veg,
  3730 Jefferson - Scio Drive Southeast, Jefferson, OR 97352. Phone: 541-327-2995. Email: gbgardens@hotmail.com. Open: Daily 9am to 6pm through Thanksgiving; Follow our facebook page for the most up-to-date u-pick information. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. . : From I-5 (north or south) Exit 238 Take a left off the exit, 2 miles into Jefferson, over the bridge. Take a right at the only traffic light in town, over the railroad tracks. approximately 1.5 miles out on your right. . Find us at the following Farmer's Markets: Beaverton on Wednesday and Saturday, Lake Oswego on Saturdays, Lebanon on Thursdays, Moreland on Wednesdays. We offer the best fresh produce, fruits, berries and more for your convenient u-pick experience. Bring your own containers. No Pets Please. No Smoking. Availability changes daily. As of 2016; Our apple varieties: Cameo, Braeburn, Spartan, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Winter Banana, Jonagold, Early Fugi, Fugi, Gala, Empire, McIntosh, Cortland, Ruby Jon, Zestar, Gravenstein. Our peach varietioes are: Springcrest, Red Haven, Veteran, Cresthaven, Glowingstar, Coralstar, Elberta, Blushingstar (White Flesh), PF27A, Canadian Harmony, Sweet Cap (Donut Peach), Suncrest, Allstar, Autumnstar. Our tomato varieties: Bobcat, Sweet 100, Romas, Sun Gold, Carolina Gold, Big Beef. Our berries: Marionberry, Boysenberry, Obsidian Blackberry, Loganberry, Tulameen Raspberry, Tayberry, Triple Crown Blackberry, Strawberry. Our pepper varieties: Jalepeno, Serrano, Poblano, Fresno Chili, Anaheim, Sweat Banana, Habanero, Yum Yum Sweet, Green Bell, Super Chili, Cherry Bomb. Our flower varieties: Dahlias, Zinnias, Sunflowers, Asters, Cosmos, Sweet Williams. At, we are dedicated to bringing our customers the finest produce around. U-Picking is available on nearly all the produce we grow. Whether it be strawberries for shortcake tonight, or tomatoes to put-up for the winter, our customers enjoy picking their choice of produce. Enjoy the benefits of picking your groceries directly from the source! It just doesn't get any fresher! (UPDATED: August 28, 2020 JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on June 13, 2011: "Greens Bridge Farm has u-pick strawberries at 80 cents per pound."
• Harpole's Produce - apples, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, boysenberries, broccoli, corn (sweet), cucumbers, flowers, grapes, marionberries, melons, onions, other berries, peas, peaches, peppers, plums, pumpkins, raspberries, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, farm animals
  8071 Mount Angel Hwy NE, Silverton, OR 97381. Phone: 503-873-4182. Email: melodyharpole@gmail.com. Open: 7 days a week. Directions: From Salem: Take Silverton road towards Silverton - Turn left on Brush creek road, turn right on Hazelgreen road, turn left on Mount Angel Hwy NE. Farm is about 2 12 mile on left. Fruit stand is visible from the road with flower, plants, and fruit. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . From Salem: Take Silverton road towards Silverton - Turn left on Brush creek road, turn right on Hazelgreen road, turn left on Mount Angel Hwy NE. Farm is about 2 1/2 mile on left. Fruit stand is visible from the road with flower, plants, and fruit. Crops are usually available in April through November. Usually staffed, but if not then a can is bolted to the stand and the honor system is in place. (UPDATED: June 27, 2016, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on June 13, 2011: " has u-pick strawberries at 75 cents per pound. Harpole's also has you-pick raspberries $1/lb right now. They're just starting to come on. They also still have strawberries, but from the looks of things, only another 2 weeks before they're finished up. "
• Minto Island Growers - blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area
  Salem, Or 97302, Salem, OR 97302. Phone: 503-931-6840. Email: elizabeth@mintogrowers.com. Open: June, July, August; After your first visit you will be able to pick earlier than 9am; You will not be able to weigh your berries until 9am and you must be checked out by 5pm; Where: Come to the Farm Stand to receive your U - Pick map and information; Return to the Farm Stand after you are done to weigh and pay; See the website for more information. Directions: From downtown Salem head south on commercial street. Take a right on Owens which turns into River Road S. Go past the entrance to Minto Park, past the Plaid Pantry to Brown Island Road \(before Illahe and Roberts Crossing\). Take a right on Brown Island Road at the large green Farm Stand signs. Go .3 miles until you see the signs and right hand turn into the Farm Stand. From there you will have directions to the blueberry field which is another .3 miles down Brown Island Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, WIC Vouchers.
  Minto Island Growers Facebook page. . From downtown Salem head south on commercial street. Take a right on Owens which turns into River Road S. Go past the entrance to Minto Park, past the Plaid Pantry to Brown Island Road (before Illahe and Roberts Crossing). Take a right on Brown Island Road at the large green Farm Stand signs. Go .3 miles until you see the signs and right hand turn into the Farm Stand. From there you will have directions to the blueberry field which is another .3 miles down Brown Island Road.
• Olson Stuart Farms Inc - Cherries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Peaches, Apples, Blueberries, nectarines
  6925 Joseph SE, Salem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-362-5942. Email: info@olsonfarms.com. Open: June 1- September 30; The stand is Monday to Saturday 9 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm; U-Pick closes at 5:30 pm. Click here for a map and directions.
  Olson Stuart Farms Inc Facebook page. . . See updates on Olson Farms Facebook page. 5 miles east of I-5 on Highway 22. u-pick, ready pick, pick to order (bring containers and call ahead for u-pick), accepts WIC and senior coupons. U-pick and we-pick fruits. Also have a farmer's market that has other produce and honey that they produce. (a.k.a, Olson Peaches).
  Comments from a visitor on June 13, 2011: "Olson's Farm will have strawberries available after June 16th or 17th - recorded message said they will update by the info by the 15."
• Purdy Enterprises - U-Pick Strawberries, blueberries
  14435 E Marquam Rd NE, Mt Angel, OR 97362. Phone: 503-845-6822. Email: reaganpurdy@cs.com. Open: Late May-June, 7 days, 8:00-6:00. Directions: Located outhouse for public use. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash or checks. Purdy Enterprises . They have a conveniently . U-pick, we-pick strawberries; jam, syrup & preserves. U-Pick Blueberries! 2021 price is $1.00 /Lb, Bring your own containers. Park behind the barn to the right when you pull in driveway. Scale in front of office, self service.
  Comments from a visitor on June 13, 2011: "Purdy Enterprises is 75 cents per pound and will open up u-pick after June 16th."
• Rick Johnson Farm - apples, blueberries, cherries, peaches, strawberries,
  3310 Perkins Street Ne, Salem, OR 97303. Phone: 503-393-0859. Open: Monday thru Saturday 9 am to 6 pm; Closed Sundays; June to November. Directions: Coming from I-5: Take I-5 to exit 263 \(the Brooks exit\). Turn west on Brooklake Road, continue for approximately 1 mile. Turn south \(left\) on River Road, continue to Perkins road, turn left \(east\). Go for 0.8 miles; Rick Johnson Farm is on the right hand side \(south side\). Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Rick Johnson Farm Coming from I-5: Take I-5 to exit 263 (the Brooks exit). Turn west on Brooklake Road, continue for approximately 1 mile. Turn south (left) on River Road, continue to Perkins road, turn left (east). Go for 0.8 miles; is on the right hand side (south side). Farm is located at corner of Perkins St. and 35th just north of Keizer. address is 3310 Perkins St NE Keizer Oregon 97303. Picked Peaches, Apples, Grapes, and Walnuts will also be sold in season. For information about these fruits please call. (UPDATED: June 25, 2020)
  Comments from a visitor on July 02, 2016: "Good old-fashioned family farm with hardworking family members doing 99% of the work. Awesome Peaches--Suncrest (very sweet!), Cresthavens, and Elbertas. Very good prices on u-pick (70 cents/lb). You can also buy already-picked peaches by the lug box (about 15-16 quarts of canned peaches worth) and two smaller box sizes. Also they have cherries, and I'm not sure what else. maybe watermelons? "
• Willamette Valley Fruit Company - Strawberries, Blueberries, Marionberries, Raspberries and other fruit, U-Pick or pre-picked, Corn Maze, & Pumpkin Patch;
  2994 82nd Avenue NE, Salem, OR 97305. Phone: 503-362-8857. Email: info@wvfco.com. Open: call or see their website. Directions: 5 miles east of Salem. . Click here for a map and directions. . Click here for a map, directions, & hours. Our Farm Store has delicious Pies, Scones, Smoothies, Frozen fruit and more! Restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, & school tours of our Pie Production and Processing Facilities. Fall Harvest Festival, Corn Maze, & Pumpkin Patch. Visit our website for more info. The best from our land to your hands! Come see us!

 

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