Find a local pick your own farm here!

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Southwest Colorado in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have tomatoes 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

Delta County

  • Camelot Farms - Uses natural growing practices, apples, apricots, cherries, herbs or spices, lavender, pears, raspberries (red), raspberries (yellow), tomatoes, Fresh eggs, U-pick and already picked, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, school tours
    15911 Black Bridge Road, Paonia, CO 81428. Phone: 970 527 3194. Email: toniharmony@yahoo.com. Open: UPDATE for 2021, Their website and Facebook pages are gone or outdated - I presume they have closed. Directions: If you are coming from Carbondale you well be taking a left off of Highway 133 onto Black Bridge Road Then your first Right on Black Bridge Road it\'s a long Driveway. If you are coming from Delta it will be a Right hand turn onto Black Bridge. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 970 309 3183Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me. Monday through Sunday 8 am to 8 pm July 1st Through November 7thIf you are coming from Carbondale you well be taking a left off of Highway 133 onto Black Bridge Road Then your first Right on Black Bridge Road it's a long Driveway. If you are coming from Delta it will be a Right hand turn onto Black Bridge We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. We have a country farm market with fruit, flowers, vegetables, jams, fruit butters, local jewelry, and much more.
  • Uncle Johnny's U-Pick Farm - Uses natural growing practices, apples, apricots, beans, beets, blackberries, cherries, cucumbers, currants (red and black), grapes, peaches, peppers, plums, pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, red), summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), U-pick and already picked, picnic area, farm animals, weddings and wedding parties
    18561 Surface Creek Road, Cedaredge, CO 81413. Phone: . Email: 22arniebclarke@gmail.com. Open: UPDATE for 2021, The now former owner says they sold the farm, and he expects the new owners will continue it as a U-Pick. Directions: from the stoplight in Cedaredge @main street and highway 65 turn east, travel 1 mile on east main to the rodeo grounds, turn north on surface creek road, go about 1-34 miles to 18561 surface creek road on the left hand side. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Uncle Johnny's U-Pick Farm Email- 7 days a week 8 amto8 pm (by appointment) during harvest seasonfrom the stoplight in Cedaredge @main street and highway 65 turn east, travel 1 mile on east main to the rodeo grounds, turn north on surface creek road, go about 1-3/4 miles to 18561 surface creek road on the left hand sideWe use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certificationFree range pork is grown on a pre-paid reserved basis by 1/4-1/2 or whole pig. Custom Processing, using your cutting and packaging instructions is extra and will be scheduled when pigs are at their prime.

Montezuma County

  • Jones Farm - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, flowers, herbs or spices, lavender, peppers, pumpkins, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties
    25450 Road M, Cortez, CO 81321. Phone: 970-799-2785. Email: bjones472@q.com. Open: Daily August 15 to November 15 from 1 pm to 7 pm. Directions: Located on Road M between Lebanon Road and Mildred Road, approximately one mile north of the Cortez City Limits. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 970-564-4451 PumpkinFest is the third week-end in October and the corn maze is open from October 1st through October 31stPumpkinFest is entertaining for the whole family. Enjoy a harvest meal that includes pumpkin cupcakes, hot dogs, and apple cider while the kids swing, play games, visit the petting zoo, or explore the corn maze

Montrose County

 

Tomatoes

Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok. Varieties of tomatoes

During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.

Tomato Varieties

In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water.  But you can use any type you can get hold of.  You may just have to cook them down longer to boil off excess water.  See our Master list of tomato varieties

Growing tomatoes

Canning, Freezing, Drying, Preserving Tomatoes and more!

Below are links to pages with easy and reliable directions about how to can, preserve, freeze and make other goodies from tomatoes.  Some of these require a Pressure Canner to prevent potential spoilage and food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food.  For others, you can use a water bath canner OR a Pressure Canner.  I've noted what's required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!

And don't miss: Answers to common tomato canning problems and see this page about what to do with your unripe green tomatoes!

Prepping tomatoes

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )Home canned tomato soup

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

Freezing Tomatoes

Drying tomatoes

Ripening green tomatoes in your garage or basement

If you want to bring your green tomatoes indoors before a freeze in the Fall, and ripen them, see:

And if you'd like to start you own tomatoes from seed (you can save a small fortune and grow the heirloom varieties you like) see this page for easy directions for growing your own tomato plants from seed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canning, Freezing and Preserving Tomatoes

 

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)