East-Central Michigan Tomato U-Pick Orchards in !

Find a local pick your own farm here!

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in East-Central Michigan 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

Bay County

Berry Creek Farms - No pesticides are used, strawberries, tomatoes, U-pick and already picked
6745 South Euclid Avenue, Bay City, MI 48706. Phone: 989-684-1655. Email: carolewachowski@gmail.com. Open: Call or email for hours and availability. Directions: From I-75: take M-84 exit east into Bay City, turn south onto Euclid Avenue, take 3 miles to the dead end. Last driveway on the left side of the road. From US-10: turn south onto Euclid Avenue, take 6 miles south to the dead end. Last driveway on the left side of the road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Strawberries: typically from May 25 to June 20, Raspberries: June 30 to July 15 and August 30 to October 15. We do not use pesticides on the cropsWe also have pre-picked canning tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplants, okra, onions, melons, zucchini, summer squash, pickles, and cucumbers. We can also be found at the Midland Farmers Market Wednesday's and Saturday's from 7 am to 12 pm in July, August and September. We do accept Project Fresh Coupons. (UPDATED: September 13, 2023, JBS) (UPDATED: July 13, 2012, by a visitor)
Comments from a visitor on August 16, 2019: "The farm no longer offers raspberries. They had previously plowed their patch under with the intent to replant - they have decided not to replant any raspberries in the foreseeable future. "
Comments from a visitor on July 13, 2012: "Called and owner said they had to "turn their crop under" and plan to replant in a few years. So currently they are CLOSED until further notice

Clinton County

Becks Cider Mill - Apples, tomatoes, pumpkins, squash, hayride
Maple Rapids Road, Saint Johns, MI . Phone: 517-224-4309. Open: Sept. Click here for a map and directions. . Apples, cider, donuts, tomatoes, pumpkins, squash, u-pick farm, farm bakery, picnic area, group hayride rides and bonfire, wagon rides, farm animal and custom car show-October, seven days a week, 9 am to 7 p.m. Nov. and December ., seven days a week, 9 am to 6 pm7 miles N of St. Johns on US-27, 1/4 mile E of US-27 on Maple Rapids Road 25 miles N of Lansing, follow US-27 toward Clare, turn right on Maple Rapids Road.
Rusty's U-Pick - beans, beets, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes,
2635 S. Hollister Road, Ovid, MI 48866. Phone: 989-834-9778. Email: ruskit97@yahoo.com. Directions: East of US 127 approximately 7 miles to Hollister Road. Turn south on Hollister Road and we are one and a half miles down on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 989-413-2210 Call for dates and hours, we're waiting for an update from the farm We also have green beans, yellow wax, kohlrabi, turnips, radishes, cabbage and several varieties of hot peppers. We take PROJECT FRESH coupons. Please call ahead for availability. We were not able to put in a garden this year, but we're hoping to re-open next year in a new location!!

Saginaw County

Saginaw Valley Sod & Berry Farm - tomatoes, other vegetables,
11285 Gratiot Road(m-46), Saginaw, MI 48609. Phone: 989-781-2680. Open: June 15th to October 31st. Directions: $M-46$Gratiot Road 14 mile West of $M-52$Graham Road, or 8 Miles west of Saginaw, Michigan on Gratiot Road $M-46$. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. (M-46)Gratiot Road 1/4 mile West of (M-52)Graham Road, or 8 Miles west of Saginaw, Michigan on Gratiot Road (M-46)Pre-picked Asparagus: May 10th to Mid June, Strawberries: May 25th to Late June, Early Raspberries: July 1st to Early August, Late Raspberries: September 1st to Late October; Pick your own Vegetables available in season; Go to our website for in season availability

Shiawassee County

Davis Family Farm - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, flowers, herbs or spices, pumpkins, rhubarb, strawberries, tomatoes, walnuts, Turkeys, and prepicked produce
Owosso Michigan, Owosso, MI 48867. Phone: (989) 723-1163. Open: Monday through Saturday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Directions: M- 52 To Juddville Road, heading west. Turn right going south on Chipman. One mile down. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Davis Family Farm Crops are usually available in May, June, August, September, October. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified OrganicWe offer naturally grown turkey, pork, lamb, chicken, and pheasant. NO hormones, no pesticides, No herbicides. Eggs are also available from our free range chickens.(UPDATED: September 19, 2019, JBS)

St. Clair County

Simpson Family Farm - beans, beets, broad beans, broccoli, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplants, flowers, herbs or spices, lavender, melons, onions, peppers, summer squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, watermelons, Other fruit or veg, porta-potties are available, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals
4197 Carrigan Rd, Fort Gratiot, MI 48059. Phone: 810 531 9802. Open: see their website. Directions: For a map to our farm, . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
Simpson Family Farm Facebook page. U-Pick is in full bloom this summer! Dive into the immersive joy of selecting your own fresh vegetables and brilliant flowers. While farmers markets offer a taste of the season, there's nothing like the connection and freshness of harvesting straight from the ground.Simpson Family Farm facebook page. Parents, our farm is tailored for the whole family. As you relish in nature's offerings, kids can dive into fun in our special play area. And just a short distance away, seating awaits for parents to unwind and watch over their playful children. (UPDATED: September 22, 2023, JBS) (ADDED: October 12, 2016)

Tuscola County

Pennell Farms - Strawberries, Raspberries, lettuce and Tomatoes,
6317 State st, Vassar, MI 48768. Phone: 989-823-9917. Email: info@mysite.com. Open: Call for for hours and availability. Directions: Call for directions. Payment: Cash, only. Spray-Free Raspberries. Were proud to offer our customers fresh lettuce and herb Garden patches. To allow them to pick what they want as much or as little as they need. Your own fresh produce, herbs & fruit. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
Pennell Farms Facebook page.

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

How to quickly and easily remove tomato skins

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )

How to can tomatoes using a water bath canner - W
Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
Bruschetta - W
Tomato sauce - W
Tomato paste - W
Barbecue sauce (BBQ sauce) - W
Chili sauce from your own tomatoes and peppers - W
Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
Tomato Preserves- W
Tomato salsa - W
Spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
Spiced Green tomatoes- W
Pickled Green Tomatoes - W - another pickled green tomato recipe, this one sweet
Ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
NEW! SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe - W
Salsa from your unripe, GREEN tomatoes! - W
Tomatillo salsa - W
How to make roasted tomatoes, boiling water bath canner version - W

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

Canned tomatoes using a Pressure Canner - P
Baked Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
Canning your own chili con carne (with meat) - P
How to make roasted tomatoes, pressure canner version - P
Spaghetti sauce - with meat - P
Stewed tomatoes - P
Tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - P
Tomato sauce - P
Tomato juice - P
Tomato juice, like V8 - P

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:

How to ripen your green garden tomatoes indoors in the Fall and Winter.

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

See this page for answers to many common questions about tomatoes.

2024 East-Central Michigan Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Find a pick-your-own farm near you! Then learn to can and freeze! Since 2002! We update continuously; Beware the copycat websites!