2024 Northwestern Pennsylvania Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Northwestern Pennsylvania 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 any state, nor even every state, have tomatoes 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.

Elk County

• Valley Farm Market - corn (sweet), strawberries, tomatoes,
  18211 Bennetts Valley Hwy, Weedville, PA 15868. Phone: 814-787-8911. Email: Valleyfarmmarket@alltel.net. Open: Farm Market Monday to Friday 6 am to 9 pm Saturday and Sunday 8 am to 9 pm; call for pick your own hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. . Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September. is a unique convenience store. We have a deli, select groceries, soft ice cream, hard ice cream, slush puppies, gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. In season we have locally grown blueberries,strawberries, pick your own strawberries, sweet corn and tomatoes. Stop in and see our train room. You are able to operate an electric train which goes around the entire room. We are a dealer for Lionel, American Flyer, and MTH electric trains. A visitor writes on June 17, 2013: "I picked today June 17,2013. It was their first day to pick. To be quite honest, it looked like their last day of picking. The previous reviewer was correct. The 'rows' are terrible to follow. The weeds were everywhere and the berries were awful. I had planned on picking 2 flats..but only ended up picking one. They were super small and definitely not worth the effort. The nice berries were few and very far between. "
  Comments from a visitor on June 16, 2011: "According to the woman I spoke to, they do not accept credit or debit cards. They do accept checks and cash. Also, just to let you know it's not a very good place to pick. There are no real clear rows for strawberry picking and you have to dig through weeds, thistles to get to alot of the strawberry plants. For $ 1.59 a pound/quart it seems pricey considering you have to "find" alot of the strawberry plants amongst the weeds. I have been there a few times and keep hoping they will improved their fields, but they don't. I mean if you're going to have irrigation pipes, wouldn't you want to have nice clear rows of plants? They also tend to pick the choicest berries to sell at $3.99 a lb. Anyway, I am sorry to have to give you a negative report but people need to know what they are in for. I tried it again this year and after 2 hours of picking, I only managed 6 lbs and the berries were very small and the weeds I had to dig through were unbelievable. Just wasn't worth my time and effort. I don't mind the work involved in picking from plants but one shouldn't have to dig through a bunch of weeks. "

Erie County

• Hirtzel Farm - Grapes, Tomatoes
  1740 Hirtzel Road, North East, PA 16428. Phone: 814-725-5096. Open: Daily from August to October from 9 am to 6 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . 3 miles east of North East on Rt.20, Turn left on Hirtzel Road.(next to Truck Stop) to second house.
• Klier Farm - You pick your own tomatoes, Pumpkins and squash are already picked for you. , pumpkins (brought in from the field)
  5951 Dobler Road, Girard, PA 16417. Phone: 814-474-5437. Open: Pick your own Tomatoes are from end of July - September, open 9 - 5 p. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . m. daily Pumpkins are from September - October, opent 9 - 5 p.m. daily. . Family owned Tomato and Pumpkin Farm. . A visitor writes on July 22, 2013: "Great produce and nice people. Regular tomatoes plus roma tomatoes. They also sell summer/butternut/acorn squash. They've been in business for over 60 years"
• Mason Farms - Peas, Strawberries, Beans, Cucumbers for pickling, Greens, Tomatoes, Grapes, Pumpkins, Squash
  8603 West Lake Road, Lake City, PA 16423, PA 16506. Phone: (814)774-8592. Email: masonfarms@masonfarms.com. Directions: Located at 839 Peninsula Drive Erie, PA 16505 . Click here for a map and directions.
  Mason Farms Facebook page. . Pick-your-own runs from early June thru October from 9 am to Dusk. Pumpkintown USA is yearly set-up at the Country Market . Facebook page. Bring the whole family and pick your own fruits and veggies right from our fields! Our roadside stand is the center of our pick-your-own operation. The farm offers you the opportunity to "pick your own". Picking your own guarantees you the freshest, finest quality produce available at substantial savings. Bring the family and enjoy the sights and sounds of a fun-filled family outing. From our hearts to your table, enjoy the country goodness! Country Market with farm fresh produce, garden center and bakery. With 3 main farm market (already picked) locations throughout Erie, offers seasonal farm fresh produce, a large garden center, a nursery, and a bakery.
• Sabol Farm Market - tomatoes
  7401 Rt.18, Girard, PA 16417. Phone: 814-774-2457. Open: July to December. Directions: I-90 to Exit 9 turn north 14 mile, Stand is on the right hand side. . Click here for a map and directions. . I-90 to Exit 9 turn north 1/4 mile, Stand is on the right hand side. Other harvested crops: Apples, Peaches, Pears, Grapes, Cabbage, Broccoli, Melons, Cauliflower, Sweet Corn, Beans, Cucumbers, Peppers, Potatoes, and Pumpkins.

Mercer County

• Ferris Farm Produce, Inc. - corn (sweet), cucumbers, melons, onions, peppers, pumpkins, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelons, Fresh eggs
  83 Ferris Road, New Wilmington, PA 16142. Phone: (724) 971-0888. Email: jeanice@ferrisfarm.net. Open: Monday to Friday 8 am to 7 pm; Saturday and Sunday 8 am to 4 pm Please call to check for availability. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Ferris Farm Produce, Inc. Facebook page. . Fax: (888) 251-6220. . Monday to Saturday 9 am to 6 pm; Sunday - call for hours. (ADDED: May 24, 2017)

 

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.

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

• Master list of tomato varieties
• Master List of Heirloom Tomato Varieties
• How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Yard or Patio - Everything you need to know
• Detailed directions to starting tomatoes from seed
• Master List of Roma and Paste Tomato Varieties for the Home Garden
• Master list of disease-resistant tomato varieties
• Tomato plant diseases

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

• How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
• Space-saving prepping and freezing extra tomatoes from your garden to can later

Drying tomatoes

• NEW! How to make Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Food drying basics and principles
• How to dry your own herbs
• Food Dehydrators - models, specs and pricing information

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.

 

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