2024 Milwaukee area of Wisconsin Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Milwaukee area of Wisconsin 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.

Jefferson County

• Jelli's Market - beans, blueberries, peas, raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), strawberries, tomatoes, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, restrooms, farm animals, school tours
  N5648 S Farmington Road, Helenville, WI 53137. Phone: 262-593-5133. Email: sknoebel@jellismarket.com. Open: Hours vary so see our website for current hours. Directions: Easy to get to from I94 or Highway 18. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers. . . See our website for directions.

Kenosha County

• Jerry Smith Produce & Country Store - beans, cucumbers, eggplant, peas, peppers, tomatoes, other vegetables, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, face painting, jumping pillow, pony rides, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations
  7150 18th Street, Kenosha, WI 53144. Phone: 262-859-2645. Email: aksmith@tds.net. Open: . Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers.
  Jerry Smith Produce & Country Store Facebook page. Alternate Phone: 262-620-0081 aksmith@tdsnet Click here for current open hours, days and dates Click here for a map and directions Pumpkin Farm festivities open mid September through October 31; Sweet Corn Festival third Saturday of August every year; Event runs 10 am until 6 pm Free Hay Rides, Pick Your Own, Chef Demonstrations, Fresh Roasted Sweet Corn, Face Painting, Jumping Pillow, Live Children's Music Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers Click here for our Facebook page Family run business for over 41 years

Ozaukee County

• Roesch Farm (Frank Roesch) - Apples, pears, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, corn, zucchini, yellow squash, red, yellow, green, purple and white bell peppers, hot peppers, tomatillos, all kinds of tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, pumpkins, dill, parsley, basil, chives, mint. , restrooms, pumpkin patch in the field, pumpkins brought in from the field, farm animals, tours of the operation
  12422 Farmdale Road, Mequon, WI 53097. Phone: (262) 242-0669. Open: They are usually open daily. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Roesch Farm (Frank Roesch) Frank allows local schools to bring children there on field trips and organizes tractor rides and farm tours for them.
  Comments from a visitor on October 05, 2012: "This was a very nice farm, had all the vegetables. It was well organized, and they had kids play area which helped the kids take some time off the field. The prices were much cheaper compared to the grocerry stores. Apple pickign was not allowed this year due to bad weather casuing the Apples to go bad."
  Comments from a visitor on August 02, 2012: "I have been going to this farm for almost 15 years and it is one of my favorite tranquil places to go. I have picked a large variety of fruits, veggies and herbs at "R" Apples. Frank has been farming his entire life. He really takes pride in his work and loves to show customers around the farm. He also has an little antique store inside the barn and raises chickens, turkeys and other farm animals. Frank grows a large variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. I can get all the produce I need there for a fraction of the cost of a grocery store. The farm is well maintained and their produce is delicious. Its a family owned business and Frank is one of the nicest people I have ever met. "
• Witte's Vegetable Farm - PYO Beans, Tomatoes, Peppers, Beets and Fall Raspberries, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field
  10006 Bridge Road, Cedarburg, WI 53012. Phone: 262-377-1423. Email: wittes.veg@gmail.com. Open: Starting July 5th through October 31st Monday to Saturday 8 am to 8 pm Sunday 8 am to 6 pm The best Pick Your Own vegetables usually starts around Labor Day in Wisconsin. Directions: We are located 2.5 miles west of down town Cedarburg on Bridge Road. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Fax: 262-375-0386. . Crops are usually available in August, September, October. Our Pick Your Own raspberries are the fall type. Fresh picked peas are sold in our stand.
  Comments from a visitor on August 18, 2011: "I live on the boarder of WI in Illinois. Yesterday I went to this farm hoping to get a basket of green beans for canning. WOW! Very nice people, very beautiful produce. The farm was very clean and had an abundance of green beans. I also picked up a flat of blueberries to make some jam. Raspberries will be ready in a week or so. I'll be back for them. This was worth the trip! We took 4 kids along to help pick. Great experience..thank you! Tell others that this place is worth the trip. Wish I had something closer to home like this..but until I find it, I'll be back! Thank you from this happy flat-lander! (born and raised in WI):D Terrie"

Rock County

• Happy Acres - Uses natural growing practices, apples, beans, blackberries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, flowers, melons, pumpkins, raspberries, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, farm animals
  4028 South Afton Road, Beloit, WI 53511. Phone: 608-365-5451. Email: te51994@aol.com. Open: 8am to 12 noon or call for availability. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Crops are usually available in May through September. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic.

 

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