Would you like to go strawberry picking? No matter whether you are a California resident or you’re simply planning a trip there and want to make sure that your itinerary is full to the brim with fun – strawberry picking is a great way to get out in the Californian sunshine and enjoy being in nature.
If you weren’t already aware, strawberry season in California is between the months of April and July – which means that it is the perfect time to spend some time with your friends, family or even your special someone in one of California’s many beautiful strawberry farms!
The only question is, which should you go to?
If you’re going to be in California between April and July and you’d like to go strawberry picking – rest assured that we are here to lend you a helping hand.
In this guide, we’re going to be talking you through the 21 best strawberry picking places that California has to offer. So, without further ado, just read on!
The Best Places To Go Strawberry Picking In California
If you have yet to go strawberry picking in California, then you should be sure to check out these strawberry picking farms in California!
Remember, as we have already mentioned above – strawberry picking is only available seasonally between the months of april through to july.
So, if you don’t want to miss out, then you should make sure that you plan your visit with one of these strawberry farms that we’re going to be listing below so that you can ensure you miss out on any disappointment. Let’s check them out below:
Location: 5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612
First up, we have Tanaka Farms – which we’re sure you might have very well heard of if you are already a California resident or someone who tends to frequent California quite often.
Between the months of April through to July when it is strawberry picking season in California – you will be able to spend an hour or two picking strawberries from the many strawberry fields that Tanaka Farms utilized during this time of year.
Besides being one of the very best places to enjoy strawberry picking – it’s also worth keeping in mind that Tanaka Farms is also known for offering a variety of other things that visitors can enjoy all year round, not just strawberry picking!
During your visit, you will be able to explore some of the other produce that they have available to pick seasonally, take a stroll through the farmer’s market or even just spend some time taking in the beauty of the California countryside (Also check out Farmers Markets In Sacramento).
In addition to this, Tanaka Farms is known for growing more than 60 different types of fruits and vegetables all throughout the year, and they are well known for their responsible, sustainable farming methods that they utilize.
If you’re on the search for a farm that’s going to allow you to pick delicious, fresh strawberries while giving you the peace of mind that they are all organically grown, you’ll love visiting Tanaka Farms while in California!
If you would like to experience picking your own strawberries without any assistance from team members, then we think that you might love the Gizdich Ranch.
Gizdich Ranch is well known for its “Pik-Yor-Self” seasonal fruit picking that includes strawberries, berries and apples!
We love this fruit picking farm because there’s plenty of freedom that you will be able to enjoy during your visit.
All you will need to do is turn up for one of the sessions, grab a basket and begin picking in your field of choice!
Gizdich Ranch also has a variety of different seasonal events that run throughout the year, and is known for being one of the best farms to visit for those who have small children.
Location: 2310 Pescadero Creek Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060
If you’re going to be in the Northern area of California, then you’ll be making a great choice to stop by R&R Fresh Farms in order to enjoy a spot of strawberry picking!
At this quaint little farm, you will be able to join the team as they harvest their CCOF Certified Organic strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and more!
You don’t need to book in advance and upon arrival, you will be given a complimentary basket so that you will be able to easily pick all of the strawberries and other berries that you might like.
Plus, besides being able to pick strawberries, this lovely farm also has a cozy cafe where you will be able to enjoy coffee and a treat before heading home to enjoy your freshly picked strawberries.
R&R Fresh Farms also accommodates large groups of people, so it’s perfect for friends, family and even work colleagues!
Are you going to be visiting California outside of the average strawberry season of April through to July? If you are and still want to make sure that you are able to join in on the fruit picking fun, then you should be sure to visit the Berry Island Farms during your stay!
Berry Island Farms stands apart from the rest because their strawberry season runs from April all the way through to the late fall in November!
Plus, besides offering nearly year-round strawberries to pick, the Berry Island Farms also have a variety of other berries that you will be able to pick during your visit including blueberries, raspberries and more!
Would you like to pick strawberries and other types of fruit, berries and vegetables? If you answered yes to that question, then you should absolutely consider making a visit to Blue House Farm!
Blue House Farm is one of the most popular fruit and vegetable farms in the California area because they are known for their reputation of growing a wide range of delicious fruits and vegetables that are all certified completely organic.
If you’re interested in paying a visit to pick your very own strawberries, vegetables and their fruits, you’ll be able to enjoy over 70 acres of fields to roam through, an on-site cafe and even a complimentary basket where you will be able to keep all of your picks safely inside.
Another great place that you can go strawberry picking in California is Three Nunns Farm!
At Three Nunns Farm, you’ll need to make sure that you have checked-in at the welcome stand where you will be able to receive everything you need to go out in the field and begin picking your strawberries.
Along with strawberries, Three Nunns Farm also have a great deal of different produce that you will be able to purchase on-site from their farm shop, and depending on the year – you might be able to pick a variety of other fruits and vegetables such as watermelons, bell peppers, cucumbers, blueberries, cherries, pomegranates and even pumpkins, too!
A firm favorite in California and the perfect farm to enjoy strawberry picking with little ones, Bachini’s Fruit Tree is a family operated fruit farm located in the stunning and scenic Brentwood area of California!
Bachini’s Fruit Tree has been operating since 1945 and they are known for growing premium fruits that range all the way from sweet strawberries to delicious raspberries!
They are open each year between the months of May through to June and specialize in the “pick-it-yourself” approach.
Thanks to this, all you will need to do is show up, check-in at the welcome stand and head out to the orchard where you will be able to begin picking all types of fruits, including strawberries, of course!
However, you’ll want to keep in mind that this farm only operates during the early stages of strawberry season, so if you’re interested in visiting, you’ll need to be quick!
If you’re currently planning a trip to Gilroy or you just so happen to be a resident there, then you’re going to want to make sure that the Gilroy U Pick Farm is on your radar this coming strawberry season!
Located in sunny Gilroy, Gilroy U Pick is a farm that is known for its wide variety of fruits and vegetables that can be picked by its visitors – hence the name!
Gilroy U Pick is a farm that is extremely proud of the fact that they do not use any inorganic fertilizers or other farming products to grow their fruits and vegetables.
If you’re interested, Gilroy U Pick also throws a cherry-picking Mother’s Day event each year which is an extremely popular event in the Gilroy area.
Another strawberry-picking farm that is steeped to the brim with history is the Cloverfield Organic Farm!
Even though the Cloverfield Organic Farm might not have been the first organic farm in California, it is still special because it is widely recognized as being the very first organic fruit and vegetable farm in the El Sobrante area of California.
If you’re interested in visiting this farm to pick some of your very own strawberries, you’ll need to make sure that you plan ahead as this farm is super popular, and fruit-picking sessions are only available seasonally.
This farm also only hosts fruit and vegetable picking sessions on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Top Tip: If you’re planning on paying a visit to this farm while you are in California, we highly recommend that you make sure to purchase a pot of honey during your visit! The honey is absolutely delicious, organic and comes directly from the honeybees that live on the farm.
Looking to pay a visit to a strawberry picking farm that is going to be relaxed, laid back and totally welcoming? If you are, then you don’t need to look any further than Carlsbad Strawberry Company!
There’s so much to adore about the Carlsbad Strawberry Company! They are known for being a relaxing and laid back family-run farm that’s the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to spend some quality time in the California countryside.
This farm is also located right off the freeway, so you’ll be able to get there super easily. Once there, you will have over 25 acres of land to explore, and the best part?
This farm specializes in strawberry growing, so you can have the peace of mind that you are going to be getting the best quality strawberries around.
Location: 953 Rainbow Valley Blvd, Fallbrook, CA 92028
Looking for a strawberry-picking farm that is going to be suitable for the little ones to enjoy? If you are, then trust us when we say that you won’t regret making the visit to Kenny’s Strawberry Farm!
If you’ve got a small family and want to get them out in the fresh air for a morning or afternoon spend picking strawberries – then you’ll be making the right choice to make sure that you visit Kenny’s Strawberry Farm.
Besides being a great place for children to have some fun in the fresh air, Kenny’s Strawberry Farm is located in the Rainbow Valley area which is significantly cooler than some of the warmer areas of California.
This ensures that the strawberries that grow here have optimum growing conditions to be sweet, delicious and juicy!
Location: 12630 Santa Catalina Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082
If you’re on the lookout for a strawberry farm that is going to give you the peace of mind that you are going to be picking strawberries that are completely organic, then you should make sure to pay a visit to Stehly Farms Organics!
A farm focused on sustainability and offering premium organic produce, Stehly Farms Organics grow all manners of fruit and vegetables including avocados, blackberries, onions, oranges and, of course, strawberries! They are also completely organic, as well.
If you want to pick strawberries, then you’ll need to make sure that you pay a visit between April through to
July. But, thanks to the vast range of organic produce that can be found at this farm, you’ll be able to enjoy fruit and vegetable -picking all year round!
If you’re going to be near San Diego and don’t want to miss out on strawberry picking (see also: 6 Places for the Best Strawberry Picking San Diego)season in California, then you should make sure to pay a visit to Julian Farm and Orchard!
Located around an hour east of San Diego, Julian Farm and Orchard is located in the Wynola neighborhood of Julian and is the perfect place to visit for anyone that isn’t located in the central or northern areas of California.
This sustainable farm has over 25-acres of land that you will be able to explore, all the way from apple orchards to fields full to the brim with strawberries just waiting to be picked!
On top of being able to pick strawberries, (see also: Where Can I Find The Best Strawberry Picking In Indiana?)there is also a petting zoo area where you can pet some of the farm animals that reside in this farm. It’ll be a great day out!
Location: 3370 Sunset Valley Rd, Moorpark, CA 93021
Next up, we have Underwood Family Farms! If you are already familiar with Underwood Family Farms, then we’re sure that you’ll already be well aware that they are one of the biggest farms in California and currently have two different locations!
Besides being known for growing a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that can be picked (including delicious strawberries during strawberring season, of course( Underwood Family Farms is also known for having a beautiful farmer’s market where you will be able to purchase fresh produce, gift baskets, rent out the space for a party or even enjoy a cup of coffee in the on-site cafe!
Plus, besides offering seasonal strawberry picking, Underwood Family Farms also has a petting zoo that you will also be able to visit during your trip there to pick strawberries.
All you will need to do is make sure that you check their website to ensure that you can book ahead and prevent missing out on any disappointment.
Last but certainly not least, last up on our list we have Swanton Berry Farm! This beloved farm has been around since 1983, and was founded during a time when organic farming had not yet experienced commercial success or popularity.
Despite a lack of interest, five years after its initial opening, Swanton Berry Farm went on to become the first CCOF (certified organic farm) in California!
So, if you’re looking for an “OG” farm to visit during your time in California, you’ll be making the right decision to visit the Swanton Berry Farm.
This truly is the perfect place to enjoy some freshly picked strawberries for anyone that wants to make sure their fruit is totally organic and sustainably grown.
Final Thoughts
There we have it! You’ve reached the end of our guide. After taking the time to read through our guide above, we hope that we have been able to give you a much better understanding of all the different places in California that you will be able to enjoy a little bit of strawberry picking!
Remember, the best time to pick strawberries in California is in the spring and summer months, so make sure that you plan your trip accordingly to this timeframe.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this guide, and we hope that you have a great time strawberry picking.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Can You Pick Strawberries In California?
If you are interested in picking your very own strawberries during your upcoming visit to California (or even if you are currently a resident there) then we recommend that you take a look at the list that we have carefully created in the above section of this guide.
There, you will find a list of all of the very best places that you will be able to visit and enjoy a spot of strawberry picking while you are in California.
Just make sure you keep in mind that strawberry picking can be pretty popular during strawberry picking season (which goes from April through to July) so make sure that you are planning ahead and booking in your spot in order to avoid any disappointment if the spaces fill up quickly in your chosen strawberry picking farm!
Is There Strawberry Picking In California?
Yes! There is strawberry picking in California. If you are interested in picking some strawberries during your trip to California, then the best times of the year that you will be able to do this is from April through to July.
Although, the strawberry season can sometimes extend longer than this depending on a variety of factors. As for the different places where you can pick your own strawberries?
Well, there are many different strawberry picking farms situated all throughout California! We recommend that you refer to our list above to make sure that you are able to book in advance – strawberry picking is super popular in California!
What Month Is The Best For Strawberry Picking?
The best time to pick strawberries in California is between the months of April through to July.
However, if you want to make sure that you are able to pick the freshest, sweetest and most delicious strawberries, then you’ll be making a great choice to pick strawberries during the month of June!
Many people widely agree that this is the “prime” time for those that want to pick their very own strawberries!
What City In California Is Known For Strawberries?
Even though you can grow strawberries anywhere in California (as well as in other places of the world) it is worth noting that over two-thirds of California’s strawberry production tends to occur in the Santa Maria region of California.
This includes coastal and central locations such as Northern Santa Barbara, Monterey County, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz as well as San Luis Obispo.
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