Do you live in the Bay Area and want to pick your own fresh strawberries? If you’re unsure where to go, we can help you find a farm. To help you, we’ve compiled a selection of the best places to go strawberry picking.
Strawberry picking is a great way to bond with family and find freshly picked fruit you can use for your recipes. You can make fresh jams, use your strawberries for baking, or simply enjoy some strawberries and cream.
Berry Island Farms is a U-Pick farm in the Bay Area that specializes in sweet berries. They begin their picking season in April and remain open until November when they close for the winter.
They don’t take reservations and rely on a first-come, first-serve system.
As a small family farm, they are only thirty minutes away from Silicon Valley.
The business began with Ronald Welten, who was raised on a farm in the north-western region of Europe and has worked in the business his whole life. He started Berry Island Farms when he moved to the Bay Area in 2008.
Berry Island Farms is the best place to go for sweet-tasting berries, and they even have customers such as Michelin Star restaurants.
Not only do they sell strawberries, but you’ll also find a host of other berries, summer vegetables, cabbages, and root vegetables.
Their products include:
Blackberries
Raspberries
Boysenberries
Olallieberries
Tomatoes
Peppers
Eggplants
Squash
Pointed Cabbage
Kohlrabi
White Cauliflower
Romanesco Cauliflower
Carrots
Red Beets
Potatoes
Onions
We recommend checking their Facebook page for any of the latest updates about their harvest. If you’re interested, feel free to drop by Berry Island Farms to see the variety of different products throughout the year.
Blue House Farm began business in 2005 and has been running for sixteen years. They pride themselves on their range of organic fruits, vegetables, and flowers over their 70-acre farms in Pescadero and Gregorio.
Not only will you find them on the farm, but they also supply farmers’ markets and have their own farm stands to buy their produce.
The Blue House Farm farmstand is open every weekend from 11 AM until 4 PM, but their U-Pick usually opens from April or May, depending on how well their fruits have been growing. However, U-Pick is closed for the winter season.
Their U-Pick is the best place to go for fresh strawberries, as they focus on producing great products for their customers to pick for themselves.
If you plan on visiting, we recommend checking Blue House Farm’s Facebook page for any updates, as the weather can influence the dates for their U-Pick.
Cloverfield was the first certified organic farm in El Sobrante and prides itself on its selection of fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and potted plants.
Every week, they host a U-Pick on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. They don’t need you to book in advance and are always happy to offer a tour to new visitors to show them what they can pick on the day.
They are open from Noon until 5 PM normally, but their winter hours are from 11 AM until 4 PM.
Cloverfield will accept cash, card, PayPal, Venmo, and EBT and offer free parking for visitors. All that is requested of guests is that they wear sturdy shoes and suitable outdoor clothing.
Depending on the time you visit, they will have different fruits available, not only strawberries. However, sometimes you may find strawberries are still available in July.
If you’re visiting, you may also find:
Cherry Plums
Rhubarb
Mulberries
Green Wild Plums
Nectarines
Mulberries
Blackberries
Grapes
However, these are only a small selection of what Cloverfield Farm offers its customers. If you’re curious about what’s available, we recommend checking the latest updates on their Facebook page.
Gilroy U-Pick is a local U-Pick farm that sells a host of different vegetables, berries, and fruits. All of their crops are free from sprays and are carefully looked after.
Not only can you pick your own strawberries, but you can also collect:
Cherries
Blackberries
Plums
Pluots
Watermelons
Cantaloupes
Corn
String Beans
They have also been producing an interspecific cross between plums and sweet cherries, known as pluerries. These ripened in June through July last year, and you’ll find Sweet Treat and Candy Heart varieties available.
If you want to try something new, feel free to head to Gilroy U-Pick to see what crops are available. They regularly update their website and encourage you to always check before visiting to ensure you get the crops you want when you arrive.
Located in Watsonville, California, Gizdich Ranch is known as the core of Watsonville’s apple country. Gizdich Ranch is a family-owned farm that is currently in its fourth generation.
It was originally purchased by Vincent John Gizdich, who immigrated to the United States from Croatia in 1937.
Since then, the five acres he initially purchased have grown over the years, and in 1965, he established his pick-your-own produce operation.
You can find people traveling over the country to find berries and fruits to pick for their recipes.
Naturally, they begin the season with strawberries, and you can also find:
Olallie Berries
Boysenberries
Blackberries
Apples
Gizdich Ranch encourages families to visit to pick their own fruits to make different recipes at home. It is also home to a pie shop and deli, which sells different pies made from produce directly from the farm.
If you want to collect anything else, they also have the Red Barn Shop, which is home to freshly pressed juice and other groceries.
You can also pick up heartfelt souvenirs by visiting Nita’s Antiques and Gifts. So, if you’re looking for a fun day out for you and your family, Gizdich Farm is the best place.
R&R Fresh Farms is a local farm that is home to organic berries, eggs, and herbs. The summer is the best time to visit the farm, where you can find a variety of different berries.
Their strawberries remain in season for a long time, with some even available into September.
You’ll also find that they have the following:
Raspberries
Blackberries
Olallieberries
R&R Fresh Farms also supply fresh eggs that come from pasture-raised ducks and chickens, which they collect and clean each morning.
You can also check to see what herbs they have available during the day so that you can spice up your dishes.
If you want to visit R&R Fresh Farms, we recommend keeping an eye on their Facebook page, so you know which fruits are ready to be picked.
Swanton Berry Farm was founded in 1983 by Jim Cochran, the first farmer to grow organic strawberries commercially in California.
While the industry held little belief in Cochran’s abilities, after five years, Swanton Berry Farm would be California’s first Certified Organic Strawberry Farm.
Not only do they care for their strawberries, but they also care for their workers. They were the first organic farm in America to sign a contract with the United Farm Workers.
Since the ‘80s, Swanton Berry Farm has prided itself on treating its workers and producing honorably.
They open their berry farm in April or May, depending on when the strawberries are ripe for picking (Also check out The Best Areas To Visit For Strawberry Picking In Orlando). Swanton Berry Farm also produces olallieberries and kiwis and has their farmstand open seven days a week.
You can purchase strawberries, pies, drinks, jams, and many more baked goods at their farmstand.
If you’re interested in visiting Swanton Berry Farm, they are open from 8 AM until 5 PM and accept cash, card, and apple pay.
The Nunn family founded three Nunns Farm in Brentwood over 150 years ago. George Nunn came to work on the farm at 20 years old, and he never turned back.
Soon, other family members joined him to set down their roots, and now, the business is run by a combination of third, fourth, and fifth-generation Nunns.
Nowadays, they continue to produce great agricultural products with the help of dedicated professionals who love the farm as much as they do.
Currently, the farm is run by three siblings: Jake, Sam, and Hailey, who continue to share their passion for the farm with the community around them.
They always plan to commence their U-Pick strawberries, so they are ready in late March or early April, but it depends on the season.
If you want more detailed information on when you can pick your own strawberries, feel free to check their status on their Facebook page.
You can also find other fruits available, including:
Cherries
Blueberries
Pomegranates
Cucumbers
Watermelons
Bell Peppers
Cantaloupes
Peppers
Garlic
Pumpkins
Stone Fruits
We recommend always calling ahead to check what they have, as the products are available depending on weather and availability. They also have different harvest events, including a corn maze and a corn trail.
If you want to visit, check out the website, or head over to the farm directly, as no reservations are needed. All visits are arranged on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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