2024 Central Washington State Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Central Washington State in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for blackberries that we know of in this area.

Not all areas of a state have blackberries 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.

Yakima County

• Ahtanum Berry Patch - blackberries, red raspberries, gold raspberries, black raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, rhubarb, bakery
  2811 South 74th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98903. Phone: 509-731-4094. Open: Berries are available from June-October. Directions: Located on our fifth generation family farm. Click here for a map and directions . Their blackberries are thornlessis a specialty berry farm and bake shop . Today the berry patch has matured into a beautiful family friendly destination featuring an abundance of ripened on the vine delicious berries and wonderful hand made bakery treats fresh for you with simple whole ingredients and our very own berries. Our farm philosophy centers around togetherness, family and creating connections. We specialize in strawberries, thornless blackberries, red, gold and black raspberries, gooseberries and rhubarb. For an unparalleled experience come see us for picked berries, u-pick fun and delicious baked desserts. (ADDED: June 27, 2018, JBS)
• Baron Farms - No pesticides are used, blackberries, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (Autumn, yellow), strawberries, U-pick and already picked, farm market, porta-potties are available
  3141 W. Wapato Road, Wapato, WA 98951. Phone: 509-952-6764. Email: ronald.baron@gmail.com . Open: Monday to Saturday from 7 am to 2 pm and Sunday from 2 pm to 5 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. We do not use pesticides on the crops
• Beddard Berry Farm - Uses integrated pest management practices, blackberries, raspberries (Spring, black), Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked
  501 Deeringhoff Rd, Moxee, WA 98936. Phone: (509) 823-3237. Email: beddardberryfarm@gmail.com . Open: See our Facebook page for current hours. Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, Debit cards, Venmo. Blackberry season is typically July 25 to October 5 Raspberry season is in the fall from mid-September to the first frost;. We use integrated pest management practices(ADDED: August 19, 2022)
• Blackberries Jubilee - Uses natural growing practices, apricots, blackberries,
  600 Arrowsmith Rd, Sunnyside, WA 98944. Phone: 509-830-0689. Email: aegb57@hotmail.com . Open: June 10,2016 to August ?; daily, 7 am to dusk Directions: Take Sunnyside exits and follow signs to Yakima Valley Highway. Directions: Take Sunnyside exits and follow signs to Yakima Valley Highway. Head to 1st street \(the first light into or out of town on the west end\) We are north west of town. Take 1st streetaka SCOON Road North two miles and turn left on to Arrowsmith \(just after you cross the irrigation canal on Scoon\). Look for the Big Red and white Barn! And trellised vines. . Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Check. . June 10,2016 to August (?); daily, 7 am to dusk Take Sunnyside exits and follow signs to Yakima Valley Highway. Head to 1st street (the first light into or out of town on the west end) We are north west of town. Take 1st street/aka SCOON Road North two miles and turn left on to Arrowsmith (just after you cross the irrigation canal on Scoon). Look for the Big Red and white Barn! And trellised vinesWe use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certificationVery Family and group friendly! We love giving informational tours, recipes and helping you make our farm a fun family outing! Our berries are fun and easy to pick! We love when families come-little ones are delighted when they can find berries right at eye level, and there are plenty up higher, as our vines are on six foot trellises. The best time to pick is early in the morning. We provide buckets, with plastic bag liners. If you are traveling very far we recommend bringing several flat boxes, or a cooler. We have a 28 ft above ground pool, a gas grill and picnic table that is available to rent for a picnic or party-$50hr. Call ahead.
• Blueberry Hill Berries - blackberries, blueberries, currants (red and black), grapes, Muscadines, grapes, raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (yellow), U-pick and already picked, restrooms
  1542 W. Wapato Road, Wapato, WA 98951. Phone: 509-961-3001. Email: jennifer@bhberries.com . Open: Sunday through Friday; from 7am to 6pm; Early June to Early August. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Blueberry Hill Berries Facebook page . Typical harvest dates are Organic Blueberries: Mid June through August (15 different varieties); Raspberries: Late June through August. Blackcaps: Late June through August. Blackberries: July through August. (ADDED: August 14, 2016)

Blackberry

Blackberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Blackberries typically peak during June in the South of the U.S., and in July in the north and in Canada. Crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce good local Blackberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions. See this page for a list of blackberry festivals around the U.S .

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
   
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for Blackberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Blackberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
4. Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.

Tips on How to Pick Blackberries

1. There are two types of blackberries to know about: thorny and thornless! Obviously, the thornless are easier to pick, but some people claim the thorny varieties are sweeter. With the thorny plants, you want to reach into the plant in the gaps, so you don't need to touch anything but the berry you're after, avoiding the thorns.
2. A ripe blackberry is deep black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug.  If the berry is red or purple, it's not ripe yet.
3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. Unlike strawberries, blackberries are usually pretty tough, I dump mine into the bucket. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
4. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick Blackberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Pick only the berries that are fully black. Reach in between the stems to grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the plant and you will find loads of berries that other people missed!
2. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunlight any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. Blackberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash  off the others, drain them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) Blackberries are less perishable than blueberries or strawberries, but refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the blackberries (while they are in the fridge)!
4. Even under ideal conditions blackberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase

Blackberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions

1. How to make Blackberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free Blackberry jam directions - very easy!
2. How to make Blackberry jelly
3. How to freeze berries
4. Blackberry syrup , make and can it! 
5. Seedless blackberry pie!
6. Blackberry Festivals: Where, When and More to Find an Blackberry Festival Near You this year:

Blackberry Facts and Tips

• Black Raspberries, also known as "black caps" are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• The USDA says 1 cup of blackberries has about 62 calories.
• 1 cup of blackberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• Select plump, firm, fully blackberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
• Oregon Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
• Blackberry tea was said to be a cure for dysentery during the Civil War. During outbreaks of dysentery, temporary truces were declared to allow both Union and Confederate soldiers to "go blackberrying" to forage for blackberries to ward off the disease.
• Blackberries were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout.
• The blackberry leaf was also used as an early hair dye, having been recommended by Culpeper, the English herbalist, to be boiled in a lye solution in order to "maketh the hair black".
• Guide to blackberry varieties
• Researchers have known for quite some time that berries contain antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals.  A study at the University of Ohio has found that blackberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
• U-pick Blackberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Blackberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
• You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible.  Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
• Want to go to a blackberry festival? See this page for a list!

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)