2024 Northwestern Minnesota Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Northwestern Minnesota in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have strawberries farms 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.

Beltrami County

• Abbies Acres Berry Farm - raspberries (red), strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Maple Syrup from trees on the farm, U-pick and already picked, restrooms
  Sunnyside Road South, Bemidji, MN 56601. Phone: . Email: abbiesacre@yahoo.com . Open: Monday to Saturday, from 7 am to 5 pm; Sunday, from 12 pm to 5 pm. Directions: We are located four miles east on Roosevelt Road then south on Sunnyside a quarter of a mile. We are on the right side or west side of the road. Look for our red and white signs. . Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Check.
• Mistic Berry Farm - raspberries (red), strawberries, U-pick and already picked, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms
  28611 Irvine Avenue NE, Puposky, MN 56667. Phone: 218-243-2587. Email: misticberryfarm@gmail.com . Open: see our website for current hours. Directions: . Payment: Cash, Check. . Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Check.
  Mistic Berry Farm Facebook page . The specializes in delicious strawberries and raspberries. We offer both pick-your-own and custom picked berries. Depending on the weather, the strawberry season runs approximately 2 weeks. We do offer a play area for your children. For their safety, we ask that at least one adult be with them to supervise. Thanks for your cooperation!. We have clean restrooms complete with running water for your comfort and convenience. Our restaurant has a number of delicious items on the menu. One of our specialties is Belgium Waffles, served with our farm fresh-picked strawberries and topped with real whipping cream

Clearwater County

• Ter-Lee Gardens - strawberries, U-pick and already picked, school tours
  20027 320th Street, Bagley, MN 56621. Phone: 800 251 1689. Email: info@terleegardens.com . Open: Late June to Mid July, Sundays to Fridays 8am to 5pm, closed Saturdays. Directions: South of Bagley Minnesota 4 miles on State highway 92 to county road 13, east 1 mile. 18 miles north of Itasca State Park on State highway 92 to county 13, east 1 mile. . Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers. . Alternate Phone: 218 694 2934Fax: 218 694 6046 We are also at the Bemidji Area Farmers Market Sundays 11 to 4, Tuesdays 10 to 5 and Thursdays 12 to 6. At the Farmers Market we also carry a complete line of fresh vegetables, all grown by us. We are at the market late June thru October 31 bemidjifarmersmarket.com. Around late-June to early July, the farm is abundant with beautiful red, sweet, juicy strawberries. We provide pick-your-own and pre-picked strawberries. If you are making a special trip to the farm, please call to be sure: (218) 694-2934, or toll-free 1(800) 251-1689.

Norman County

• Garden Hills Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, beans, corn (sweet), cucumbers, onions, peas, pumpkins, raspberries (red), winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available, picnic area
  4334 330th Ave, Fertile, MN 56540. Phone: 218-945-3765. Email: gardenhillsfarm@hotmail.com . Open: Seven days a week during berry season, 7 am to 8 pm. Directions: From Fertile, MN, turn off of MN Highway 32 and go East on Polk County Highway 1, go seven miles, turn right and go three miles south, take a right on Norman County 1 \(330th Avenue\) and go one half mile. There will be a sign at the end of the driveway and at your turn onto 330th Avenue. . Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Check. From Fertile, MN, turn off of MN Highway 32 and go East on Polk County Highway 1, go seven miles, turn right and go three miles south, take a right on Norman County 1 (330th Avenue) and go one half mile. There will be a sign at the end of the driveway and at your turn onto 330th AvenueCome the first Saturday in October, 10:00 to 3:00 for our Harvest Festival and free refreshments. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicalsWe have delicious award winning strawberries and raspberries, grown naturally with insecticides used only as a last resort to preserve our crop. No herbicides are used on our produce. Children are welcome in the berry patch; this is a place for families to come and enjoy together. If you would rather not pick your own berries we will pick them for you. All pre-picked berries are picked that morning for the freshest and best berries! All vegetable produce is pre-picked. Come and ENJOY!. (UPDATED: June 11, 2015, JBS)

Polk County

• Fedosia's Garden - cucumbers, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, prepicked produce
  21531 380th Street South, Erskine, MN 56535. Phone: 218-687-3081. Email: domnikakaya@yahoo.com . Open: Monday to Saturday from 7am to 8pm; closed on Sunday. Directions: We are 3 miles south of Erskine on highway 34. . Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Check. Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September We have strawberries, raspberries, and all different kinds of vegetables; Strawberries are ready end of June and raspberries are ready in the middle of July; Vegetables vary; Please call us if you have any questionsWe have bread and bagels baked daily, canned goods, fruit and vegetables

Strawberry

Strawberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S. strawberries typically peak during April in Florida and Texas, May in the deep South, and in early June in middle sections and later June in the far North and Canada. Keep in mind that 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 strawberries, producers depend on ideal spring weather conditions. 

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - strawberries are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. 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 strawberries, 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 strawberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sidesand 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 Strawberries

1. Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.
2. With the stem broken about one-half inch from the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.
3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. 
4. Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
5. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

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

1. Be careful that your feet and knees do not damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
   
2. Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
   
3. To help the farmers, also remove from the plants berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury or other defects and place them between the rows behind you. If they are left in the plants, the rot will quickly spread to other berries.
   
4. Berries to be used immediately may be picked any time, but if you plan to hold the fruit for a few days, try to pick in the early morning or on cool, cloudy days. Berries picked during the heat of the day become soft, are easily bruised and will not keep well.
   
5. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunshine 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. Strawberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three, 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.
   
6. For interesting and fun strawberry facts and trivia from the California Strawberry Commission, click here!

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use 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 and cut the caps (green tops) off the others and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) See this page about how to freeze strawberries.
4. If you like the strawberries you picked, ask the farm what variety they planted, and not the weather conditions the week or two before. The flavor of a strawberry is affected by the variety, the weather and the degree of ripeness when picked.
5. Now, get ready to make strawberry jam. It is VERY easy - especially with our free strawberry jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy .

Strawberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Strawberries

• How to freeze strawberries !
• Strawberry jam (with pectin) (uses less sugar or honey and less cooking)
• Strawberry jam (without pectin) (requires much more sugar and cooking)
• Strawberry (and other berry) jams without sugar
• Strawberry jelly
• S trawberry-rhubarb jam !
• Homemade strawberry ice cream (regular, low fat, nonfat, low sugar, vanilla and even gelato)
• Canning strawberries
• Make gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries
• How to make fruit juice -  strawberry and other berries
• Strawberry pie filling
• Strawberry pie
• Easy Rhubarb-Strawberry pie
• Fig-strawberry jam
• Fig-strawberry jam, made with Jello gelatin

Strawberry Facts, Measurements and Tips

• Picking the best strawberries: Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries DO NOT continue ripen after they are picked! In the photo, only the berry onthe far right is completely ripe.
• Strawberry festivals: Most areas that grow strawberries have a strawberry festival, at which you can taste all kinds of fresh strawberry foods, pies, jams, cakes - and most commonly, fresh strawberry shortcake.  To find out where and when there is one near you, see this page for a list of strawberry festivals, sorted by state !
• Strawberries measurements: government agriculture websites tell us that
  1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups and is about the same as 1 liter and
  1 quart of fresh strawberries weighs 1 lbs to 1.25 lbs (or 450 to 600 g). Of course, the weight varies on variety and weather conditions. 
  1 quart is normally enough for 4 servings, although I'll admit my son can eat 1 pint by himself!
• How much to pick? In general, 1 quart of fresh, whole, just-picked strawberries = approximately 3.5 cups hulled, whole berries. In other words, removing the caps/hulls and the occasional mushy berry means you lose 1/4 cup to 1/2 (it depends how much fruit you remove with the hull) or about 7 to 12% of every quart you pick.
• One cup of strawberries contains only about 50 calories
• U-pick strawberries are much healthier than store-bought.  Consumer reports says store bought strawberries have so many pesticide and fungicide residues on they, that they don't recommend you eat them at all!
• U-pick strawberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. 1 lbs of fresh strawberries is about 2/3 of a quart.
• It takes about  10 to 15 minutes to pick a quart, if the berries are reasonably plentiful
• The strawberry plant adapts to wide variety of soil conditions, but does not tolerate drought well, and the berries quickly rot if the weather is rainy. For this reason, the plants are usually grown on raised beds through plastic mulch!
• Cultivation of strawberries began in Europe in the 1300's, but the berry only became very popular in the early 1900's in California.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as strawberries 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 grow your own strawberries?  Here's an article about how to: Strawberries are an Excellent Fruit for the Home Garden, HYG-1424-98!
• See this page for many more fun and interesting strawberry facts, nutritional information and trivia

Other weird strawberry facts

• Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
• Strawberries were originally called strewberries because the fruit was 'strewn' amongst the leaves of the plant.
• California is king of strawberry productions because: California produces 75 percent of the nation's strawberry crops; one billion pounds of strawberries each year.  If all the strawberries produced in California in one year were laid berry to berry, they would go around the world 15 times. Each acre of land in California in strawberry production produces an average of 21 tons of strawberries annually, with a total of 23,000 acres of strawberries planted in California each year.

More conversions

1 pint (2 cups)  of fresh whole strawberries

• = about 8 oz (1/2 lb) of strawberries
• = 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
• = 1 cup pureed strawberries
• = 12-14 large strawberries

2 quarts of fresh strawberries are needed for a 9" pie

A 10 oz package of frozen berries is about the same as 1 cup of sliced fresh strawberries

References:

• University of Illinois Extension
• Driscolls
• Ohio State University Extension
• Strawberries-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

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