Blueberry U-Pick Orchards in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, California in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for blueberries that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have blueberries 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.

New! As inflation remains high, see this page for reliable (tested) brands of generic canning lids at lower costs, and cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
 If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather.  See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.

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San Joaquin County

• Alpine Blue - blueberries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries
  7496 E Hwy 26, Stockton, CA 95215. Phone: (209) 931-4392. Open: May-July, 8am to 6pm daily, call before you go to pick. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. . U-pick blueberries and a picnic area. Also has fresh-picked apples, apricots, blackberries, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, and walnuts. They also have a farm stand at 7486 E. Highway 26.
• LoCA Blueberry Farm LLC - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, blueberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties, school tours, group reservations
  5288 W. Kile Rd, Lodi, CA 95242. Phone: (209) 642-4646. Email: locablueberryfarm@gmail.com. Open: See our Facebook page for current hours. Directions: Mid May to Mid June depending on weather. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  LoCA Blueberry Farm LLC Facebook page. . . (UPDATED: May 05, 2020)
• Victoria Island Farms - blueberries, U-pick and already picked, group reservations
  16021 W. Ca-4, Holt, CA 95234. Phone: (209) 465-5600. Email: info@victoriaisland.net. Open: Appointments are required; Sundays from 8 am to 5 pm; Harvest season typically lasts from mid-May 2021 season begins May 15 to late June or early July; please visit our website for current hours and to schedule your U - Pick visit or fresh packed blueberry curbside pickup. Directions: Please search "Victoria Island Farms" on Google Maps for driving directions to the farm. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Victoria Island Farms Facebook page. . Appointments are required; Sundays from 8 am to 5 pm; Harvest season typically lasts from mid-May (2021 season begins May 15) to late June or early July; please visit our website for current hours and to schedule your U - Pick visit or fresh packed blueberry curbside pickup. Pick your own blueberries fresh from the vine or choose from our pre-packed purchase options while enjoying a day out in nature on our secluded 7,000 acre island farm in the beautiful California Delta. . (UPDATED: May 11, 2021) (ADDED: May 24, 2020)

Stanislaus County

• Blueberry Bluff Blueberries - blueberries, porta-potties are available
  684 S. Missouri Ave, Waterford, CA 95386. Phone: 209-874-1260. Email: info@blueberrybluff.com. Open: Dates: Mid - May through mid - July; Closed: Sundays; Open days: Monday to Saturday from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm closed on Sunday. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 209-534-8507. . Dates: Mid - May through mid - July; Closed: Sundays; Open days: Monday to Saturday from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm (closed on Sunday). We grow two varieties of berries here; "Star" and "Sharp Blue".You-pick Blueberries, Yes, you can get the freshest blueberries imaginable! Yes it is less expensive than going to the grocery store! The best part is the experience itself.
• Jessop Farms - No pesticides are used, blueberries, U-pick and already picked, snacks and refreshment stand, picnic area, Bouncy castle or moon bounce, school tours
  21386 S. Murphy Road, Ripon, CA 95366. Phone: 209-824-0341. Email: lorenj@jessopfarms.com. Open: Wednesday to Saturday, from 8 am to 3 pm. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Jessop Farms Facebook page. . Monday through Saturday during mid-May to July from 8 am to 3 pm; (Closed Sunday). 2014 prices: $3.25/lb (we provide buckets and carry-home packages) for blueberries and $2.00/lb for strawberries.Blueberries are picked May 15 to July 15. We do not use pesticides on the crops. Nestled in the heart of Central Valley California, features 20 acres of beautiful blueberries, strawberries and almonds--grown pesticide, fungicide and insecticide-free. In the tradition of preserving California agricultural land and family values, we offer an ideal stage for a fun-filled day and safe adventure. You can pick your own blueberries with the kids and friends in group outings during the picking season. Please check the Event Calendar during the June-July months and reserve your group events early! 20 acres of beautiful blueberries, strawberries and almonds--grown pesticide, fungicide and insecticide-free. In the tradition of preserving California agricultural land and family values, we offer an ideal stage for a fun-filled day and safe adventure. You can pick your own blueberries with the kids and friends in group outings during the picking season. Please check the Event Calendar during the June-July months and reserve your group events early! Don't want to pick your own but still want to enjoy fresh picked blueberries? You can purchase them ready-picked by our staff. (UPDATED: June 28, 2019, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on July 01, 2011: "Love it!! Very friendly, fun..UPick Blueberries, sometimes they have nuts, strawberris, etc for sale.. but you come to PICK your own blueberries, and they are the BEST ever! What to wear and bring: wear a hat, comfortable shoes and pants "
  Comments from a visitor on June 24, 2009: "These are the sweetest blueberries I have ever tasted. Go early because it gets hot out there but it doesn't really take long to gather them. I bought 17 pounds in less than an hour by myself. They can tell you how to preserve them as well. These are great for headaches for me so I want to stock up. Great place. I will go again."
  Comments from a visitor on June 23, 2009: "A friend of a friend went with her mother's group, and I just came home this afternoon with my sons. Worth the visit, great berries! They have restrooms, a picnic area, a koi pond and a jumpy house. Owner is really nice, named Loren Jessop, and welcomes mothers groups, larger groups as well as individuals. If a larger group is planning on attending, call in advance so that he may inflate that jumpy house and be sure to have it ready. He's only been open as a pick-your-own for three weeks now."
• Ott Farms - blueberries, cherries, porta-potties are available
  3082 Shioh Road, Modesto, CA 95358. Phone: . Email: OttToHaveTheBest@gmail.com. Open: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays from 8 am to 3 pm, May and June. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, credit cards, debit cards.
  Ott Farms Facebook page. Our small family farm is located 10 miles west of Modesto, in the interior valley of California. We believe in growing the freshest fruit while also protecting and preserving the natural resources that help us provide you with the finest blueberries, cherries, almonds and walnuts in California! In 2008 we planted 20 acres of blueberries. Although most people do not think of Modesto as a good place to grow blueberries, we did our research and found varieties that thrive in the Central Valley of California! Our 5 delicious varieties are Snowchaser, Springhigh, Jewel, Emerald, & Star. Not only do we enjoy selling our blueberries at local farmers markets but we also allow you to come out to the farm and pick your own!.
• VanderHelm Farms - Uses integrated pest management practices, blueberries, strawberries
  1678 Albers Rd, Modesto, CA 95357. Phone: 209-614-8307. Email: vanderhelmfarms@att.net. Open: The Blueberries will not be ripe until about the second week of May, before then we are open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8am to 4pm; Once the blueberries are ripe we will be open more days - last year it wasWednesday to Saturday, from 8 am to 5 pm, May to June - check our website or Facebook page for exact opening and closing dates. Directions: from highway 132 go North on Albers Road 2 miles, turn right on our gravel driveway and continue down the driveway to the blueberry field; btwn Milnes and Dusty ln. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  VanderHelm Farms Facebook page. . We use integrated pest management practices. We planted cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and plums they will be producing and ready to pick in a few years.

 

Blueberry

Blueberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Blueberries are one of the easiest fruit to prepare and serve. There's no peeling, pitting, coring or cutting. They have few natural pests, (other than birds), so pesticides are generally unnecessary! This year's crop is fantastic (see related news story), thanks both to the weather and to more farms planting more blueberry bushes due to increased consumer demand over the past few years as more studies proclaim the anti-oxidant and other health properties of blueberries.

Click here to find a local Blueberry Festival (usually held between April and July).

If you are looking for information about a similar berry, the saskatoon (also called the June berry or Serviceberry) see this page about saskatoons.

Picking tips:

Select plump, full blueberries with a light gray-blue color. A berry with any hint of red isn't fully ripened.

Ripening AFTER picking?

First, it is key to know that once picked, blueberries will NOT become any sweeter, nor will the flavor improve. The only change that occurs is the color. They will APPEAR to ripen, but it is only a color change, from white to green to rose to red to pale blue to fully blue. So, white and green colored blueberries will not "ripen" after they are picked; while blueberries that have already turned purple, red or blue-ish usually DO change color after they are picked (if they are kept at room temperature to "ripen").

As the blueberries ripen ON THE BUSH, the flavor goes from tastless to bitter to tasteless tart to tart blueberry flavor to sweet blueberry flavor.

Grocery stores sell blueberries that are tart, not sweet because they had them picked unripe by machine so they are very firm and can handled being bumped around in shipping. They may look good, but are not as tasty as those picked when actually ripe.

So, the key is, PICK ONLY RIPE BERRIES!

How to pick blueberries

Since blueberries hang on the bushes in bunches a but like grapes do, the easiest and fastest way to pick them is hold your bucket under them in one hand and with your other hand, cup a ripe bunch and gently rub them with your fingers. The ripe berries will drop into your bucket, while the unripe ones will remain attached to the bush.

When the bushes are at peak, I can easily pick 2 gallons per hour (if I'm not being distracted by the kids and the sun isn't too hot!). A newbie might do 1 gallon per hour.and at the beginning or end of the season it takes more time as the berries are not as plentiful nor concentrated in clusters.

Tips for storing blueberries after harvesting:

• Once picked, don't place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form in the container.
• Don't wash berries until just before using, to prevent berries from becoming mushy.
• Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. Store your fresh blueberries in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep 10 to 14 days.
• Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening. Place berries one layer deep. Freeze, then pour the frozen berries into freezer containers. Because unwashed blueberries freeze individually, they can be easily poured from containers in desired amounts. Remember both frozen and fresh berries should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries in cold water.

Blueberry Measurements and Conversions

Keep in mind that blueberries vary considerably in density and moisture content, so these ranges are approximates.

• 1 gallon of blueberries weighs about 7.5 lbs or (4 liters of blueberries is about 3.5 kg)

• 1 pint of fresh blueberries weights about 3/4 of a pound. (1 liter of blueberries is about 700 grams)

• 1 pound of fresh blueberries is usually between about 2 and 3 cups of berries.

• It takes about 4 cups (about of blueberries to make a blueberry pie (see this fantastic and easy blueberry pie recipe)

• A normal batch of blueberry preserves, jam or jelly requires 5 pints of berries.

• Blueberries do come in a variety of sizes from small (190-250 berries per cup) to extra large (<90 berries per cup).

Blueberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Blueberries

Recipes

• The world's best Blueberry pie, recipe and directions and illustrated!
• Blueberry buckle coffee cake: illustrated directions for this great crumb-topping blueberry coffee cake
• Other easy directions to make blueberry desserts: cobblers, etc.

Canning, freezing and other blueberry recipes:

• How to Freeze Blueberries
• How to Can Blueberries
• How to Make Homemade Blueberry Jam
• How to make blueberry jelly
• How to make and can blueberry syrup (it works for strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, too)
• blueberry pie filling to use later,
• blueberry butter

Baking tips

If you have trouble with blueberries settling to the bottom of muffins and blueberry breads, try one or more of these tips:

• Coat them with flour before adding to the batter. Just gently shake the blueberries in a bag (plastic or paper) with 1/2 cup of flour, then dump them mix in a sieve to remove excess flour.
• It may just be that your batter is too thin. try making the batter a little thicker!
• Fill the muffin cups or baking pan up to 1/4 full with batter (which hasn't had blueberries added to it yet); then stir the blueberries into the remaining batter, and continue to fill the muffin cups or bread pan. The blueberries will start off higher in the mix!

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