2024 Southern Tier of New York State Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org
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Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Southern Tier of New York State 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.
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.
New! We just went live with our latest website,
FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings,
Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas
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Broome County
Lone Maple Farm - U Pick Apples, strawberries, bakery, winery 2001 Hawleyton Road, Binghamton, NY 13903. Phone: 607-724-6877. Email: info@lonemaplefarm.com. Click here for a map and directions. Lone Maple Farm Facebook page. . Weather permitting we will have U-Pick apples this fall. Please check back in September for picking times and more details We DO NOT USE PESTICIDES on our strawberries. The tractor ride to the strawberry patch is FREE. The tractor leaves from the greenhouse about every 15 minutes. Facebook page.
North Windsor Berries - beans, beets, blackberries, cucumbers, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, red), summer squash, strawberries, tomatoes, school tours 1609 NY Rte 79, Windsor, NY 13865. Phone: 607-655-2074. Email: NWBLTitus@aol.com. Open: Sunday Through Saturday 9am to 6pm from mid June to October 31st; Please see website for additional seasonal hours. Directions: From Binghamton: 17 East to Exit 79. Make a left off from exit. Farm is 1.5 miles on the Right. From Deposit: 17 West to exit 79. Make a right off from the exit. Go to the light and make a left. Farm is 1 mile on the right. From Sydney: Take 88 West to Exit 6 Harpursville. Make a left off the exit onto rte 79. Farm is approximately 9 miles on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. . Payment: cash, check, credit or debit ($15 minimum for cards). Children are allowed in fields but MUST be accompanied by an adult. U Pick Fruit and Vegetables include Berries, Green Beans, Peas, Summer Squash, Peppers, Onions, Tomato's, Beets, Kale, Collard Greens, Cucumbers, Brussel Sprouts and More(UPDATED: September 9, 2023, JBS)
Chemung County
Hydro-berry Farms - strawberries, Raspberries, other vegetables, 2131 McDowell Road, Lockwood, NY 14859. Phone: 607-598-7232. Open: July-October, on Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, closed Sunday. Directions: I-86 to exit 59 Chemung NY. Go north onto Wyncoop Creek road about 6.8 miles make left on to McDowell Road first place on left. Follow signs. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August, September, October. Stand and pick, over 15,000 plants Hydroponically grown Strawberries, veggies, herbsAll Hydroponically grown.. stand and pick.. tasty and good for you.
Schuyler County
Mangus Farms - raspberries (black), Strawberries, Red Raspberries and Blueberries, picnic area, honey from hives on the farm 3710 Main Street, Burdett, NY 14818. Phone: 607-546-9191. Open: Monday - Saturday 8 am to 6 pm; closed on Sunday, Third week June - third week July;Call ahead for availability. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. We are a U-PICK berry farm but we also offer fresh picked berries and homemade baked goods at our farm store. We pick/U-pick. Fruits to pick: strawberries, black and red raspberries, blueberries. If you're looking to place a picked order please call ahead for availability. Our Farm Store offers: picked in season fruit, home baked pies, jams, jellies and baked goods. We also sell a variety of jams, jellies, whole fruit freezer pops and more!
Silver Queen Farm - apples, asparagus, cucumbers, nectarines, peas, peaches, peppers, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, prepicked produce 5286 Stillwell Road, Trumansburg, NY 14886. Phone: 607-387-6502. Email: Gallupgoodnews@aol.com. Open: Every day 8 am to 8 pm. Directions: And for a map to our farm, . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Silver Queen Farm Facebook page. Fax: 607 387 9794Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October 97 acre farm with over 6 acres of strawberries (15 varieties), 2 acres of raspberries (13 varieties), 2 acre Peach orchard (10 varieties) and 2 acre Apple orchard (15 varieties). Farm stand featuring large selection of prepicked fruits and vegetables. All in a very scenic, informal setting with children and families in mind. The farm is open for u-pick strawberries from June-July, and we have a self-serve stand for sweet corn season. We also sell our produce at the Trumansburg Farmer's Market as well as area restaurants such as Hazelnut Kitchen, Northstar and Falls Tavern. We are now renting out our big, beautiful barn for weddings, birthdays, parties, and any other events you can think of, so check out our pricing here. In 2019 U-pick strawberries are $2.50/lbFacebook page. If there is heavy rain, there will be a "self-serve" station set up near the barn.
Steuben County
Schultheis Strawberries - strawberries, U-pick or already picked Meadowbrook Road, Arkport, NY 14807. Phone: 607-295-7111. Open: typically Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 5 pm and Monday to Friday from 7 am to 7 pm; late May and June; call or see their Facebook page before you go. Directions: The pick your own stand is located on Meadowbrook Road in Arkport or you can access it across from the Village Cafe on Route 36.There is a . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash or check only. Schultheis Strawberries Their berries are popular with their customersmap to the Schultheis PYO farm here. Their Prepicked stand is located at 67 West Avenue in Arkport, NY. Their pick your own prices are usually the best in the areaA visitor writes on June 12, 2022: "Strawberries $3/ quart PYO or $22/flat (8 quarts) PYO; $5/ quart pre-picked "
Terry's Berry Farm - Certified Organic, Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries 284 Church St., Barton, NY 13734. Phone: 607-699-7933. Email: teri111@verizon.net. Open: Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday from 3 pm to 7 pm. Click here for a map and directions. Seek our Facebook page for updates. We are Certified Organic by NOFA-NY LLC started in 2016! We raise all our produce and berries by organic methods. Call the berry line at for specifics on the day. In 2020, they did have PYO, despite the pandemic; with appointments taken online. Prices in 2020 were $3/lb for berries that you pick; $6/lb for berries we pick. Theydo accept pre-orders. All our berries are certified organic.
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:
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!
Leave
early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
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 sides and large pots make good
containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
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
Grasp the stem just above the berry between the
forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.
With the stem broken about one-half inch from
the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.
Repeat these operations using both hands until
each holds 3 or 4 berries.
Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into
your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
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:
Be careful that your feet and knees do not
damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part
the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
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.
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.
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.
For interesting and fun strawberry facts and
trivia from the California Strawberry Commission,
click
here!
When you get home
DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them. Washing
makes them more prone to spoiling.
Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting
berries
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.
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.
Picking the best strawberries:
Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries DO NOT continue ripen after
they are picked! In the photo, only the berry on the 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.
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