Pick your own fruits and vegetables at these scenic farms across Canada

CBC

4 days ago

Looking for a fun way to enjoy the outdoors? Harvesting your own in-season veggies and fruits can make for a memorable outing, while allowing you to purchase fresh, local produce at a good price.
At farms across the country there are pick-your-own opportunities for strawberries, rhubarb, peas, blueberries, peaches, apples and many more. As a long-time U-pick aficionado, I've collected garlic scapes, picked asparagus spears and once even dug up my own potatoes (very messy).
Many farms also have additional entertainment for all ages. With highlights such as corn mazes, playgrounds, petting zoos and wagon rides, it's easy to turn an outing into an entire day of country fun.
Of course, the timing for each crop can vary widely each year and from region to region, so you'll want to look up the harvest calendar for your area, and call or check social media accounts for local farms to confirm their availability before heading out.
With that in mind, here are 15 Canadian U-pick farms to check out this year.
This farm offers raspberry, blueberry and strawberry picking, the latter of which are grown at standing height so there is no kneeling required. The property also produces wine from on-site berries. For kids, there's the Barnyard Adventureland, which features farm animals, a zipline and more.
Abbotsford, B.C.
You can pick strawberries, apples, goji berries, pears, plums and pumpkins at this Abbotsford farm. Later in the summer, there will also be a petting barn, sunflower garden, pumpkin patch, hay rides and other fun attractions.
Kelowna, B.C.
This scenic organic orchard offers a variety of U-pick fruit crops such as apples, cherries, apricots, peaches and three varieties of pears. Visit the shop, which sells honey, eggs and fresh hazelnuts.
Foothills County, Alta.
You'll find a farmers' market, garden centre, restaurant, bakery, retail shop and more at this family-run farm just a 35-minute drive outside of Calgary. While there, you can also pick saskatoon berries, sour cherries, apples and blackcurrants.
Eagle Creek Farms
Red Deer County, Alta.
Located about an hour and a half's drive north of Calgary, Eagle Creek Farms offers U-pick gardens for potatoes, carrots, peas, beans, onions and zucchini. You can also cut your own fresh flowers, with varieties including gladioli, sunflowers and zinnias. Don't miss the sunflower maze, which opens in mid-August.
At this family-owned farm you can pick many types of berries, including red, black and yellow raspberries (they grow 14 varieties!), blackcurrants and saskatoon berries. If you miss the seasonal window for picking your own, the farm also sells frozen berries, juice, jams and sorbet.
Portage la Prairie, Man.
This eight-hectare farm is located about an hour and 15 minutes' drive west of Winnipeg. Visit its U-picks for cherries, saskatoon berries, haskap berries and gooseberries — plus apples later in summer. You can also pre-order pies, plants and berries and pick them up when you visit.
Milton, Ont.
This popular farm is located about an hour and a half's drive west of downtown Toronto. It grows a wide variety of crops across 67 hectares and, depending on when you visit, you can pick your own rhubarb, asparagus, strawberries, currants, raspberries, blueberries, apples or pumpkins. Check out pretty fields of U-pick peonies, dahlias and sunflowers, as well as family-friendly attractions such as wagon rides, farm animals and a straw mountain.
Dutchyn Farms
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
Located just a 20-minute drive from Niagara Falls, this third-generation farm offers pick-your-own peaches, nectarines, plums and seedless grapes. There's also a tractor-drawn farm wagon to take would-be harvesters around the orchards, and a market with pre-picked fruits for sale.
Pingle's Farm Market
Hampton, Ont.
A great destination for a family outing, this farm market about an hour's drive east of Toronto is open year-round. Stop by and pick fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, blueberries, peas, beans, corn, peppers and apples. Visit farm animals, hop on a wagon ride and, later in the season, explore corn mazes and a pumpkin patch.
Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, Que.
This U-pick farm is about 40 minutes' drive from downtown Montreal. It sits on more than 80 hectares and there are 10,000 apple trees in the orchards — plus you can pick your own strawberries, blueberries, corn, pumpkins, potatoes and even Christmas trees. You'll also find a large play yard and animal barn with goats, cows and pigs, and a farm shop that sells freshly baked goods, meat from local producers and lots more.
Trueman Blueberry Farms
Sackville, N.B.
Only a 40-minute drive from Moncton, this family-owned farm offers pick-your-own high-bush and wild blueberries. Depending on when you visit, you can also pick tulips, rhubarb, raspberries or pumpkins. Expect a variety of homemade ice-cream flavours, preserves and baked goods at their retail store. Plus, there's a sunflower maze, a giant bouncy pillow and blueberry-themed attractions.
Dempsey Corner Orchard
Aylesford, N.S.
This Annapolis Valley orchard, located about an hour and a half's drive from Halifax, is home to a market, gift shop, café, petting zoo and, of course, U-pick. The wide variety of fruits and vegetables available includes strawberries, raspberries, peaches (don't miss their annual Peachy Palooza!), pumpkins and potatoes. They also have picnic tables for dining outdoors.
The Grove Orchard and U-Pick
Cornwall, P.E.I.
Just a 15-minute drive from Charlottetown, this eight-hectare orchard and fruit stand offers U-pick options for Asian pears as well as a dozen varieties of apples, including lesser-known types such as Liberty, Yellow Transparent and Akane. In the fall, visitors can also enjoy coffee, apple cider and mini doughnuts.
St. John's
There are pick-your-own strawberry patches and flower fields on this almost 20-hectare farm, as well as other fun activities such as wagon rides, a corn maze, bee observatory and petting barn. The property also grows more than 100 different kinds of fruits and vegetables, including harder-to-find ones such as artichokes, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, bok choy and tatsoi, which can be purchased at the on-site market.