My first summer in Oregon, I marveled at the blackberry bushes lining the trails at Bald Hill. My second summer here, I walked those same trails the day after my wedding with friends and family, scouting for pie-ready fruits. This year is my third summer in Oregon, and I will finally experience what I see as an Oregon rite of passage: picking my own berries. Or, as my husband says, “Pick your own damn berries!”
Before you start, here are a few tips I gleaned from speaking with farm owners and conducting multiple online searches:
• Call ahead or check Facebook to confirm open hours and availability. Most farms offer varietals that ripen at different points in the season. When one section is picked out, many u-picks close until more ripen.
• Bring your own containers to take berries home. Most places provide containers, but if you bring your own, all bases will be covered.
• Cash is still king. Most farms accept credit cards and even SNAP/Farmer’s Direct checks these days, but everyone accepts dollars and cents.
• Pre-picked and frozen available. Don’t want to pick or need bulk amounts for jam? Most farms offer pre-picked and frozen berries for sale. Prices vary from u-pick.
Also, did you know there is a private “Corvallis U-Pick Updates” Facebook group for centralized updates? Me neither. https://www.facebook.com/
What You’ve All Been Waiting For…
Here is a sampling of u-pick farms near Corvallis, organized by their direction from downtown. Happy picking!
North From Downtown
Anderson Blues Nursery
U-pick blueberries will be available at the end of June. Call for more info. 13 min N of downtown
8793 NW Arboretum Road, Corvallis; (541) 745-5487; www.facebook.com/
Blueberry Meadows
Kevin and Lynn Thompson expect their u-pick blues to open in late June. This no-spray farm provides buckets for picking and containers for taking berries home, plus picking harnesses and stools to make picking easy. $1.75/lb
Call for open hours and availability.
No pets please. Cash/Check/SNAP.
8 min N of downtown
3860 NE Highway 20, Corvallis;
(541) 753-2614; www.facebook.com/
Davis Family Farm
You have about one week left for u-pick strawberries at this spray-free farm. Buckets are provided, as are bags to take berries home. Come for blueberries starting in July and pumpkins in the fall. Strawberries are $1.25/lb.
Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through August. Cash/Credit. 8 min N of downtown
4380 NE Highway 20, Corvallis;
(541) 752-0697; www.facebook.com/
Kings Valley Gardens
Andrea Davis and John Madsen offer u-pick blueberries from early July to September, and come fall may have u-pick apples and pears. No chemical sprays or fertilizers. They provide buckets for picking and recommend visitors bring their own containers to take home. Check Facebook for prices.
F/Sat 9 a.m.-6 p.m. or by appointment; Cash/Check; 27 min NW of downtown
23719 Tatum Lane, Monmouth;
(541) 929-4054; www.facebook.com/
Piefer Family Farms
Another location for no-spray u-pick strawberries. Bring your own container. $1.25/lb
Pre-picked corn will be available in August. Check Facebook for hours. Cash only. 11 min NE of downtown
2575 NE Strawberry Lane, Corvallis; (541) 752-4076; www.facebook.com/
Reynold’s Farm
Get u-pick grapes here; clippers and plastic bags provided. Call or check their website for more info.
10 min N of downtown
4715 NE Hwy 20, Corvallis;
(541) 753-7875; reynoldsfarms.com
South Of Downtown
Detering Orchards
Come here for non-GMO cherries and peaches at the end of June, blueberries in July, and apples and pears in August. They provide buckets for picking and offer plastic bags and boxes to take fruit home. Call for prices.
Open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (U-pick closes at 5 p.m.) Cash/Check/Credit/SNAP/WIC/
30946 Wyatt Drive, Harrisburg;
(541) 995-6341; www.facebook.com/
Fairfield Farm
Get your certified organic u-pick strawberries here. Alice Fairfield provides buckets for picking and recommends visitors bring their own containers for taking berries home. $2.75/lb. Making jam? Call to order in bulk ($3.50/lb).
Th/F 12-5pm; Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun 10am-3pm (Check Facebook first.) Cash/Check/Credit. 16 min S of downtown
29204 Lakeside Dr, Corvallis;
(541) 760-8163 (call/text 9 a.m.–
9 p.m.); www.facebook.com/Fairfield-
Kiger Island Blues
Spray-free blueberries will be available late June. Mindi Miller provides buckets for picking, a hand-washing station and clean toilet. Bring your own containers for your haul. $1.75/lb
Check Facebook for open hours. No pets please. Cash/Check/Credit/SNAP/Farmer’
2322 SE Kiger Island Dr., Corvallis;
541-752-0787; www.facebook.com/
Radke’s Blueberries
These blues will be ready in mid-July. Check Facebook for updates.
8 min S of downtown
490 SE Three Mile Ave, Corvallis;
(541) 753-2525; www.facebook.com/Radkesbb
East Of Downtown
Adair’s Orchards
U-pick orchards including peaches and apples. Call or check Facebook for updates.
28 min E of downtown Corvallis
36452 Highway 226 SE, Albany; (541) 928-6606; www.facebook.com/
Childer’s Raspberry Farm
U-pick raspberries will be available soon. Call or check their website for updates. Cash/Check/Credit/WIC/Farm Direct.
30 min E of downtown Corvallis
36242 Tapper Lane SE, Albany;
(541) 926-7478; www.childersraspberries.com
Grandpa’s Fresh Market
This conventional farm has a full schedule of summer fruits: strawberries ($1.40/lb – call ahead), blueberries in July, and peaches, nectarines and apples in August. Bring your own containers to pick and haul home.
Mon-Sat 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.–
4 p.m. Cash/Credit/Farmer’s Direct. 30 min E from downtown Corvallis
36483 Highway 226 SE, Albany;
541-928-8778; www.facebook.com/
K Family Farm
Amanda Saetren has u-pick strawberries for $10 a bucket, which fills about half a flat. Call or visit Facebook for updates.
Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.–
6 p.m. 16 min E of downtown Corvallis
33427 Seven Mile Ln SE, Albany;
(541) 286-2164; www.facebook.com/KFamilyFarm
Peoria Road Farm Market
Strawberries galore! Bring your own bowl and check in at this fruit, vegetable and flower market before picking. Strawberry season ends soon so get picking. $1.50/lb
Open daily 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Payment/SNAP/Farm Direct. 7 min E of downtown
33269 SE Peoria Rd, Corvallis;
541-207-3327; www.facebook.com/
The Peach Place
Check their Facebook page in August for u-pick availability. The Peach Place fills pre-orders first and opens up their fields if crops are abundant.
7 min E of downtown
34151 NE Electric Rd, Corvallis; (541) 829-1296; www.facebook.com/thepeachplace
by Alisha Wang Saville
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