2024 Cleveland, Akron and northeast Ohio Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Cleveland, Akron and northeast Ohio in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have blackberries 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.

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

Ashland County

• Hearthstone Berry Farm - Uses integrated pest management practices, blackberries, elderberries, currants (red and black), gooseberries, other berries, Turkeys (organic, not-hormone-fed), Honey from hives on the farm, porta-potties are available
  1064 Township Road 126, Nova, OH 44859. Phone: . Email: timj@hearthstonefarm.net. Open: Email us for open picking times, or check our Facebook page for current open times. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Hearthstone Berry Farm Facebook page. (UPDATED: June 22, 2020, JBS)

Erie County

• A.B. Phillips & Sons Fruit Farm - apples, blackberries, cherries, plums and grapes
  30 E. Main Street, Berlin Heights, OH . Phone: 419-588-2329. Email: Fruit@Phillipsfruit.net. Open: July-February, Monday to Saturday 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday noon-6 p. Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate phone: 800/205-7062. . Pick apples and a whole lot more at this farm that also grows cherries, plums and grapesm. (closed Sundays December-February). Apple varieties are: Vista Bella, Jersey Mac, Paulared, McIntosh, Gala, Cortland, Jonathan, JonaGold, Red Delicious, Empire, Idared, Rome, Gold Delicious, Melrose, Crispin/Mutsu, Criterion, Winter Banana, Stayman Winesap

Geauga County

• Voytko Berry Farm - blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, black and red currants and prepicked produce, honey, maple syrup, snacks and refreshment stand, picnic area
  11391 Franks Rd, Auburn Township, OH 44023. Phone: (440) 543-8586. Email: chuck@voytkofarms.com. Open: Monday thru Saturday from 8 am till 7 pm, Sunday from 10 am till 6 pm. Directions: From Auburn Corners \(US RT422 and SR44\): 0.2 miles north to Washington St. Then left, 1.0 miles west to Messenger Road. Then right, 3.0 miles north to Franks Road. Then left.. farm is on SW corner. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. From Auburn Corners (US RT422 and SR44): 0.2 miles north to Washington St. Then left, 1.0 miles west to Messenger Road. Then right, 3.0 miles north to Franks Road. Then left.. farm is on SW corner. Crops are usually available in July, August. Monday thru Saturday, 8 am till 7:pm. Sunday, 10 am till 7 pm. Blueberries and Raspberries start about July 4th. Blueberries end about mid August with raspberries usually ending earlierSweet corn in late July. Also, maple syrup, honey, and homemade jams and jellies!
  Comments from a visitor on August 10, 2011: "Great place to pick berries! This farm is gorgeous and the experience is serene. The prices are also great. You can fill up a bucket for a small fee and the berries are fantastic. The farm store also has various in-season fruits and vegetables. Nice people, beautiful farm."

Huron County

• Livengood's Berry Patch - blackberries, blueberries, peaches,
  4952 State Route 601, Norwalk, OH 44857. Phone: (419) 668-9811. Email: llivengood1@neo.rr.com. Open: Every Day 7 am to7 pm June 15 to October 15. Directions: one half mile South of Milan, Ohio on State Route 601. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. This is a small family farm, call before coming to assure availability. All fruit and vegetable crops are sold exclusively as pick-your-own on our farm.

Lake County

• Rainbow Farms - strawberries, blackberries, currants, peppers, tomatoes
  2464 Townline Road, Madison, OH 44057. Phone: 440-259-4924. Email: lkrainbowfarms@hotmail.com. Open: June- December, in June pick-your-own strawberries, Monday-Saturday 10 am to 6 pm, in July pick-your-own black and red raspberries, in August-September pick-your-own tomatoes, peppers and raspberries. Click here for a map and directions. Prepicked beans, beets, black raspberries, blackberries, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplants, greens, herbs, melons, peas, peppers, pumpkins, red raspberries, squash, strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelon, zucchini. We also participate in farmer's markets in Shaker Heights, Willoughby and Painsville.
  Comments from a visitor on July 21, 2009: "The people here are so friendly. The strawberries are delicious and they're very organized so you're not picking in a row someone else has already picked. I've also picked raspberries, blackberries and tomatoes here. I love going to - no matter how busy they are they still have a smile and a produce tip for you."Comment from a visitor: "I love this farm! The family is great, very personable! Very good strawberry picking, neat, clean,well as clean as berry picking can be! Go and visit this farm!"
• West Orchards Farm Market - sour cherries, strawberries, blackberries, and prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand
  3034 N. Ridge Road, Perry, OH 44081. Phone: 440-259-3192. Email: info@westorchardsfarmmarket.com. Open: Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm. Directions: 35 miles East of Cleveland OH. 1 12 miles East of the Route 2 and 20 split, on the South side of Route 20. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. 35 miles East of Cleveland OH. 1 1/2 miles East of the Route 2 and 20 split, on the South side of Route 20Crops are usually available in June, July Strawberries: Approx; June 15 to July 4 Montmorency Sour (pie) Cherries: Approx; July 1 to July 25We grow 14 varieties of Apples and 10 varieties of Peaches, 2 varieties of Nectarines,4 varieties of Plums, 3 varieties of Pears and many varieties of small vegetables, cabbage and lots of Sweet Corn.

Lorain County

• Baumhart Berry Farm - Blueberries and blackberries, Restrooms
  2200 Baumhart Road, Vermillion, OH 44089. Phone: 440-984-0141. Email: baumhartberryfarm@yahoo.com. Open: Blueberry picking begins first week in July, blackberries usually start in early August; Picking hours and days change with the season, see website or Facebook for seasonal schedule. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash, check and credit cards.
  Baumhart Berry Farm Facebook page. . Restrooms available. Soda machine. Berry fields covered with bird netting for more hygienic and bountiful cropsWe have also added a farm store, carrying blueberry related products, snacks, beverages and country goodies, open the same hours and dates as our U-pick. (UPDATED: August 25, 2019)
  Comments from a visitor on September 06, 2009: "A great place to take the family for fun. Very friendly farm staff, clean farm, nice atmosphere, easy to find."
• Columbia Berry Farm - UPDATE: June 07, 2017: The owner tells me they are now permanently closed blackberries, blueberries, red raspberries
  19060 West River Road, Columbia Station, OH 44028. Phone: . Open: permanently closed. Click here for a map and directions.

Mahoning County

• Ellsworth Berry Farm - blueberries, red raspberries, and blackberries.
  5921 Gault Road, North Jackson, OH 44451. Phone: (330) 538-3861. Open: Prime harvesting is June and July, weekends from 9 am to 4pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Call for weekly hours. It changes each week. Come enjoy the fun(UPDATED: March 10, 2019, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on July 02, 2016: "There's nothing fancy about it, but it's a nice place to pick your own excellent fruit. My understanding is that the crops are not raised organically. They also take orders for tart cherries. "

Medina County

• Marian Kay Berry Farm - blackberries, raspberries (Autumn, red), gift shop, porta-potties are available, picnic area
  8876 Congress Rd, Lodi, OH 44254. Phone: 440-315-9697. Email: mariankay321@yahoo.com. Open: Middle of July to the end of August for Blackberries Raspberries from September until frost. Directions: We are one half mile north of Greenwich Road \(224\) on Congress Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 440-822-5257 Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesWe are one half mile north of Greenwich Road (224) on Congress RoadBlackberries: July and August Raspberries September until frostA visitor writes on August 11, 2014: "My favorite place to pick blackberries and raspberries. The family is very welcoming and helpful. The vines are well-tended, with wide rows. The blackberries are huge and delicious. "
• Seville Berry Farm - black raspberries, blackberries, red raspberries,
  8925 Guilford Road, Seville, OH 44273. Phone: 330-335-3575. Open: You pick by appointment, from June-October, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; closed November through May. Click here for a map and directions. Pie tasting every Wednesday at 9 a.m

Portage County

• Shari's Berries & Garden, LLC - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, flowers, raspberries (red),
  12210 Abbott Road, Hiram, OH 44234. Phone: (330) 569-7882. Email: sharisberries@windstream.net. Open: Call for hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Blackberries begin in July, Red raspberries in August and September. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certificationOpen by chance or appointment. Call for pricing and availability, including picking times. (ADDED: April 30, 2018)

Stark County

• Blossom Creek - blackberries, blueberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties, group reservations
  3245 Battlesburg Street Se, East Sparta, OH 44626. Phone: (330) 227-4641. Email: berry@blossomcreek.farm. Open: June 20th - August 15th. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Formerly called Vogley Enterprises. (ADDED: June 10, 2020)
• Wade's Fruit Farm - apples, blackberries, blueberries, chestnuts, corn (sweet), currants (red and black), gooseberries, other berries, peaches, raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), restrooms, picnic area
  12915 Warren Road, Paris, OH 44669. Phone: 330-862-3313. Email: FRUITFARMER@FRONTIER.COM. Open: After July call for picking times and dates. Directions: From Canton: Route 172 to Paris Avenue \(turn left\). Veer right onto Beechwood Road Veer right onto Warren Road Second house on left. From Alliance or Minerva: Same as above only right onto Paris Avenue From Louisville: Route 183 to Paris Avenue \(turn right\). At Georgetown Road \(blinker light\) turn left. At Beechwood Road turn right. At Warren Road SHARP left turn. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. From Canton: Route 172 to Paris Avenue (turn left). Veer right onto Beechwood Road Veer right onto Warren Road Second house on left. From Alliance or Minerva: Same as above only right onto Paris Avenue From Louisville: Route 183 to Paris Avenue (turn right). At Georgetown Road (blinker light) turn left. At Beechwood Road turn right. At Warren Road SHARP left turn Blueberries are my main crop for picking.Many varietys. Typical (always call firsT) crop availability dates are: Blueberries- late June; Black Raspberries- late June; blackberries- mid July; Peaches-mid July Corn- mid July. (UPDATED: July 21, 2024, JBS)

Wayne County

• Moreland Fruit Farm - Strawberries, Red and Black Raspberries, Blueberries, Currants, Blackberries, Red Seedless Grapes
  1558 West Moreland Road, Wooster, OH 44691. Phone: 330-264-8735. Open: Call and leave a message . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash, check. Click here for their contact form No credit or debit cards. Facebook page. (UPDATED: July 11, 2021) A visitor writes on July 11, 2021: "I talked with them on the phone about black raspberries today. They will return calls if you leave a message."
  Comments from a visitor on June 28, 2009: "Love it. Been going there since my parents took me every summer. Started around 1975"
• Rittman Orchards - apples, blackberries, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), strawberries, picnic area
  13548 Mount Eaton Road, Doylestown, OH 44230. Phone: 330-925-4152. Email: info@rittmanorchards.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Rittman Orchards Facebook page. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates and Farm Market Facebook page. is a family-owned fruit and vegetable farm and farm market in northeast Ohio. Growing the finest apples, peaches, strawberries, raspberries, sweet corn, pumpkins and much, much more since 1922. We offer u-pick on many crops seasonally, along with several festivals and family-friendly events. Open all year! Every year we seem to plant more vegetables than ever before, as well as annual fruit crops such as melons. In the summer, our gourmet sweet corn simply can't be beat. In our market, we offer a large selection of jams and jellies, honey, candies, and much more. We feature many Ohio-made products, and pies, cookies, and other goodies are baked fresh daily in our kitchen.

 

Blackberry

Blackberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Blackberries typically peak during June in the South of the U.S., and in July in the north and in Canada. 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 Blackberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions. See this page for a list of blackberry festivals around the U.S.

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - 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 Blackberries, 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 Blackberries 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.
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 Blackberries

1. There are two types of blackberries to know about: thorny and thornless! Obviously, the thornless are easier to pick, but some people claim the thorny varieties are sweeter. With the thorny plants, you want to reach into the plant in the gaps, so you don't need to touch anything but the berry you're after, avoiding the thorns.
2. A ripe blackberry is deep black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug.  If the berry is red or purple, it's not ripe yet.
3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. Unlike strawberries, blackberries are usually pretty tough, I dump mine into the bucket. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
4. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

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

1. Pick only the berries that are fully black. Reach in between the stems to grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the plant and you will find loads of berries that other people missed!
2. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunlight 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. Blackberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week, 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.

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze 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  off the others, drain them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) Blackberries are less perishable than blueberries or strawberries, but refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the blackberries (while they are in the fridge)!
4. Even under ideal conditions blackberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase

Blackberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions

1. How to make Blackberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free Blackberry jam directions - very easy!
2. How to make Blackberry jelly
3. How to freeze berries
4. Blackberry syrup, make and can it! 
5. Seedless blackberry pie!
6. Blackberry Festivals: Where, When and More to Find an Blackberry Festival Near You this year:

Blackberry Facts and Tips

• Black Raspberries, also known as "black caps" are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• The USDA says 1 cup of blackberries has about 62 calories.
• 1 cup of blackberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• Select plump, firm, fully blackberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
• Oregon Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
• Blackberry tea was said to be a cure for dysentery during the Civil War. During outbreaks of dysentery, temporary truces were declared to allow both Union and Confederate soldiers to "go blackberrying" to forage for blackberries to ward off the disease.
• Blackberries were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout.
• The blackberry leaf was also used as an early hair dye, having been recommended by Culpeper, the English herbalist, to be boiled in a lye solution in order to "maketh the hair black".
• Guide to blackberry varieties
• Researchers have known for quite some time that berries contain antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals.  A study at the University of Ohio has found that blackberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
• U-pick Blackberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Blackberries 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 go to a blackberry festival? See this page for a list!

 

 

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