Blueberry U-Pick Orchards in Central-Northeast Minnesota 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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Aitkin County

• Great River Gardens - strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.
  43507 U.S. Highway 169, Aitkin, MN . Phone: 218-927-2521. Open: Pick-your-own and prepicked Strawberries are available from late June through July, raspberries start in mid-July, and blueberries are usually available beginning in late July. Click here for a map and directions. Great River Gardens. Alternate phone: (877) 286-3408. Call for price. (UPDATED: June 11, 2015, JBS)

Carlton County

• Blackbirds and Blueberries - follow organic practices, blackberries, blueberries
  Crosby Road, Cloquet, MN . Phone: (218) 879-8193. Open: For picking times call and listen to our updated messages. Directions: Our farm is located just north of Cloquet, MN. Our farm is a \u-pick\" farm. We are """. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash, check, scredit cards.
  Blackbirds and Blueberries Facebook page. . Our farm is located just north of Cloquet, MN. Our farm is a "u-pick" farm. We are open as the berries are ready, which typically means at least one day during the weekends of our season, and some evenings and weekdays. We sell our berries by the pound and this year we are offering pre-picked berries as well as pick your own. You may bring your own buckets or boxes, or you may use ours! We no pesticides or other chemicals on the plants. Please call our update line or "private message" us to place pre-picked orders. No debit cards please, (ADDED: July 18, 2020, JBS)
• Chub Lake Blueberries - blueberries
  2001 Kiehl Rd, Carlton, MN 55718. Phone: (218) 384-4577. Open: call or see their Facebook page for hours; call for an appointment starting on July 20th. Click here for a map and directions. . we use only organic practices. From the time the field was prepped 7 years ago until today no pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers have ever touched the field or plants. We believe in a relaxing, farm experience for the whole family. So come out and enjoy the fruits of our labor. A pick your own blueberry field in a beautiful location. Pre-picked also available. (ADDED: July 19, 2020, JBS)
• Farm LoLa - blueberries, honeyberries, raspberries (Spring, black), Fresh eggs
  840 Cemetery Road, Wrensall, MN 55797. Phone: (218) 384-9002. Email: lucie@locallylaid.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Farm LoLa Facebook page. . . July - August. You can bring your own bucket. We will weigh it before you pick and get the tare -- or unladen weight -- so you only pay for the fruit. Or you can buy one of our flats, at cost, for 50 cents. (UPDATED: July 19, 2020 JBS) (ADDED: March 10, 2017)
• Finke's Berry Farm - Uses natural growing practices, blueberries,
  2331 County Road 4, Carlton, MN 55718. Phone: 218-384-4432. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Finke's Berry Farm Facebook page. . Typically blueberries are ready to pick in August; Picking hours vary so "reach for the phone before you reach for your keys"; During berry season we update daily on our facebook page. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. We use no pesticides or petroleum-based fertilizers to grow our berries. With our sandy soil and plenty of straw between the rows, picking is fun and easy!. . Please contact us to see when the farm is open. We are committed to sustainable agriculture, healthy environment and healthful food. They have a photo of strawberries on their Facebook page, but they DO NOT grow strawberries any more. (UPDATED: July 19, 2020 JBS)
• Leaning Barn Farm U-Pick - Blueberries, Raspberries
  176 Thomson Rd, Esko, MN 55733. Phone: 218-349-7696. Email: anniegust@gmail.com. Open: call or email for hours Season usually starts in July. Directions: 12 miles south of Duluth, 2 miles off I-35 on the Carlton side of the Freeway. They also have picked Shiitake Mushrooms & Veggies; Asparagus, lettuce, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, honey, . Click here for a map and directions. . Christmas trees. They are family, locally owned and run. We do not use chemicals and hand harvest all products. At Christmas they have U-pick, We-Cut Christmas trees In conjunction with the Carlton Holiday Market In 2019, they were $25 premium tree, $15 white pine (Dr. Seuss style) Family friendly! Dog friendly, hot coco fire and snowshoe or xc ski.
• Sweet Land Farm - blueberries
  264 Prevost Road, Cloquet, MN 55720. Phone: (218) 260-9448. Email: sweetlandmn@gmail.com. Open: call or see their Facebook page for hours; blueberries typically in July. Click here for a map and directions.
  Sweet Land Farm Facebook page. . Emmail: . Our hope is to bring these beautiful 32 acres just north of Cloquet, MN back into production! We bought this farm with the dream of providing high quality, sustainable products and a family friendly environment where all can begin new traditions together. Our hope is that through our products, family, neighbors and friends will connect with nature around them. Join us to follow along with our journey. (ADDED: July 19, 2020, JBS)

Cass County

• Jake and Scout's Berry Farm - blueberries, flowers,
  1822 County Road 29, Lake Shore, MN 56468. Phone: 218-821-1145. Email: lise@jakeandscoutsberryfarm.com. Open: Mid - July to Mid - August; See our website or call for current hours. Directions: From Nisswa, go 2 miles North on Highway 371, then West on County Road 29, then 4 miles to the Farm. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. .
• Pine Winder - No pesticides or herbicides are used, blueberries, porta-potties are available
  1835 36th Avenue Sw, Pine River, MN 56474. Phone: 218-587-2752. Email: windryderDK@gmail.com. Open: every day 9 am to Noon during the season; May be closed some days for berries to re - ripen. Directions: From Backus: 6 miles south from Backus on 371 to 14th Avenue SW. Turn right \(west\) and follow the road approximately 14 mile until it becomes 36th Avenue SW. Continue one and half miles straight south on 36th Avenue SW to Pine Winder Blueberries; or at the stop light in Pine River, go west on 24th Street SW about 3 miles then turn right \(north\) 1.5 miles. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . From Backus: 6 miles south from Backus on 371 to 14th Avenue SW. Turn right (west) and follow the road approximately 1/4 mile until it becomes 36th Avenue SW. Continue one and half miles straight south on 36th Avenue SW to Blueberries; or at the stop light in Pine River, go west on 24th Street SW about 3 miles then turn right (north) 1.5 miles. Typical harvest dates: the end of July and first half of August. Blueberries. No pesticides are used. Porte-Potty. Payment: cash or check. (UPDATED: July 20, 2016)

Crow Wing County

• Double T Acres - blueberries, raspberries, tart cherries, sour cherries,
  1822 Co Rd 29, Lake Shore, MN 56468. Phone: 218-568-5268. Email: doubletacres19@gmail.com. Open: see their website or facebook page. Click here for a map and directions. . . They also offer fresh prepicked asparagus, strawberries, sunflowers and other flowers for sale. Their Pumpkins, mums, gourds and ornamental corn are available in early Fall. The blueberry picking season ends in late August. Strawberries are not pick your own, but they often still have fresh picked strawberries from their greenhouse available thru the pumpkin season. Call them to place an order, usually ready in a day or two. Pumpkin season will begin around mid-September. Pie cherries (aka, tart or sour cherries) are in July typically. facebook page. (ADDED: August 31, 2023, JBS)
• Roger's Berries - strawberries, blueberries
  23525 Mail Rte Rd, Brainerd, MN . Phone: (218) 839-2665. Open: Picking Strawberries the from mid June to mid-July, open 7 AM - 5 PM daily or until picked out; Blueberries about mid-July. Click here for a map and directions. . Picking Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7 AM - Noon. No Appointment Necessary. . Pick fresh in the patch or have us pick them for you. Families welcome. (ADDED: September 3, 2017, JBS)

Mille Lacs County

• J Q Fruit Farm - Apples, blueberries, raspberries
  8082 - 33rd Street, Princeton, MN 55371. Phone: 763-389-2567. Email: jqfruit@sherbtel.net. Open: See web site or call for u-pick hours. Directions: Hwy 169 going North - take Hwy 95 going East - take a left at Rum River Drive, go approximately 3 blks to County Road 4 - turn right. Continue to 33rd Street - take a Right - go all the way to the end. Farm at the end of dirt road. . Click here for a map and directions. . Blueberries - July - August Raspberries - July - August Apples - Late August - October. click here for a map to our farm. We are open July, August, September, October.

 

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