2024 Southwest Michigan Nectarine U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Nectarine U-Pick Orchards in Southwest Michigan in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have nectarines 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.

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Allegan County

• Crane Orchards Upick - apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, pumpkins, hayrides, corn maze
  6054 124th (M-89), Fennville, MI . Phone: 616-561-8651. Open: in early September depending on the season, call for dates. Directions: Located in west Michigan between South Haven and Saugatuck. Click here for a map and directions. . U-Pick has 15 varieties of apples to pick in season. Hayrides on weekends in Oct. and a corn maze 10 am to 6 pm, seven days a week. Close in late Oct. Take I-196 Exit 34, go E 4 miles on S side of the road, located with Crane's Pie Pantry Restaurant at 6054 124th (M-89), Fennville. PIE PANTRY, FRESH FRUIT AND ORCHARDS, BAKERY and RESTAURANT, WINERY, TASTING BAR, WEDDINGS, EVENTS (UPDATED: September 18, 2019, JBS) (UPDATED: July 12, 2011, by a visitor)

Berrien County

• Fruit Acres Farm Market and U-Pick - Apples, cherries, nectarines, peaches, and prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides
  2789 Friday Road, Coloma, MI 49038. Phone: (269) 468-5076. Email: fruitacres@iserv.net. Open: Farm Market is open daily from 9am to 7pm, June through October; U-Pick is open most weekends July through October from 10am to 5pm. Directions: I-94 in Southwest Michigan at Coloma Exit #39 Farm Market at Exit. Ask there for U-Pick Directions . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. Click here for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in July, August, September, October. Big Black Sweet Cherries July 1-10 Sour Pie Cherries July 7-16 Early Peaches July 23-31 Freestone Peaches August 1-September 15 White Flesh Peaches August 20-September 10 Baby Gold type Cling Peaches August Early Apples July 20-August 30 Fall Apples September 1-October 25 Large assortment of locally grown fruits and vegetables in our farm market. Sweet Fall Apple Cider.
• Lehmans Orchard - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, blueberries, cherries, red currants, black currants, raspberries (red), raspberries (black), strawberries, Nectarines, Blueberries, Blackberries, Plums, ​Peaches, ​Tomatoes, Peppers, ​Pears, Sweet Cherries, Tart Cherries, Gooseberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), porta-potties are available, picnic area you may bring your own food
  2280 Portage Road, Niles, MI 49120. Phone: 269-683-9078. Email: stevelecklider@aol.com. Open: Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm; Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm, from late May through October; Off season hours open every day from 12 pm to 5 pm November, December, closed January, February, March then open in April and May. Directions: coming from Chicago, Take I80-90 Toll Road east to exit 72. Drive north on bypass 31 into Michigan, turn right on US12 and head east one mile. Turn right on Portage Road and head south one mile, the red farm house is on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Lehmans Orchard Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 574-286-7815Fax: We use integrated pest management practicesPick your own tart cherry and blueberry starting around July 1; Please check website or phone for current pick your own information. Also visit our farm winery/cidery/farm stand during the season. We are always adding interesting products and crops(UPDATED: August 28, 2023, JBS)
• Lemon Creek Fruit Farm - cherries, peaches, nectarines, raspberries, plums, apples and grapes
  533 E Lemon Creek, Berrien Springs, MI 49103. Phone: 269-471-1321. Email: farm@lemoncreekwinery.com. Open: June to November, Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm Sunday from 12 to 6 pm. Directions: 6 miles E of Red Arrow Hwy. at Bridgman, 5 miles west of Berrien Springs on Lemon Creek Rd. U-pick available for cherries, peaches, nectarines, raspberries, plums, apples and grapes in season. . Click here for a map and directions. See this page for when fruits are typically available to pick. Free wine tasting, picnic area, festivals, Father's Day Festival, home wine makers welcome.
• McCartney Farm - nectarines, peaches, Bartlett pears and apples
  2537 Hillandale Road, Sodus, MI 49126. Phone: 269-944-1862. Open: August 15 for nectarines and peaches, early September for pears and late Sept. Directions: Located in the Benton Harbor-St. Click here for a map and directions. . U-pick nectarines, peaches, Bartlett pears and a variety of apples-Oct. for apples, seven days a week, 9 am to 5 pm Call for availability on fruit and pricesTake I-94 to Exit 30, E on Napier Avenue, approx. 2-1/2 miles to Hillandale Road. Then south for 1 mile Our farm is 90 minutes east of Chicago, . Joseph, Michigan area.
  Comments from a visitor on July 12, 2008: "We've been going to this farm for many years now and it's always clean, trees are labeled nicely, and supervised children are welcome to pick the fruit. Prices are very reasonably, also. Definitely worth the trip every year."
• Stover's Farm Market and U-Pic - Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, apricots, red and black blackberries, grapes, and hayrides
  7837 M-139, Berrien Springs, MI . Phone: 269-471-1401. Open: 9 am to 6 pm everyday except Sundays; Early June to late October. Click here for a map and directions.
  Stover's Farm Market and U-Pic Facebook page. U-Pic Schedule: Dates are TENATIVE, please call for availability! Strawberries: June - July; Sweet Cherries June - July; Tart Cherries: June - July; Red and Black Raspberries: June - July; Blackberries: July - August; Apricots July - August; Blueberries: July - August; Peaches July - September; (Red Haven, Crest Haven, Glo Haven, Baby Gold, Red Skins); Fall Red Raspberries: September - October; Pumpkins: September - October; Grapes September - October; Apples September - October; (Molly Delicious, Gala, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Red Rome, Empire, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Jonathan, Mutsu and others). Stovers has hayrides in October(UPDATED: September 18, 2019, JBS)

 

Nectarine

Nectarine Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Nectarines typically peak during early summer: In the U.S., that's late June through July in the South, and July and August in the North. In order to produce good local Nectarines, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions, and no late frosts. If you want to know which are the best varieties of nectarines for home canning, see this page!

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - Nectarines 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!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for nectarines, 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 Nectarines more than 14 inches deep will bruise the fruit on the bottom. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers.
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.
5. You might want to ask whether the nectarines are! There are two major types of nectarines: "Freestone" and. "Clingstone". Freestone nectarines and nectarines have flesh that slips easily away from the pit. Clingstones are a REAL pain, because the fruit tenaciously clings to the stone or pit! Most nectarine varieties grown today are freestone and are usually available (depending upon your location) from June through September. Some nectarines are freestone and some are clingstone. Freestone nectarines are available in June and July. Most plum varieties are clingstone. 

When you get home

1. Spread the fruit out on towels or newspapers and separate any mushy or damaged fruit to use immediately.
2. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the others and freeze them up!
3. Even under ideal conditions nectarines will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase
4. Now, get ready to make Nectarine jam or canned nectarines - It is VERY easy - especially with our free peach / nectarine recipes. Yes, they are interchangeable!
    - nectarine jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy and our page on
    - how to make home canned nectarines from fresh!
   - Or see here to freeze nectarines instead!
   - make your own home canned nectarine pie filling to use in the winter
5. Here's a great and easy nectarine pie recipe
   or nectarine-blueberry pie  or how about
   - nectarine salsa?
   - Nectarine chutney
   - Spiced nectarines
   - nectarine butter
   - Nectarine honey
   - pickled nectarines
   - nectarine syrup
   - nectarine juice
6. Here are some great and easy nectarine desert recipes, like easy nectarine cobbler.
7. If you want more information about the Giant Peach water tower in Gaffney, SC, click here.

Temporary Storage Tips

• Ripe nectarines have a creamy or golden undertone and "peachy-sweet" fragrance.
• Nectarines should be refrigerated and used within a few days.
• Putting peaches and nectarines in a loosely closed paper bag at room temperature for a day or two can help soften firm fruit - but they won't become sweeter or ripen further - that stopped when they were removed from th etree.
• For best flavor, allow the fruit to ripen fully on the tree.
• Store at 33F to 40F  and high humidity (a vegetable drawer in the fridge).

How to tell if the nectarines are ripe!

• Attached to the tree: Nectarines are best picked when the fruit separates easily from the twigs. If it is hard to pull off the tree, it isn't ripe! Nectarines will not ripen further once removed from the tree (they only "soften")
• Color: Green is definitely unripe, but you can't use red color as an indicator of how ripe a nectarine is. Different peach varieties have differing amounts of red blush in their natural coloring. Pick them when the ground color changes from green to yellow, orange, red (or a combination). The skin of yellow-fleshed varieties ripens to an orange tint, while the skin of white-fleshed varieties changes from greenish- to yellow-white.
• Softness: unless you like your nectarines very firm, pick your nectarines with just a little "give" when gently pressed. Nectarines at this stage are great for eating, freezing, and baking. Nectarines won't ripen very much after picking!
• Odor: It should smell sweet and ripe!

Tips on How to Pick Nectarines

A nectarine is softer than most fruit, so it is important to pick a nectarine gently, with little pressure. Using the sides of your fingers rather your fingertips helps to avoid bruising.  Grab the nectarine firmly and pull it straight off the branch. DON'T drop the nectarine into the basket, but set it in gently!

Marks on the Nectarines: Bugs (particularly squash bugs and stink bugs) bite fruit during development and this results in some imperfections in the nectarine. This is especially the case with organically raised fruit.  These look like dents in the nectarines if the nectarines were bitten by a bug when they were young. This causes a spot that does not grow properly and makes a wrinkle in the nectarine. There's nothing wrong with these nectarines. They may look funny, but they will taste just as good as blemish-free nectarines, and it's better not to have the pesticides!

How much do you need?

Raw measures:

• About 2 medium nectarines = 1 cup sliced nectarines.
• About 4 medium nectarines = 1 cup pureed nectarine.
• About 3 medium nectarines = 1 pound of nectarines

Process yields (Raw amounts to processed amounts)

• 2 to 21/2 pounds of fresh nectarines yields 1 quart canned
• 1 lb of fresh nectarines typically yields 3 cups of peeled, sliced nectarines or 2 cups or puree.
• It takes about 5 good sizes peaches or nectarines (or about 10 plums) to fill one quart jar of canned nectarines.
• An average of 171/2 pounds of fresh nectarines are needed per canner load of 7 quarts;
• An average of 11 pounds is needed per canner load of 9 pints.
• 1 bushel = 48 to 50 pounds, yields approximately 18 to 25 quart jars.

And a visitor contributes this: 6-7 nectarines makes about 4 cups puree, so 2-3 nectarines make about 2 cups puree. 1 nectarine equals about 1 cup puree.

Nectarines - Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent, Most recent data (2020)

Form	Average retail price *3		Preparation yield factor	Size of a cup equivalent	Unit	Average price per cup equivalent
Fresh *1	$1.72	per pound	0.96	0.342	pounds	$0.61
Canned
Packed in juice *2	$2.02	per pound	1	0.540	pounds	$1.09
Packed in syrup or water *3	$1.81	per pound	0.65	0.441	pounds	$1.23
Frozen	$3.39	per pound	1	0.331	pounds	$1.12
Note 1 - The USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR) reports that the inedible pit of a nectarine accounts for 4 percent of the retail weight, implying a preparation yield of 96 percent, when eaten raw.
Note 2 - Consumers are assumed to eat the solid fruit and drink the juice. All contents of the can are edible and count towards an individual's recommended fruit consumption.
Note 3 - The syrup (or water) is discarded prior to consumption. Based on the Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED), ERS assumes that 65 percent of the can's gross weight is solid and 35 percent is liquid. The FPED cup equivalent weight for canned fruit is the weight of the solids and not of the liquid medium in which it is packed. The preparation yield factor for canned nectarines in the above table does not account for any further preparation that occurs prior to consumption.
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service calculations from 2020 Circana (formerly Information Resources, Inc. [IRI]) OmniMarket Core Outlets (formerly InfoScan) data; the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR), Legacy Release; and the Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) 2017–18 as well as the FPED's accompanying Methodology and User Guide.

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Nectarine pit tips

It's best to remove nectarine pits before you cook the nectarines. Cherry, nectarine, peach, and apricot pits also contain amygdalin; the latter two, in potentially harmful amounts. Fortunately, nectarine, peach and apricot pits are sufficiently large and hard that few people intentionally swallow or chew them. (The unapproved anti-cancer drug See this page for more information&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/cam/laetrile">Laetrile is a semisynthetic derivative of amygdalin; a cheaper version of laetrile produced in Mexico came from crushed apricot pits.) See this page for more information.

 

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