2024 Northwest Michigan Peach U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Peach U-Pick Orchards in Northwest Michigan in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have peaches 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

Antrim County

• Farmer White's - Sweet and tart cherries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, pears, plums, 30 varieties of apples, pumpkins, gourds
  11373 U.S. 31, Williamsburg, MI 49690. Phone: 231-632-1500. Email: farmerwhite624@hotmail.com. Open: Staffed farm stand 8 am to 8 p. Directions: 11373 US 31, two miles south of Elk Rapids on the east side of the road. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Farmer White's Facebook page. or 231-264-5313. Email . Also, frozen pitted tart cherries including new varieties Gingergold and Honeycrisp, sweet corn, garden vegetables, pumpkins, gourds, dried cherries, cherry concentrate, jams, jellies, and unpasteurized apple cider. Integrated Pest Mgmtm. July-Aug.; 9 am.-6 p.m. Sept.-November 1. Some u-pick; call ahead for availability
• Friske Orchards Farm Market - U-pick strawberries, cherries, peaches, and apples
  10743 N. US-31, Ellsworth, MI 49729. Phone: 231-599-2604. Email: info@friske.com. Open: Staffed farm market open 8 am to 6 p. Directions: 10743 N US-31 at Atwood, 10 miles south of Charlevoix just north of C-48 intersection. Cafe, bakery, old fashioned general store, climate-controlled fruit stand, . Click here for a map and directions.
  Friske Orchards Farm Market Facebook page. . Email m. Monday to Saturday, year round. 8 am to 7 p.m. July-Labor DayChristmas room, Country Haus gift and home December or shop. Orchard playland and barnyard animals. Monthly special events. Also prepicked Asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, sweet and tart cherries, peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, raspberries, apples, cider, cherry juice and concentrate, dried fruits, jams, jellies, butters, syrups, and honeyU-PICK APPLES Starts Saturday in mid September; Macintosh and Honeycrisp only; then Gala and Ida Red to start later towards end of September.Integrated Pest Mgmt. (UPDATED: September 20, 2019, JBS)
• Good Nature Farms - cherries, peaches and apples
  Creswell and Mclachlan Road, Kewadin, MI . Phone: 231-264-5300. Open: July-October, 8 am to 8 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . U-pick Take US-31 N out of Traverse City. Go N past Elk Rapids. From the stop light in Elk Rapids, we are 8.5 miles on US-31 across from green road sign saying Creswell and Mclachlan Road. We are on the left.
• King Orchards - sweet and tart cherries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, apricots, nectarines, apples
  4620 N M-88, Central Lake, MI . Phone: 877-937-5464. Click here for a map and directions. . U-pick sweet and tart cherries (we pit too.) U-pick peaches, apricots, nectarines, apples, tart cherry juice concentrate, sweet corn, fruits and vegetables in season and unpasteurized cider. Opening with strawberries in June, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 p.m. Sun. 12-6 p.m. through Thanksgiving2 locations: 1) 9 miles N of Elk Rapids on US-31 and 2) 3-1/2 miles NW of Central Lake on M-88. Our harvest season begins with cherry u-pick and raspberries at the beginning of July and ends with u-pick apples in the fall. We strive to provide the best orchard u-pick experience possible, offering a wide range of u-pick fruit throughout the summer and fall months. At King Orchards, we strive to make a fantastic apple picking experience for everyone. We grow dwarf apple trees and prune them specifically for u-pick apples to make it easy for people of all ages to pick. As of 9/19/14, we have Gingerold, McIntosh, Gala, and Honeycrisp apples to pick at our M-88 market. We will have many more varieties as we move into fall. We also have all these apples as well as Bartlett pears and Castelton plums available in both of our farm markets. Our 2nds on apples are slowly coming in and will be abundant in the next few weeks. We also will have Stanley prune plums coming soon. U-pick raspberries are at their peak in the fall. Both of our markets offer pick your own raspberries. They are great for freezing this time of the year- just lay out on a cookie sheet or put in a baggy in a single layer for individually frozen raspberries.
• Royal Farms Inc. - apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, pumpkins, and prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, school tours, winery
  10445 N. US 31, Ellsworth\/ Atwood, MI 49729. Phone: 231 599-3222. Email: royalfarms@torchlake.com. Open: May 4th to Memorial Day weekend: Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 9am to 5pm Memorial weekend to Labor Day weekend: Monday to Saturday 8am 7pm and Sunday 8am to 6pm Labor Day weekend to October 31st: Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm Sunday 9am to 5pm November to December 24th: Monday 9am to 6pm CLOSED Tuesday and Wednesday Thursday to Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 9am to 5pm. Directions: Royal Farms is located on US 31, approximately 10 miles south of Charlevoix. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Royal Farms Inc. Facebook page. . Call for picking dates on fruit, corn maze is open September-OctoberWelcome to our environmentally friendly Farm! Royal Farms is a boutique like farm market that specializes in fresh quality fruit, vegetables, cherry products, Montmorency and Balaton Cherry juice concentrate, flowers, gifts and more. They feature an in house pastry chef, with lots of pastries, pies and goodies to choose from. Royal Farms is verified with the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). (UPDATED: May 01, 2018)

Grand Traverse County (including Old Mission Peninsula)

• Jacob's Corn Maze, Fruit/Vegetable Market & U-Pick - apples, pears, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries (red), saskatoons, winter squash, tomatoes, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area, birthday parties, school tours
  7100 E. Traverse highway (m-72 West), Traverse City, MI 49684. Phone: 231-632-6293. Email: jacobs.corn.maze@charter.net. Open: Saturday, July 16 through Sunday, October 29, 2011 Hours Sunday 1 pm to 7 pm Mondays 10 am to 6 pm Tuesday 10 am to 6 pm Wednesday 10 am to 6 pm Thursday 10 am to 6 pm Friday 10 am to 6 pm Saturday 10 am to 6 pm Self serve before and after these hours. Directions: We are located 3.5 miles from West Grand Traverse Bay on West M-72. Our farm is on the left, has a big silo, and is 34 of a mile past the big windmill. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Jacob's Corn Maze, Fruit/Vegetable Market & U-Pick Facebook page. We are located 3.5 miles from West Grand Traverse Bay on West M-72. Our farm is on the left, has a big silo, and is 3/4 of a mile past the big windmillSaskatoons available for U-Pick Saturday, July 9 through Sunday, July 17; Frozen Saskatoons available after that until they sell out; Raspberries available for U-Pick Tuesday, July 12 through mid-August, 2011; Frozen Raspberries available after that until they sell outWe have our very own Horticulturist/Educator on-site. He is available to teach to any group. School groups love him!
• Rennie Orchards - apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, pumpkins, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, U-pick and already picked, farm market, porta-potties are available, picnic area, petting zoo, birthday parties
  11221 Munro Rd, Williamsburg, MI 49690. Phone: 231-264-8387. Email: Rennieorchards@charter.net. Open: 7days a week 8am to 8pm. Directions: From Traverse City: 12 mi. N on US-31 to Angell Road; turn right - 2 mi. to Munro Road. Left on Munro Road 1 mi. Farm on left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Discover.
  Rennie Orchards Facebook page. Cherries July thru August 10am to 8 pm15 varieties of apples, honeycrisp, gala, jonagold. Other Fruits and Vegetables; U-Pick or We Pick: Apricots from the last weekend of July to August 6th. Peaches-from September 7th to September 16th. Pears Bartlett, Bosc, and Anjou September 12th; we pick the pears then store them in the cooler until gone.generally through mid-October. Gourds and squash; during October. Pumpkins -we offer great pumpkins in all shapes and sizes during October. Other Fruits and Vegetables U-Pick or We Pick: Apricots from the last weekend of July to August 6th; Peaches from September 7th to September 16th; Pears: Bartlett, Bosc, and Anjou:September 12th; we pick the pears then store them in the cooler until gone, generally through mid-October; Gourds and squash-during October; Pumpkins: we offer great pumpkins in all shapes and sizes during October.

Leelanau County

• Clearbrook Farms - Peaches, Chinese chestnuts
  PO Box 4446, Traverse City, MI 49686. Phone: 231-947-7366. Open: Call ahead to arrange times, get directions, u-pick by arrangement, from early August to late September. Click here for a map and directions. Chinese chestnuts available last weeks of October.

Manistee County

• Agles Fruit - blueberries, peaches, plums, pears, nectarines, apricots and apples
  12596 Northwood Hwy, Bear Lake, MI 49614. Phone: (231) 889-5563. Open: August, September, October, daily from 9 am to 6 pm. Click here for a map and directions. 4 miles north of Onekama on M-22, west side of the road.We have U-pick blueberries, and pre-picked or pick your own peaches, plums, pears, nectarines, apricots and several varieties of apples. (ADDED: June 30, 2016, JBS)

 

Peaches

Peach Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S., Peaches typically peak during late June through July in the South, and July and August in the North. In order to produce good local peaches, 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 peaches for home canning, see this page!

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - Peaches 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 peaches, 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 Peaches 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 peaches are! There are two major types of peaches: "Freestone" and. "Clingstone". Freestone peaches 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 peach 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 peaches 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 Peach jam or canned peaches - It is VERY easy - especially with our free
    - peach jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy and our page on
    - how to make home canned peaches from fresh!
   - Or see here to freeze peaches instead!
   - make your own home canned peach pie filling to use in the winter
5. Here's a great and easy peach pie recipe
   or peach-blueberry pie  or how about
   - peach salsa?
   - Peach chutney
   - Spiced peaches
   - peach butter
   - Peach honey
   - pickled peaches
   - peach syrup
   - peach juice
6. Here are some great and easy peach desert recipes, like easy peach cobbler.
7. If you want more information about the Giant Peach water tower in Gaffney, SC, click here.

Temporary Storage Tips

• Ripe peaches have a creamy or golden undertone and "peachy-sweet" fragrance.
• Peaches 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 33 F to 40 F  and high humidity (a vegetable drawer in the fridge).

How to tell if the peaches are ripe!

• Attached to the tree: Peaches are best picked when the fruit separates easily from the twigs. If it is hard to pull off the tree, it isn't ripe! Peaches 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 peach 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 peaches very firm, pick your peaches with just a little "give" when gently pressed. Peaches at this stage are great for eating, freezing, and baking. Peaches won't ripen very much after picking!
• Odor: It should smell sweet and ripe!

Tips on How to Pick Peaches

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

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

How much do you need?

Raw measures:

• About 2 medium peaches = 1 cup sliced peaches.
• About 4 medium peaches = 1 cup pureed peach.
• About 3 medium peaches = 1 pound of peaches

Process yields (Raw amounts to processed amounts)

• 2 to 21/2 pounds of fresh peaches yields 1 quart canned
• 1 lb of fresh peaches typically yields 3 cups of peeled, sliced peaches 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 peaches.
• An average of 171/2 pounds of fresh peaches 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 peaches makes about 4 cups puree, so 2-3 peaches make about 2 cups puree. 1 peach equals about 1 cup puree.

Peaches - 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 peach 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 peaches 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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Peach pit tips

It's best to remove peach pits before you cook the peaches. Cherry, peach, and apricot pits also contain amygdalin; the latter two, in potentially harmful amounts. Fortunately, 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