2024 Southern Maine Raspberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Raspberry U-Pick Orchards in Southern Maine in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have raspberries 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

Cumberland County

• Pineland Farms Produce Division (former Gillespie Farm) - strawberries, peas, blueberries and raspberries
  752 Mayall Road, New Gloucester, ME . Phone: 207-657-2877. Email: producestaff@pinelandfarms.org. Open: You pick strawberries 7 days a week when in season typically, Mid June to July, from 7am to 1pm, weather permitting. Click here for a map and directions.
  Pineland Farms Produce Division (former Gillespie Farm) Facebook page. . Fax 207-657-2870.You pick strawberries 7 days a week when in season (typically, Mid June to July) , from 7am to 1pm, weather permitting. Senior discount on Wednesdays. Our pick your own fruit and vegetables are . Our wholesale fruits & vegetables are asparagus, peas, green beans, strawberries, cucumbers, corn, pumpkins, squash. .Pineland's Produce Division, cultivates 300 acres of crops on Mayall Road in New Gloucester, growing a variety of fruits and vegetables for wholesale and direct purchase. We also grow some crops for pick-your-own (PYO), a great experience at any age. Our PYO stand is open during the growing season from the first strawberries in June through the last of the high bush blueberries in August. Call our 'Berry Hotline' for daily updates and conditions. .(UPDATED: May 09, 2018)

York County

• Berry Best Farm - blueberries, peaches, raspberries (red), U-pick and already picked, gift shop, porta-potties are available, picnic area
  33 Colburn Way, Lebanon, ME 04027. Phone: 207-457-1435. Email: christine@berrybestfarm.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: Route 202 from Sanford - 202W to Center Road, turn right for 3.5 miles; from East Rochester NH, 4.6 mile on 202E to Center Road, turn left for 3.5 miles Watch for farm sign on 202. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
  Berry Best Farm Facebook page. Facebook page. ick your own blueberries (July-Aug.), raspberries (2 weeks only, call ahead) and peaches (starting mid-August) at. Pick your own blueberries, raspberries and peaches at our 75-acre hilltop farm in Lebanon, Maine. Pick from eleven different varieties of blueberries that are ripe from mid-July through Labor Day. On the weekends (in-season) you can sample some of "Grandma Colburn's Famous Blueberry Muffins." Our fruit is "gently raised" using minimal amounts of herbicides and pesticides. (UPDATED: April 6, 2021 JBS)
• Kelly Orchards - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, apples, blueberries, pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, red) , crabapples, prepicked produce, farm market, picnic area, school tours, wholesale
  82 Sanborn Road, Acton, ME 04001. Phone: 207-636-1601. Email: kellyorchards@gmail.com. Open: Daily, Mid - August through Thanksgiving, 10am to 5pm. Directions: Route 109 to Sanborn Road, Acton, ME. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Kelly Orchards Facebook page. Crops are usually available in August, September, October. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals Call ahead to find out what's available. PYO apples including Gala, Macoun, Jonagold, Cortlands, Macs and Northern Spy. Also, pumpkins. And pre-picked in the farm stand. Typical harvest dates are: Jerseymac in Mid-August, Paulared in Late August - Early Sept., Sunrise in Late August, Gingergold in Late August, Gala in Early September, McIntosh in September - October, Honeycrisp in Mid-September, Cortland in September - November, Macoun in Late September - November, Jonagold in Late September - November, Red Delicious in October - November, Spencer in Mid-October - November, Golden Delicious in Early October - November, Northern Spy in Early October - November, Mutsu/Crispin in October - November, Crabapples in Early September, Lady Apples in Mid-October, Peaches in Early August - Late Sept., Blueberries in Mid-July - Mid-August, Raspberries in Mid-August - Frost, Pumpkins in Mid-September - October, Fall Squash in Late September - October. We now offer some antique and heritage varieties on a limited basis. We raise apples, peaches, plums, pears, blueberries, pumpkins and fall squash. We also provide the apples for After Harvest Cider Company, a craft hard cider producer. Our crops are grown using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and are available PYO, at local farmers markets and wholesale. (UPDATED: July 10, 2020 JBS)
• Libby & Son U-Picks - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, blueberries, peaches, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red), Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, school tours
  86 Sawyer Mountain Road, Limerick, ME 04048. Phone: 207-793-4749. Email: libbysonupick@sacoriver.net. Open: hours, days and dates. Directions: Follow U-Pick Signs off Route 11 in Limerick. Visit our site for more directions. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Libby & Son U-Picks Facebook page. . Daily from 8am to 5pm, however there are days that we close for ripening; it's always best to call or visit our web site (both are updated daily in season) before you come; Crops are usually available in July, August, September and October. Click here for current open Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesBlueberries: Early July into October; Apples: August to end of October Raspberries: Early July into October Peaches: Late August into September - very limited check for availability. We use integrated pest management practices"Over Forty Acres of Fruity Family Fun!" Our Own Freshly Pressed Old-Fashioned Apple Cider. Pumpkins too! Free shuttle rides. Come watch and enjoy Homemade Blueberry Donuts or Apple Cider Donuts or Pumpkin donuts being made daily! Fresh Kettle Corn and Caramel Apples too! Free Live Music most weekends and some weekdays. Also hot food on the weekends. We have an ATM. Can Accommodate Bus Tours, Handicapped Accessible. We have acres and acres of great tasting pick-your-own Highbush Blueberries, Raspberries, Apples and Peaches! (UPDATED: October 18, 2012, jbs)
• McDougal Orchards - Nectarines, pears, plums, fall raspberries, pumpkins and apples, corn maze
  201 Hanson Ridge Road, Springvale, ME . Phone: 207-324-5054. Email: captjack@mcdougalorchards.com. Open: daily 9 am to 5 pm from August through October . Click here for a map and directions. Updates for 2020: The long stretch of hot, dry weather has impacted our corn maze, but we're still hoping that it will grow tall enough. A light peach crop and a large number of pre-paid CSA shares means that we will have. Any extra fruit will be sold in the Farm Store, ready picked. There will be NO wagon rides this year and the swing set will be unuseable.One mile south of Rte 11A on Hanson's Ridge Road. Drive your car into the field and pick your own fruit in our historic farm setting. Mostly dwarf trees provide easy picking. New varieties added frequently. Restroom available. Bus parking. (UPDATED: August 8, 2020 JBS)
• Rivard Farm - blueberries, raspberries (Spring, red),
  110 Blanchard Rd, Springvale, ME 04083. Phone: 207-324-5566. Email: threerivers@wildblue.net. Open: In season: mid - July thru Labor Day; Open daily 8am to 7pm as long a berries are ripe. Directions: from Portland Me, take 95S to Biddeford. Travel south on route 111 to Sanford. Continue on Route 202, take a right on Hansen\'s Ridge Road Continue to Blanchard Road Stay left at the fork. We are the third place on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Rivard Farm Facebook page. from Portland Me, take 95S to Biddeford. Travel south on route 111 to Sanford. Continue on Route 202, take a right on Hansen's Ridge Road Continue to Blanchard Road Stay left at the fork. We are the third place on the leftRaspberries ripen around the 10th of July, blueberries ripen around the 20th of JulyWe are putting up a hoop house and hope to have tomatoes available for our customers this summer.
• Snell Family Farm - apples, raspberries
  1000 River Road, Buxton, ME 04093. Phone: 207-929-6166. Email: info@snellfamilyfarm.com. Open: Mid-September through mid-October, open 7 days 9 am to 4 pm some days to 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . Fax 207-929-5421. Email Mid-September through mid-October, open 7 days 9 am to 4 pm (some days to 5 pm). Pick your own apples in our established orchard. Picking poles available. McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, Delicious, Spy varieties available. Also farm stand open. From Portland, follow Route 22, from Saco, Route 112 North, 10 miles. Handicapped Accessible. Restroom available. Bus parking. Raspberries ripen from mid-July to mid-August, and are the epitome of summer's richness. Many of our customers capture that richness in jam, pies, and winter smoothies made from frozen berries. Pick your own times vary depending on the weather and the ripening status of the fruit. Call the farm to see if we are open for picking on a given day. Please check in at the farm stand before heading out to the patch. PYO Apple Season is Mid September to Mid October. (UPDATED: September 17, 2019, JBS)
• Spiller Farm - apples, blueberries, pumpkins, raspberries (red), rhubarb, strawberries, porta-potties
  85 Spiller Farm Ln, Wells, ME 04090. Phone: (207) 985-2575. Email: spillerfarm@maine.rr.com. Open: Please see our website for current hours up dated daily on our home page. Directions: From 95 Wells exit 19 drive right on Route 109 1 mile. Take Route 9A East 2 12 miles OR from 95 Kennebunk exit 25 follow signs to Kennebunk. Drive south on Route 1 to Route 9A West \( at Dairy Queen \) 4 miles. Look for a yellow U PICK sign on 9A Drive in the direction of the arrow and PARK past the park sign on grass. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Spiller Farm Facebook page. From 95 Wells exit 19 drive right on Route 109 1 mile. Take Route 9A East 2 1/2 miles OR from 95 Kennebunk exit 25 follow signs to Kennebunk. Drive south on Route 1 to Route 9A West ( at Dairy Queen ) 4 miles. Look for a yellow U PICK sign on 9A Drive in the direction of the arrow and PARK past the park sign on grassOur U PICK begins about June 15 with strawberries, then blueberries, veggies, apples and pumpkins until October 15;. We use integrated pest management practicesWe do group wagon ride farm tours week days mid September to mid October (reservations required) Our cows, calves and bull can usually be seen in "their " rotational pastures. We have a FREE picnic/play area with a retired farm tractor for the kids, corn stalk teepee, goats and geese to see and a little red covered bridge to a sand pile. Picnic supplies could be purchased at Spillers' Farm Store We hope everyone enjoys our farm. Anna and Bill Spiller. (UPDATED: January 31, 2021)

 

Raspberry

Raspberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Raspberries can produce an early summer crop or  a late summer and Fall crop. In the U.S. Spring / Summer raspberries (called florocanes) typically peak during June in the South, and in July in the North. The primocane varieties, which produce raspberries on shoots that come up each Spring are typically read from August until frost.

In addition to the variety a farm plants, the berries are ready at various times depending the local climate, such as which part of the state you are located. See this page for a list of raspberry festivals around the U.S.

And for those of you from the upper midwest through the west and up to Canada, if you are interested in Thimbleberries, see this page.

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 raspberries, 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 raspberries 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 raspberries

1. Raspberry bushes don't have thorns, but they are a pick prickly, so if you want to hold the stem while picking, a pair of lightweight gloves is helpful.

   Raspberries Nutritional Data
   (fresh)

   Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
   Energy	220 kJ (53 kcal)
   Carbohydrates	11.94 g
   Sugars	4.42 g
   Dietary fiber	6.5 g
   Fat	0.65 g
   Protein	1.2 g
   Vitamins
   Thiamine	(3%) 0.032 mg
   Riboflavin2	(3%) 0.038 mg
   Niacin3	(4%) 0.598 mg
   Pantothenic acid5	(7%) 0.329 mg
   Vitamin B6	(4%) 0.055 mg
   Folate9	(5%) 21 μg
   Choline	(3%) 12.3 mg
   Vitamin C	(32%) 26.2 mg
   Vitamin E	(6%) 0.87 mg
   Vitamin K	(7%) 7.8 μg
   Minerals
   Calcium	(3%) 25 mg
   Iron	(5%) 0.69 mg
   Magnesium	(6%) 22 mg
   Manganese	(32%) 0.67 mg
   Phosphorus	(4%) 29 mg
   Potassium	(3%) 151 mg
   Zinc	(4%) 0.42 mg
   Other constituents
   Water	85.8 g
   Units μg = micrograms • mg = milligrams IU = International units
   Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source:

   
   
2. A ripe raspberry is deep color with a plump, soft but firm feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug. The center will remain on the plant. Keep in mind, raspberries come in many colors: red, yellow, black, purple, so you want to pick the darker shade of whichever it is.
3. Pick only the berries that are fully ripe. 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!
4. I find it helps to hold the stem with one hand, while picking with the other.
5. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
6. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down. Ideally, the collection containers should be wide so the pberries aren't more than a few deep.
7. Pick berries into a shallow container. If they get piled too deep they will crush each other.
8. 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.

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. DO refrigerate! Right after picking, place raspberries in the fridge. If your fridge tends to dry out produce, lightly cover the container.
3. Raspberries don't store for very long, usually just a few days. The reason the ones from the grocery store last longer is they are covered with fungicides!
4. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
5. 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) raspberries 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 raspberries (while they are in the fridge)!
6. Even under ideal conditions raspberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase
7. See this page for illustrated freezing instructions.

Raspberry Recipes

1. Now, get ready to make raspberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free
   raspberry jam directions - very easy! or for a jam with a little kick, try raspberry chipotle jam
2. And if you want to freeze them to use later, see my How to freeze berries page.
3. You can also make your own raspberry vinaigrette,
4. See this page for an easy recipe to make raspberry chipotle sauce

 

Raspberry Facts

• Raspberries are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• Raspberries contain more vitamin C than oranges, are super high in fibre, lhave a good amount of folic acid, are high in potassium, vitamin A and calcium.
• The USDA says 1 cup of raspberries has about 62 calories.
• 11 cup of raspberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• An average raspberry has 100 to 120 seeds.
• Select plump, firm, fully raspberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Raspberries belong to a large group of fruits known as brambles, such as blackberries, in the plant genus Rubus.
• Raspberries come in red, yellow, orange, purple and black colors.
• Yellow raspberries are red raspberries that don't make red pigment.)
• In most areas, raspberries begin to bloom in late May or early June.
• Bumblebees, honeybees, and other wild bees love to visit brambles.
• 60-70 pints of fruits can be harvested from 100 feet row.
  Raspberries can be harvested from early summer through fall, usually right up until a freeze
• The United States is the world's third-largest producer of raspberries (FAOSTAT, 2013).
• Production occurs across much of the country, although most of it is concentrated in California, Oregon and Washington. California leads the nation in both black and red raspberry production (NASS, 2015).
• According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, the United States has 8,052 raspberry farms totaling 23,104 acres (Census of Ag, USDA, 2012).
• U-pick raspberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/4 pounds of fresh berries.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as raspberries 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 raspberry 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