2024 Berks County, Pennsylvania Raspberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Raspberry U-Pick Orchards in Berks County, Pennsylvania 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

Berks County

• Frecon Farms - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, cherries, pears, pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, red), farm market, picnic area, school tours
  501 South Reading Avenue, Boyertown, PA 19512. Phone: 610-367-6200. Email: info@freconfarms.com. Open: Their hours change by the crop and season, so see their website. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Frecon Farms Facebook page. Fax: 610-473-9042Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesCherries: Late June into early July; Apples: Second weekend of September through the end of October; Pears: Second weekend of September through the end of September; Pumpkins: Late September through the end of October; Raspberries: Second weekend of September through mid-October. We use integrated pest management practicesEvery year we open our apple & pear orchard to families and friends to get outside and reconnect with their food. Varieties of apples, pears, pumpkins, and raspberries are all available as they ripen and there is no better way to get the freshest, highest quality fruit. ALL SUMMER UPICKERS NAVIGATE TO POWDER MILL HOLLOW ROAD AND FRECON ROAD, BOYERTOWN PA. Facebook page. The Frecon Family proudly opens acres of prime orchard during the peak of select harvest seasons to share with families & friends from throughout the Mid Atlantic. Reconnecting folks with their food source the people that grow it is what we've hung our hat on since 1944 so it's only natural. So come one, come all to enjoy a crisp summer or fall day strolling the trees, picking cherries & blueberries in the summer or apples, pear & pumpkins in the fall
• Myers Orchard - No pesticides are used, blackberries, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), farm animals
  6 Spangler Drive, Bernville, PA 19506. Phone: 610-488-0175. Open: hours, days and dates. Directions: Take Route 183Strausstown exit off of Route 78. Go South approximately 2 miles. Make a left on to Spangler Drive. Berry fields are on the left hand side and marked with signs. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. UPDATE for 2021, Their Facebook page is gone; There's nothing else about them on the internet, so I assume they have closed. If you have any information to the contrary, please write me. See our website for current hours. Click here for current open Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesTake Route 183/Strausstown exit off of Route 78. Go South approximately 2 miles. Make a left on to Spangler Drive. Berry fields are on the left hand side and marked with signsRaspberries: June to November Blackberries: July to September. We do not use pesticides on the cropsWe use NO PESTICIDES or commercial fertilizers, so please watch for bees in summer. We are new and growing. Now that our crop is mature enough, we offer delicious "you pick" raspberries and blackberries to the public while in season. All our commercial-quality fruit are available as "YOU PICK" while in a beautiful country setting at a fraction of what consumers pay at the supermarket. We weigh your fruit after you pick, so you only pay for what you pick. Bring your own containers. Watch for bees in summer! If you have an allergy to bee stings you should NOT pick. We also have a friendly herd of goats with kids for you to visit. Let's have some fun! (UPDATED: June 14, 2016)
• The Berry Farm and Orchard - apples, apricots, blueberries, cherries, loganberries, nectarines, other berries, pears, peaches, plums, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), strawberries, Other fruit or veg, U-pick and already picked
  86 Moselem Church Rd, Kutztown, PA 19530. Phone: (610) 597-8501. Email: staceymullen04@hotmail.com. Open: Late May to late October, see their website or Facebook page for hours and availability. Directions: Just North of the intersection of Rt. 222 & Rt. 662 in the Kutztown area. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  The Berry Farm and Orchard Facebook page. ​ They have containers or you can bring your own. Tree fruit and more are also available on our Farm Stand. We have baby lettuces and herbs that are PYO too! Typical seasons (may VARY!)Strawberries - Late May to July. Early, mid, & late season varieties.Brambles -June & July. Raspberries - Red, black, purple, & yellow, elderberry, & blackberry.​Blueberries -late June through July. Blue Crop and DukeCherries - late June, sweet for now. (Sours in 2 yrs.).Flowers - Sunflowers, Gladiolus, Zinnia's & more - June -AugSpecialty Salad Blends, Peppers, & Tomatoes - July - Aug2022 season information: PYO strawberry pricing: $4.00 lb less than 10 lbs, ​$3.75 LB more than 10 lbs (UPDATED: June 7, 2022, JBS) (ADDED: March 16, 2018)
• Weaver's Orchard - Apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, kiwi berries, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, U-pick and already picked, farm market
  40 Fruit Lane, Morgantown, PA 19543. Phone: 610-856-7300. Email: info@weaversorchard.com. Open: Pick - your - own hours: Monday through Friday 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 5 pm Market hours remain Monday through Friday 8 am to 7 pm and Saturday 8 am to 5 pm. Directions: Located in Robeson Township, Berks County Pennsylvania. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Weaver's Orchard Facebook page. Last admittance a half hour before close each day; Whenever the forecast is for temperatures to reach 90 or above our PYO hours will be 7 am to 2 pm on Monday to FridayPicking updates: Click here for picking updates. Strawberries Possibly opening May 31st, peak expected June 12th. Red & Black Raspberries Late June, Peak expected week of July 1st. Blueberries Late June, Peak expected around July 1st. Sweet & Sour Cherries; Sour cherries - Late June/early July; Sweet cherries - TBD. : is . Address: 40 Fruit Lane, Morgantown, PA 19543 GPS option: 685 Weaver Road, Morgantown, PA 19543 Morgantown: North on Route 10, approximately 5 miles to Weaver Road turn right. (I-76) Exit 298: North on Route 10, 5 miles to Weaver Road on right. 422 Reading: South on I-176 to Exit 7 Green Hills. South on Route 10, 5 miles to Weaver Road turn leftoffers farm fresh fruit from May-November and also features a market open year round; The market features produce year-round (homegrown and local in season - a bakery, deli, locally sourced all-natural meat and dairy products, freshly pressed apple cider - made on the premises, hand-dipped ice cream and more! The orchard is a perfect spot for events - from school tours and birthday parties to Easter egg hunts, tasting events, nutrition seminars, and fall festivals; From the Saturday after Labor Day until the end of October, Fall Family Fun Days allow customers to experience the orchard through pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, live music, hayrides delicious apple treats and many kid's activities - such as pony rides, tractor-train rides, moon bounce, zip line, straw barn, pumpkin painting and much more!We require wristbands for everyone entering the pick-your-own areas, which allows us to identify people who are in the orchard as paying pick-your-own customers. This leads to greater security for us and for our customers, ensuring that everyone who is on the property is accounted for. It is also a way for us to keep overall costs down by ensuring that everyone is paying for the fruit they pick. WRISTBANDS ARE FREE ON NON PEAK DAYS MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, excluding holidays. Wristbands are always free for children five years old and younger who are accompanied by a paying parent or legal guardian. Wristbands are $2 for customers 6 years old and up on peak days (Fridays, Saturdays, Independence Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day. (UPDATED: July 04, 2018) (UPDATED: May 01, 2018)
  Comments from a visitor on May 24, 2010: "I love this farm. It is your typically home grown uncommericalized farm. I have made it a point to buy local grown products and to help local farmers in the last year and this farm is the best out there. I did not eat peaches until I had one of their fresh off the tree peaches. I pick 140 pounds of apples with my family and we loved every ounce. I had strawberries this year from the farm and they were out of this world. We are going back this weekend to pick 40 pounds to make into yummie recipes from this website. The people are family friendly and my family just loves the farm and has no problem driving the hour to shop."

 

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