2024 Southwestern Missouri Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Southwestern Missouri in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have strawberries farms 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

Barton County

• Braker Berry Farm - blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and melons, Farmstand
  941 SW 90th Lane, Oronogo, MO 64855. Phone: 417-842-3609. Open: Please call ahead for berry pick-your-own hours. Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: 417-214-0807 We started in 2006 by planting blueberries. We gradually added blackberries and other vegetables to sell with the blueberries. We have several high tunnels for extending the seasons that we can grow produce. We have pick-your-own berries in the Summer, and flowers (hanging baskets & mums) in the Spring and Fall. We sell produce year-round at farmers' markets and off the farm. Everything we grow is Non-GMO, and we also offer some of our vegetables as "chemical-free". Fruits (pick-your-own or pre-picked): Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and melons. We sell atthe farm, at the Webb City Farmers' Market & Greater Springfield Farmers' Market (at Battlefield Mall in Springfield, MO)From Junction of 126 Hwy and 43 Hwy, go 2 miles south on 43, 1 mile east on SW 90th Rd, 1/2 mile south on SW 90th Lane. From Joplin Regional Airport (Stone's Corner), go 16.5 miles N on Hwy 43, east 1 mile on SW 90th Rd, 1/2 mile south on SW 90th Lane.

Cedar County

• Kenney Family Farms - blackberries, blueberries, corn (sweet), gooseberries, onions, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked, farm market, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations
  9505 South 1471 Road, Stockton, MO 65785. Phone: 417-276-3691. Email: peggykclerk@yahoo.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: 3and a half miles north of Stockton Square, left on 1471 Road, patch is quarter of mile down 1471 Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Strawberries: May 9 to May 30We only sale what we grow. We are not certified organic but follow organic like procedures. (ADDED: April 23, 2015)

Christian County

• High's Berry Farm - strawberries,
  879 Crabapple Rd, Ozark, MO 65721. Phone: (417) 229-1090. Email: highsberryfarm@yahoo.com. Open: See their Facebook page, should be in May. Directions: Located south of Ozark, just west of the 65 and EE exit. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash, credit cards. They are a U-pick and pre-pick strawberry farm . 2021 prices are $3.25/lb for u-pick and $4.25/lb for pre-pickedThey offer a 3% discount for using cash/check. They provide the container to pick in, so just bring your family out and enjoy.Hours will vary based on weather and fruit availability. They update their Facebook page daily.

Dallas County

• Rhea Farm - strawberries
  1218 State Rd AA, Fair Grove, MO 65648. Phone: 573-280-8050. Email: butkovich11@live.missouristate.edu. Click here for a map and directions. . see their Facebook page; they don't publish much about what they have and when to go. It is a small family farm just north of Springfield, Missouri in Fair Grove. They say that they have a U Pick strawberry patch, where we manage our plants without the use of synthetic herbicides, pesticides, or fumigants.

Greene County

• Boz's Berry Farm - strawberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available, picnic area you may bring your own food
  13920 W State highway TT, Republic, MO 65738. Phone: 417-988-8192. Email: Bozsberryfarm@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Saturday 7 am to 6pm, Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. . Alternate Phone: 816-248-2934
• Fassnight Creek Farms - strawberries, honey
  1366 S. Fort, Springfield, MO . Phone: 417-866-5011. Open: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . The farm has PYO strawberries, the quart-sized berry boxes for $6 in 2022 and pre-picked quart boxes are $8. They also have ready picked Blueberries, blackberries,
  Comments from a visitor on September 02, 2009: "It is a wonderful family owned business. I just recommend calling ahead if you're looking for a large quantity of something particular. They will either tell you the best day to come or set some back for you. "
• Tasty Acres Strawberry's and More - strawberries, green beans, restrooms
  3629 East State Hwy. A.A., Springfield, MO 65803. Phone: (417) 501-6840. Email: TastyAcres@yahoo.com. Open: for strawberries in May. Directions: directions. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx . Hours are 7 am to 7 pm, Monday through Saturday, Sunday 2 pm to 7 pm; May be closed any day for ripening, check Facebook or call for informationClick here for a map and Our fruit is grown without pesticides, herbicides, or fumigants, We are family friendly and enjoy kids. We provide containers to pick into and berries are weighed and paid by the pound. Later in the year we will offer Sweet corn, u-pick green beans, and at the end of Summer we will be selling Elderberries! (ADDED: January 25, 2020, Suggested by a visitor)

Laclede County

• IronGate Berry Farm - Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries,
  16225 Johnson Rd, Eldridge, MO 65463. Phone: (417) 426-5341. Email: info@irongateberryfarm.com. Open: May through July, starting with Strawberries in May; see the IronGate Berry Farm Facebook page. Click here for a map and directions.
  IronGate Berry Farm Facebook page. IronGate Berries will offer U-Pick & We Pick

Lawrence County

• Brown's Berry Farm - strawberries, U-pick or already picked.,
  5935 Highway M, Miller, MO 65707. Phone: 417-452-2400. Email: dsbrown@millertel.net. Open: Monday through Saturday from 7 am to 7 pm; Sunday from 1 pm to 7 pm; CALL PRIOR TO DRIVING AS we unpredictably CLOSE for fruit ripening and weather. Directions: From Springfield take I-44 westbound to Exit 57. Exit 57 is the Avilla Exit. That automatically puts you on Hwy 96. Take Hwy 96 westbound 5 miles. Turn right or North on Hwy M. Then just 18 mile north on M. You will see the 8\' tall fence and a brick house on your left with a white vinyl fence by the driveway. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Strawberries are usually ready early May through early June. Pick your own or order pre-picked. STRAWBERRIES are our primary cropFrom Springfield take I-44 westbound to Exit 57. Exit 57 is the Avilla Exit. That automatically puts you on Hwy 96. Take Hwy 96 westbound 5 miles. Turn right or North on Hwy M. Then just 1/8 mile north on M. You will see the 8' tall fence and a brick house on your left with a white vinyl fence by the driveway. . 2022 SEASON: Pick Your Own Strawberries - $3.00 per pound Pre-picked Strawberries - $4.00 per pound (UPDATED: April 29, 2022)
  Comments from a visitor on June 07, 2011: "I just went to, actually in Lawrence County. The best-kept strawberry farm I have seen. They take cash, credit, and checks there. The berries were sparse, but that is because it's the end of the season. They charged $1.80/lb U-pick and $2.60/lb They pick."
• Rocky Top Berry Farm - No pesticides are used, blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, Fresh eggs, picnic area
  23286 Lawrence 1140, Verona, MO 65769. Phone: 417-498-6574. Email: rockytopbb@gmail.com. Open: Daylight to early afternoon, late afternoon to dusk. Directions: Halfway between Monett and Aurora on Highway 60, farm road 1140. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Rocky Top Berry Farm Facebook page. . Mid May to Mid July; come early for best picking, we open at daylight. We do not use pesticides on the cropsWe are not CERTIFIED ORGANIC, but our goal is to provide the best picking opportunity and biggest, most delicious berries with as few chemicals as possible. We do not use any sprays or chemicals on the berries. Natural pest and weed control methods are employed as much as possible. ) Facebook page.
  Comments from a visitor on June 12, 2009: "I just love going to, the prices are very reasonable, the people are very friendly and they have great plants and blueberries! Thank-you!"

Polk County

• Gardener's Orchard and Bakery - apples, peaches, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries, Farmstand, Hayrides
  4455 W Farm Rd 2, Brighton, MO 65617. Phone: 417-742-3093. Email: gardenersfarm@gmail.com. Open: July for peaches and in September for apples. Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: 417-292-4789 . Gardener's Orchard & Bakery is a 45 acre family run orchard and farm run by the Gradinariu Family since 2013. The orchard was initially started by the Plaster Family in the early 1980's. The Gradinariu Family has expanded the farm to include seasonal produce, berries, a bakery, fresh apple cider and educational farm tours. A specialty fruit farm offering apples, peaches, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries. We have a bakery open year round on the farm that makes breads, pies, danishes, caramel apples and a variety of homemade bakery items with no added preservatives. We produce an all-natural apple cider September - January that is produced weekly with no added sugar or preservatives. The 2500 tree orchard has 13 varieties of Apple trees and 15 varieties of Peach trees. Each year more than 300 trees are planted to maintain the aging orchard. The the first trees in the orchard were first planted by Cliff Plaster in the early 1980's. You pick your own fruit is available in Orchard tours and hay rides are available for groups of 10 or more during apple season if scheduled ahead of time. Apple Varieties: Red Delicious, Gala, Golden Delicious, Sun Crisp, Fugi, Grimes Golden, Granny Smith, Early Blaze, Braeburn, Arkansas Black, Rome, Jonathan, CameoPeach Varieties: Redhaven, Cresthaven, Julyprince, Rubyprince, Harvester, Blazeprince, Loring, Contender, Augustprince, O'Henry, Sweet Sue, Big Red, Autumnprince, China Pearl, GalaFarm Store and Bakery are open year round offering bakery items, seasonal U-Pick and farm tours.Seasonal Farm Stand open June - October at 3545 W Republic Rd, Springfield, MO.Gardener's products also available at farmers' markets in the Springfield, MO metro area year round.

Vernon County

• Ogle Strawberry Patch - No pesticides are used, strawberries, U-pick and already picked, farm market, restrooms
  17569 East Lady Road, Nevada, MO 64772. Phone: 417-321-0835. Email: bobbi@bobbiogle.com. Open: Sun-up to Sun-down, weather permitting, 7 days a week, June 1 to July 1; Call for updates. Directions: 3 miles south of Wal-Mart in Nevada, Mo or 1 mile south of the city golf course. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Ogle Strawberry Patch Alternate Phone: 417-684-7803 June 1st to July 1st in a normal year. We do not use pesticides on the cropsWe have buckets to pick in and boxes to take home your berries. (UPDATED: May 17, 2016)

Wright County

• Simpsons Family Farm - strawberries, blackberries, honey
  8748 Simpson Road, Mountain Grove, MO 65711. Phone: 417-926.5308. Email: manager@simpsonsfamilyfarm.com. Click here for a map and directions. Fax: (417) 926 7162. . Simpson's offers U-pick and pre-picked strawberries for their customers Simpson's also offer U-pick and pre-picked blackberries. Strawberries; usually in May - u-pick or ready-picked. Blackberries usually start around July 4th.

 

Strawberry

Strawberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S. strawberries typically peak during April in Florida and Texas, May in the deep South, and in early June in middle sections and later June in the far North and Canada. Keep in mind that crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce good local strawberries, producers depend on ideal spring weather conditions. 

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - strawberries 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 strawberries, 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 strawberries 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 Strawberries

1. Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.

2. With the stem broken about one-half inch from the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.

3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. 

4. Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.

5. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick strawberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Be careful that your feet and knees do not damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
   
2. Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
   
3. To help the farmers, also remove from the plants berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury or other defects and place them between the rows behind you. If they are left in the plants, the rot will quickly spread to other berries.
   
4. Berries to be used immediately may be picked any time, but if you plan to hold the fruit for a few days, try to pick in the early morning or on cool, cloudy days. Berries picked during the heat of the day become soft, are easily bruised and will not keep well.
   
5. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunshine 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. Strawberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.
   
6. For interesting and fun strawberry facts and trivia from the California Strawberry Commission, click here!

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the caps (green tops) off the others and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) See this page about how to freeze strawberries.
4. If you like the strawberries you picked, ask the farm what variety they planted, and not the weather conditions the week or two before. The flavor of a strawberry is affected by the variety, the weather and the degree of ripeness when picked.
5. Now, get ready to make strawberry jam. It is VERY easy - especially with our free strawberry jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy.

Strawberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Strawberries

• How to freeze strawberries!
• Strawberry jam (with pectin) (uses less sugar or honey and less cooking)
• Strawberry jam (without pectin) (requires much more sugar and cooking)
• Strawberry (and other berry) jams without sugar
• Strawberry jelly
• Strawberry-rhubarb jam!
• Homemade strawberry ice cream (regular, low fat, nonfat, low sugar, vanilla and even gelato)
• Canning strawberries
• Make gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries
• How to make fruit juice -  strawberry and other berries
• Strawberry pie filling
• Strawberry pie
• Easy Rhubarb-Strawberry pie
• Fig-strawberry jam
• Fig-strawberry jam, made with Jello gelatin

Strawberry Facts, Measurements and Tips

• Picking the best strawberries: Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries DO NOT continue ripen after they are picked! In the photo, only the berry on the far right is completely ripe.
• Strawberry festivals: Most areas that grow strawberries have a strawberry festival, at which you can taste all kinds of fresh strawberry foods, pies, jams, cakes - and most commonly, fresh strawberry shortcake.  To find out where and when there is one near you, see this page for a list of strawberry festivals, sorted by state!
• Strawberries measurements: government agriculture websites tell us that
  1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups and is about the same as 1 liter and
  1 quart of fresh strawberries weighs 1 lbs to 1.25 lbs (or 450 to 600 g). Of course, the weight varies on variety and weather conditions. 
  1 quart is normally enough for 4 servings, although I'll admit my son can eat 1 pint by himself!
• How much to pick? In general, 1 quart of fresh, whole, just-picked strawberries = approximately 3.5 cups hulled, whole berries. In other words, removing the caps/hulls and the occasional mushy berry means you lose 1/4 cup to 1/2 (it depends how much fruit you remove with the hull) or about 7 to 12% of every quart you pick.
• One cup of strawberries contains only about 50 calories
• U-pick strawberries are much healthier than store-bought.  Consumer reports says store bought strawberries have so many pesticide and fungicide residues on they, that they don't recommend you eat them at all!
• U-pick strawberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. 1 lbs of fresh strawberries is about 2/3 of a quart.
• It takes about  10 to 15 minutes to pick a quart, if the berries are reasonably plentiful
• The strawberry plant adapts to wide variety of soil conditions, but does not tolerate drought well, and the berries quickly rot if the weather is rainy. For this reason, the plants are usually grown on raised beds through plastic mulch!
• Cultivation of strawberries began in Europe in the 1300's, but the berry only became very popular in the early 1900's in California.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as strawberries 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 grow your own strawberries?  Here's an article about how to: Strawberries are an Excellent Fruit for the Home Garden, HYG-1424-98!
• See this page for many more fun and interesting strawberry facts, nutritional information and trivia

Other weird strawberry facts

• Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
• Strawberries were originally called strewberries because the fruit was 'strewn' amongst the leaves of the plant.
• California is king of strawberry productions because: California produces 75 percent of the nation's strawberry crops; one billion pounds of strawberries each year.  If all the strawberries produced in California in one year were laid berry to berry, they would go around the world 15 times. Each acre of land in California in strawberry production produces an average of 21 tons of strawberries annually, with a total of 23,000 acres of strawberries planted in California each year.

More conversions

1 pint (2 cups)  of fresh whole strawberries

• = about 8 oz (1/2 lb) of strawberries
• = 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
• = 1 cup pureed strawberries
• = 12-14 large strawberries

2 quarts of fresh strawberries are needed for a 9" pie

A 10 oz package of frozen berries is about the same as 1 cup of sliced fresh strawberries

References:

• University of Illinois Extension
• Driscolls
• Ohio State University Extension
• Strawberries-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

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