2024 Southeastern New Hampshire Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Southeastern New Hampshire 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

Rockingham County

• Applecrest Farm Orchards, Inc. - - Apples, strawberries, vegetables, peaches and nectarines, make your own cider, and hayrides
  133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, NH 03844. Phone: 603-926-3721. Email: info@applecrest.com. Open: 8 am to 6 pm. Click here for a map and directions. Fax: 926-0006 i Pick your own apples or pumpkins, make your own cider, and hayrides thru the orchards in the fall. We even offer a storybook hayride! STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: Sunday, June 16, 2013 (10 am to 3 pm). Four rolling acres of juicy berries and a cool spring-fed pond provide the backdrop for a fun-filled day of Pick-Your-Own strawberries, free live bluegrass music, tractor drawn hayrides, face painting, cider donuts and a bevy of strawberry inspired delicacies from our very own scratch kitchen and bakery. Our Fall festivals launch on the first weekend in September and run from 11 am to 5 pm, both Saturday and Sunday, every weekend, through the end of October. Here's what you can expect: Pick-Your-Own Apples, Raspberries, Peaches & Pumpkins. Cut-your-own flowers too! FREE live Folk and Bluegrass music (1 pm - 5 pm. Old-Fashioned ice cream barn with 25 local-made flavors featuring our own grown-on-the-farm fruits. Horse-drawn Hayrides (10 am to 4:45 pm). Children's Petting Zoo (10 am to 4:45 pm). Face Painting & Balloons. Pie Eating Contests. Apple Pie & Ice Cream. Old-Fashioned Hot Cider Donuts. Make-your-own Scarecrow. Our Famous Corn Roast featuring: grilled gourmet sausages, hot dogs, hamburgers, fire-roasted corn, Maine clam chowder, fresh pressed apple cider and more. Early September is always a great time to Pick-Your-Own, as we have FOUR great offerings to choose from: Apples, Pumpkins, Raspberries & Peaches. A visitor writes on September 22, 2020: "Apples were $30/peck PYO"
• Elwood Orchards - Apples, strawberries, raspberries & variety of vegetables, corn maze, hayrides
  54 Elwood Road, Londonderry, NH 03053. Phone: 603-434-6017. Email: patsmnb@comcast.net. Open: June-October 15. Click here for a map and directions. Special Events: Hayrides, call for information. Night maze is Friday and Saturday nights through October 30th. Be sure to bring a flashlight! Last entrance at 9 pm. It is not "haunted". Day maze is open 7 days a week. Both day and night maze are $10.00 per person. Children 5 and under are free. Dogs are not allowed in the maze. Free hayrides Sat and Sun. PYO apples also. (UPDATED: October 25, 2021 JBS)
• J & F Farms - eggplant, pumpkins, strawberries, tomatoes, Other fruit or veg, Fresh eggs, porta-potties are available, picnic area, Jumping pillow, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties
  124 Chester Rd, Derry, NH 03038. Phone: 603 437-0535. Email: jandffarms@gmail.com. Open: Strawberries mid June - July 1st 8:30am to 6:30pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
  J & F Farms Facebook page. Fax: 603 432-4921 Christmas trees, wreaths, kissing balls & swags. We also have a free Petting Farm, Corn Maze, Ice cream stand & pick your own strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant & shell beans in season. Our farm stand is open May - Christmas. (UPDATED: April 25, 2018, JBS)
• Monahan Farm - Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, green beans, corn, and squash.
  2 South Road, East Kingston, NH 03827. Phone: 603-642-8186. Open: mid-June-September, call for hours. Click here for a map and directions. Monahan Farm Phone:, operational during farm season
• Sunnycrest Farm Inc. - apples, blueberries, cherries, flowers, grapes, pumpkins, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals
  59 High Range Road, Londonderry, NH 03053. Phone: 603-432-9652. Email: sunnycrestfarm43@msn.com. Open: Everyday from 9am to 6pm, June through Thanksgiving. Directions: Exit 4 off of I-93, west on Route 102 \(4 miles\), turn right at Sunncrest sign \(1 mile\). Follow the signs. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
  Sunnycrest Farm Inc. Facebook page. . Exit 4 off of I-93, west on Route 102 (4 miles), turn right at Sunncrest sign (1 mile). Follow the signsCrops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October, November, December Strawberries: June 15 pm to July 10, 7am to Noon; Blueberries: July 10 to September 15, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 7am to Noon; Flowers: August 'til frost; Raspberries: July 10 to August 10th; Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 7am to Noon; Apples: September-October 15, 9am to 6pm; Pumpkins: October; Cider: Fall; Bakery: Fresh on the weekends; All dates approximateIn our store front, we also carry local Maple Syrup, Honey, Jams and Jellies, and other local products. Our U-pick crops include Apples: Cortland, Macintosh, Red Delicious, and Mutsu, Strawberries, Cherries, Blueberries, Raspberries (Summer and Fall), Peaches, Grapes, and incase you missed our eight foot tall Sunflowers your can pick those too!

Strafford County

• Butternut Farm LLC - apples, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, nectarines, plums, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, school tours
  195 Meaderboro Road, Farmington, NH 03835. Phone: 603 335-4705. Email: giffandmae@butternutfarm.net. Open: See our website for current hours because they vary depending on season. Directions: Take exit 13 off the Spaulding turnpike. Head west on rte 202 for 1 mile. At the blinking light turn right onto Estes Road Go for 4 miles through Meaderboro corner and we will be on your right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Fax: Picking updates: click here for picking updates. Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October We are a family run and family orientated Pick Your Own Fruit Farm. We pride ourselves on offering a clean farm and the best quality produce available. Typical harvest dates are: Strawberries mid June to early July. Raspberries in July. Sweet Cherries in July. Blueberries from late July through August. Peaches from late July through September. Apples from late August through October. Pumpkins in September and October. (UPDATED: August 10, 2013, by a visitor) A visitor writes on August 10, 2013: "little hard to find as their sign is a mini sign - if you take ( STRAFFORD ROAD - AKA 202a ) down Meaderboro Rd you will pass a lot of farms - Valley farm ( Apples ) Scuton Dairy ( milk ) 4 rod road the house is a sunny Yellow in color on the right - or from Farmington it is on left "
  Comments from a visitor on June 30, 2011: "I just loved this farm. A great Family run farm. Prefect for families with small children. The strawberries we pick were the biggest sweetest I have ever picked. Look forward to apples and raspberries picking."
  Comments from a visitor on October 03, 2010: "Farm is beautiful! I've never seen such big, beautiful apples. Great place for the whole family and tons of fresh produce. Many varieties of apples to choose from. Will certainly return."
• Cardinal Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, blueberries, raspberries (red), strawberries, blackberries
  1186 Ten Rod Road, Farmington, NH 03835. Phone: (603) 781-1608. Email: Cristina.welch@hotmail.com. Open: During the picking season; Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm; Sundays 11 am to 5 pm. Directions: From Rochester: To avoid dirt roads, take Route 11 towards Farmington. Take a left on Ridge Road 14 mile past Camerons Home and Garden Center. Take your next left onto Hornetown Road. Follow Hornetown about a mile and a half, and take your next Right onto Ten Rod Road. We are the second driveway on your left. *. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Cardinal Farm Facebook page. From Rochester: To avoid dirt roads, take Route 11 towards Farmington. Take a left on Ridge Road 1/4 mile past Camerons Home and Garden Center. Take your next left onto Hornetown Road. Follow Hornetown about a mile and a half, and take your next Right onto Ten Rod Road. We are the second driveway on your left. *We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicalsApples, peaches, yellow raspberries, and blackberries in seasons to come!. Our typical fruit seasons are: Strawberries: Mid June-early JulyRaspberries: July​Blackberries: July​Blueberries: Mid July-AugustPeaches: Coming Late Summer 2019 ​Apples: Coming Fall 2019It is always a good idea to give us a call before you come to check picking conditions and be assured that we have not closed for ripening. (UPDATED: July 01, 2018)
• East Wind Farm - Certified Organic, strawberries,
  120 Perry Road, Strafford, NH 03884. Phone: 603-269-6203. Email: eastwindfarm2009@gmail.com. Open: Strawberries available from mid - June to early July; Hours vary - PLEASE call for hours and conditions before you come. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  East Wind Farm Facebook page. We are certified organic for all crops!
• Hickory Hill Farm - blueberries, strawberries, Fresh eggs, porta-potties are available, farm animals
  245 Back Road, Dover, NH 03820. Phone: 603-742-0553. Email: hickoryhillfarm@gmail.com. Open: Strawberries: Mid - June to early July, Blueberries: August; Please call for hours and conditions. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Hickory Hill Farm We will leave a message on the answering machine
  Comments from a visitor on June 25, 2009: We went to in Dover and they had a huge and full crop to pick from. Family run and extremely friendly. We will definitely go back!"
• McKenzie's Farm - Pick-Your-Own strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, apples, and pumpkins.
  71 NE Pond Road, Milton, NH 03851. Phone: 603-652-9400. Email: mckenziesfarm@hotmail.com. Open: May to September 9-6 daily; October - mid November, all day-everyday . Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. . See this page for directionsCredit cards are accepted. We have tractor rides in the fall. Additionally we have a farm stand with lots of produce and other goodies. Strawberries: Mid-June - Mid-July; Raspberries: Mid-July - Mid-August; Tomatoes: Late August -September and Apples & Pumpkins: "U-PICK" at currently includes Raspberries, Blackberries, Apples, Tomatoes, Pumpkins, flowers, and Blueberries.​
• Nelson Farms - Vegetables, Tomatoes, salad mix, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, kale, chard, strawberries, peppers: sweet & hot, summer & winter squash, cucumbers, beets, garlic, onions, flowers & pumpkins .
  Range Road, Strafford, NH 03884. Phone: 603-664-5151. Open: 9 am to 5pm, Saturday & Sunday, June-October. Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate Phone: 603-664-9884

 

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