2025 Capital Region (aka Hudson Valley) of New York State Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Capital Region (aka Hudson Valley) of New York State in 2025, 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.

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Saratoga County

• Ariels Farm - raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (Spring, black), raspberries (Autumn, black), strawberries,
  194 Northern Pines Road, Gansevoort, NY 12831. Phone: 518-584-2189. Email: jariel@nycap.rr.com. Open: May 1 to October 31st on Monday to Sunday 7 days a week 9am to 6pm; Please call before you plan to visit as our hours change seasonally. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Tomatoes: May 1 to September 1; Asparagus: May to June; Strawberries: June to July; Raspberries: July to September; Peas: June; Corn: August; Pumpkins: October. We are a local farm that has been providing the surrounding area with the freshest produce since 1948. Our delicious U Pick strawberries and raspberries are available every summer as well as berries already picked for sell on the stand. We have a variety of produce on our farm including asparagus, corn, tomatoes, and everything in between! Stop by and check us out and we will show you what good food is all about! Please call us before you visit to hear the specific hours we are open and prices of the berries. We looked forward to seeing you!. [ ] (UPDATED: May 15, 2025, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on August 01, 2011: "Great! Staff is always friendly and helpful. I've been here to pick strawberries and raspberries. They also have a farm stand with other vegetables and flowers that they grow. I don't know if anything other than ..
• Barber's Ruckytucks PYO Farm - strawberries, picnic area
  206 Ruckytucks Rd, Stillwater, NY 12170. Phone: 518-583-0874. Email: joesydnic@verizon.net. Open: starting Saturday June 14th from 10 am to 6; then hours are Sunday from 10 am to 6; Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 6. Directions: Off of route 32 or 67 near battlefield. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Besides Strawberries we will have a variety of veggies. [ ] (UPDATED: May 15, 2025, JBS)
• Bowman Orchards - Pick your own and picked apples, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries, cider and donuts.
  141 Sugar Hill Road, Rexford, NY 12148. Phone: 518-371-2042. Email: kevin@bowmanorchards.com. Open: right through Thanksgiving. Click here for a map and directions.
  Bowman Orchards Facebook page.

Washington County

• Hand Melon Farm - Uses integrated pest management practices, blueberries, peppers, raspberries (Autumn, red), strawberries, tomatoes, U-pick and already picked, farm market
  533 Wilbur Avenue, Greenwich, NY 12834. Phone: 518-692-2376. Email: handmelonfarm@yahoo.com. Open: Beginning in June with Strawberries; Wednesday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm and CLOSED MONDAY and TUESDAY. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Hand Melon Farm Facebook page. Strawberries open typically the beginning of June running through mid July; Blueberries follow shortly thereafter (in 2020, blueberry picking is $3.75 per pound and started in mid-July; Raspberries begin late august; Tomatoes and Peppers open Saturday and Sunday only the third weekend in august; Pick your own hours are Monday through Friday 8 am to 5:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4:30 pm. We use integrated pest management practices. . Moving into the later summer we feature pickyou-own Tomatoes, including Romas, Sweet Bell and assorted hot Peppers, and Eggplant. Pick Your Own is a great way for you to affordably pick bushels full to put up for the winter. Then finally the Pick Your Own season ends with Fall Squash. We operate a Farm market on Rt 29 in Greenwich, NY that carries a wide range of produce that we grow on the farm but is not available for pick your own. This includes sweet corn, beans, eggplants, watermelons, specialty fall items including pumpkins, hot peppers and our ..
• Liebigs' Strawberry Ridge Farm - blueberries, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (black), raspberries (Autumn, black), strawberries, U-pick and already picked, picnic area, farm animals, school tours
  9015 State Route 22, Granville, NY . Phone: 518-307-5520. Email: liebigsriversidefarms@gmail.com. Directions: Liebigs\\\\\\\' Strawberry Ridge Farm is located on Middleton Road in the hamlet of Truthville, which is part of the township of Granville, NY. The most immediate way to find the farm is take County Route 12 off of State Route 22. Once on County Route 12, look for Middleton Road \\\\(appx. one half mile from Route 22\\\\) and travel 310\\\\\\\'s of a mile. The farm is on the right hand side. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. The most immediate way to find the farm is take County Route 12 off of State Route 22. Once on County Route 12, look for Middleton Road (appx. one half mile from Route 22) and travel 3/10's of a mile. The farm is on the right hand side. Located in Granville, New York, Strawberry Ridge is a 118-acre, family-owned farm nestled along the banks of the picturesque Mettowee River in Washington County, near the New York-Vermont border. We grow more than a dozen varieties of crops and specialize in U-pick strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, pumpkins and other fall produce. We also raise a herd of Scottish Highland cattle, which are sustained exclusively on a grass-fed diet. (UPDATED: May 15, 2025, JBS)
• Stuberry Acres - strawberries, blueberries, raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (black),
  1483 County Route 49, Argyle, NY 12809. Phone: 518-638-8926. Email: stuberryacres@yahoo.com. Open: July - September Every Day 8 am to 8 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . (formerly known as "Stewarts Berry Farm")
  Comments from a visitor on September 26, 2010: " It's beautiful family owned farm that currently has pick your own fruit. I believe they also have a roadside stand down the street as well. Friendly, beautiful, local family environment. Absolutely LOVE it! I have been picking there for the last couple of years and tell everyone I can to go there. The berries are amazing and there are always plenty to pick. The black raspberries (not blackberries) are unbelievable! This is just a friendly, local family owned farm that is expanding and has great pick your own!!! Black raspberries (that are huge and absolutely unbelievable)" [ ] (UPDATED: May 15, 2025, JBS)

 

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