On a daily basis, it’s perfectly acceptable to wander into Wegmans and grab some fruit along with the other groceries on your list. But it’s so much more fun to head to the farm and pick some yourself! Luckily there are U-Pick farms all around the Greater Rochester Area.
Often times, picking your own produce is as much a family adventure as it is entertainment. Keep an eye on the websites, or sign up for a newsletter, to find out exactly when picking actually begins and ends.
Here’s a guide to each delicious season:
1. U-Pick Strawberries
Season: June 5 – June 20
Pick your own strawberries, and enjoy a few festivals where you can taste everything from jams to shortcake to strawberry wine.
2. U-Pick Cherries
Season: July 1 – July 31
The season runs mostly in July, but start checking in late June and call before going.
3. U-Pick Raspberries
Early Season: July 5 – July 21
Fall & Everbearing Season: August 15 – September 30
Start picking your own raspberries in July with the early varieties. Fall varieties ripen in late August.
4. U-Pick Stone Fruit
Season: July 20 – September 1
Peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots (stone fruit) hit their prime mid-August-mid-September.
5. U-Pick Blueberries
Season: August 1 – September 10
August is blueberry month! Here are a few places around Rochester you can pick your own.
6. U-Pick Grapes
Season: September 1 – October 5
My family has been going to Jerome’s U-Pick Grapes nearly every year for 20 years. To avoid the crowds, go the week before or after the Naples Grape Festival.
7. U-Pick Apples
Season: September 1 – October 15
Many of our farms offer a family-fun experience, with hay rides, cider & donuts and activities for the kids, in addition to pick your own apples.
8. U-Pick Pumpkins
Season: September 15 – October 28
It’s so much more than simply buying a pumpkin. It’s about family time on the farm, with wagon rides, hot cider & donuts, corn maizes, and games.
9. U-Pick Christmas Trees
Season: Late-November – Late-December
Of course, you don’t eat these, but that doesn’t make it any less fun to pick your own tree on the farm! One of the most popular family traditions in December is decorating the Christmas tree.
If you’re hunting for the perfect real tree, this list is for you.
Locally Grown Produce: Your Guide to Rochester’s Harvest Seasons
Find out which locally grown produce (fruits, vegetables, plants) are at their peak each month, and enjoy Rochester-area harvest festivals.
Where are your favorite U-Pick farms?
Please share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments. Your insight and experience are invaluable!
