‘Tis the season to pick your own blueberries, strawberries, and cherries one of the sweetest summer pleasures in and around Pittsburgh. Packed with nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, potassium, and fiber, berries provide a prime, portable snack for riverside picnics and festive park gatherings that mark this bright season ahead.
Those in the know suggest prioritizing picking in the morning hours before the heat builds up in the fruit and when they’re at the peak of their sweetness. Making yourself part of the process is one way to beat grocery shopping inflation and links you and your kids to the farmers and growers responsible for your nourishment. In the end, you’ll likely feel a deeper connection to — and reverence for — the food you place on the table for family and friends to savor together.
We’ve rounded up the following ideas on where to gather the season’s freshest berries. Just be sure to check up-to-date details on each farm’s websites or social media pages since crop conditions depend on factors beyond human control.
Pick-Your-Own Strawberries, Cherries, and Blueberries Around Pittsburgh
Blueberry Hill Farm
Pop north about 50 miles to Enon Valley, where July is the prime time to pick from several varieties of tasty blueberries. The farm starts their blueberry picking season on June 10 with hours Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon. Keep an eye on the farm’s Facebook page for any weather updates and family recipes.
Bowser’s Blueberries
Starting tentatively July 6, travel six miles west of Butler for some pick-your-own adventures at this family-owned blueberry farm that launched in the summer of 2011. They now have 5,700 plants, including 10 sweet varieties, each showcasing a distinctive taste.
Pete’s Berry Farm
Follow them on Facebook to discover seasonal updates from this Sharpsville berry hub. This year’s blueberry production is estimated to start around July 4 where you can do your own picking. Or, if you’re not feeling the picking-spirit you can purchase pre-collected berries from the farm stand.
Soergel Orchards
While sadly pick-your-own strawberry season has ended for Soergel Orchards, you can still look forward to blueberry season starting in July. You’ll want to keep an eye on their website and Facebook page for further details. But, in the meantime you can take advantage of their Build Your Own Essentials Kit that includes three meal kits plus a variety of essential ingredients like milk, eggs, and more.
Triple B Farms
Just 15 minutes from downtown, this Monongahela outpost has grown fresh fruits and vegetables and operated a country market since 1985. This year, they are one of the only farms with pick-your-own strawberries due to the crop availability so you’ll want to visit before they’re all gone. Be sure to also stop into the shop for fresh produce plus goodies ranging from pickles, local honey, and fruit butters to coffee and even pick-your-own lavender.
Norman’s Orchard
Lovers of delicious tart cherries fill have a smile on their face when looking over Norman’s Orchard. Beginning June 7 you can bring the family to explore both sweet and tart cherry trees. Currently 10 trees are fully ripe but the remaining 40 trees are expected to ripen just one week after opening.
Recipes for Your Fresh-Picked Strawberries, Cherries, and Blueberries
Cherry Blueberry Pie
Easy Summer Strawberry Pinwheel Biscuit Pie
Blueberry Pancakes
14 Strawberry Recipes
Story by Corinne Whiting / Photography by Katie Long
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