2024 Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties in Oregon Corn U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Corn U-Pick Orchards in Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties in Oregon in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for corn that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have corn orchards 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.

Hood River County

• Draper Girls Country Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, apples, blueberries, cherries, corn (sweet), nectarines, pears, peaches, plums, raspberries (red), strawberries, Fresh eggs, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), U-pick and already picked, farm market, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, school tours
  6200 Highway 35, Parkdale, OR 97041. Phone: (541) 352.6625. Email: drapergirlsfarm@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 6 pm; June to December; and Self Serve, twenty four hours December to June. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers.
  Draper Girls Country Farm Facebook page. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Hood River Valley's only non-pasteurized apple cider, apple pear, cherry, cherry apple, and pear ciders. We also specialize in natural pasture fed lamb and goat. Visit our u-pick peach, plum and nectarine orchards where you find many varieties of tree-ripened fruits. Find 30+ apple varieties, pears and prunes; u-pick or we pick. You can purchase fresh vegetables and our locally made jam, jellies, honey, canned fruit, dried beans and lentils. We are known for our famous cinnamon-sugar dried apples, straight from our Grandma's and Grandpa's kitchen. While visiting, you are invited to walk around the farm to see all the farm animals or picnic in the orchard. We ship fruit. Do not bring pets. (UPDATED: September 1, 2019, JBS)
• Packer Orchards, The Farm Place - strawberries, flowers, pumpkins, corn maze
  3020 Thomsen Rd, Hood River, OR 97031. Phone: (541) 234-4006. Email: packerorchards@gmail.com. Open: June-August: Fri-Sun 10-5 September 1-14: Closed, September 15-October 30: daily from 10 am to 5 pm; October 31-November 30: Closed; December 1-16: Sat-Sun 11-4 pm; December 17-May: Closed. Click here for a map and directions.
  Packer Orchards, The Farm Place Facebook page. . Since 2016 our family farm is open seasonally, offering fresh fruit, u-pick, and family friendly events! The sales barn is overflowing with all of the goodies from the Pear-Fect Kitchen. Try our famous Cowboy cookie --fresh samples at the Cookie Bar! More than 50 different farm fresh jams . Nestled in the beautiful Hood River Valley, between Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams, Packer Orchards has become a destination farm offering seasonal fruit, homemade bakery, and pumpkins in the fall! Visit Packer Orchards this season at their two great locations and meet the family! Parents Larry and Tammi with their children Rochelle, John, and Jenni, invite you to join them for another season of family fun on the farm. There is a u-cut field of GIANT sunflowers. Take home some fresh cherries and the sweetest peaches straight from the orchards! In the Fall, visit in Sept & Oct and experience a whole new farm! Pumpkin time is our favorite time of year at The Farm Place! Pumpkin patch, corn maze, hay rides, games, food, & more!

 

 

Choosing and Picking Corn

Corn reaches it's peak sweetness and flavor when the kernels are full, and just touching each other, like a good set of teeth!  They should not be bloated and smushed so tightly that there is no space left at all. The bloated overripe ears will have a bland, starchy taste.

Here's what to look for:

• The tips of the silks coming out of the ear should be a light brown.
•  If you break a kernel with your fingernail, the liquid should be slightly milky in color.
•  The ears should be filled out and have developed good girth but not bloated.

Harvesting

 To harvest, snap off the ears by hand with a quick, firm, downward push; then twist and pull.
 Avoid twisting or yanking the ears, as this can damage the stalk or the ear itself.

Storing the corn

Corn is at its prime eating quality on the stalk for only 72 hours before becoming over mature. The most important factor is cooling it as soon as possible after harvesting it.  Get it into the fridge or cover it with ice! Many farmers say you should remove the shucks right away, too.  I've found that removing most of the shuck, but leaving a few leaves to cover each ear is best to prevent the kernels from drying out.  See this page for more about storing corn before using it.

Cooking:

The worst mistake people make is overcooking corn.  In fact, corn isn't really cooked; it's just heated up. If you cook it form more than a few minutes (3 minutes), then you are simply breaking down the sugars and turning a nice, crisp sweet ear into bland mush. It's not a pot roast; the purpose of heating it is NOT to break down the cells, just to heat them to bring out the flavor and melt the butter!

Here's how to cook the corn:

1. Fill a large pot (large enough so the shucked ears can fit inside, laying down) about 2/3 full of water and start bring it to a boil
2. Shuck the ears, and snap off the stalk end and the very tip of ear (especially if you will use "corn stickers" , (handles) to hold the ears.
3. When everyone is sitting down at the table and you are serving the rest of the meal, put the corn in the boiling water and set the time for 3 minutes.
4. After 3 minutes, using tongs, retrieve the ears and serve them with butter (Corn boats are wonderful for corn!

 

Freezing Corn

You can easily freeze the sweet corn and have that great taste in the dead of winter! 

• Freezing whole ears of corn on the cob
• Freezing corn, cut off the cob

Canning Corn

This too, is easy... but it DOES require a Pressure Canner.  You cannot safely do this with a water bath canner.  Food poisoning is no joke!

• Here is how to can corn!
•  how to make canned creamed corn.
• Southern Chow-Chow (also called Piccalilli)
• Pickled corn relish

Other corn recipes

• How to make sweet corn ice cream
• Corn bread, or sweet corn muffins (like Chi Chi's)

• Corn fritters (a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast

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