2024 Northwest Michigan Saskatoon U-Pick orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Saskatoon U-Pick orchards in Northwest Michigan in 2024, by county

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

Benzie County

• Putney's You pick berry - red raspberries, black raspberries, yellow raspberries, and purple raspberries, blackberries, saskatoons, rhubarb, black and red currants, gooseberries; u-pick vegetables.
  7603 Love Road, Benzonia, MI 49616. Phone: 231-882-9853. Open: Every day, Sunlight hours; 9 am to 6 pm on Monday to Saturday and from 9 am to 1 pm on Sunday from mid-June or as weather permits, until first snow. Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate phone: 231-882-5691. One mile south of stop light in Benzonia on US-31: turn east on Love Road, go .5 mile to top of hill, berry patch on the right.
• U-pick - asparagus, blackberries, grapes, herbs or spices, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (Spring, yellow), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), saskatoons, Other fruit or veg, U-pick and already picked, farm market
  1001 Eden Hill, Beulah, MI 49617. Phone: 231-871-0920. Email: ridega40@yahoo.com. Open: Saturday through Monday in other words, 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 231-633-9728. . Saturday through Monday (in other words, 7 days a week) from 8 am to 8 pm. Typical dates: Strawberries usually start June 15, red rasppberries June 25; Saskatoons mid July, Asparagus May through June 15, elephant garlic in late August through September. No children under 12 in the strawberry fields, NO EXCEPTIONS, Pplese: children cause too much damage, so we strictly enforce this, please respect our property. (UPDATED: June 13, 2016, V) (ADDED: March 22, 2015)

Grand Traverse County (including Old Mission Peninsula)

• Jacob's Corn Maze, Fruit/Vegetable Market & U-Pick - apples, pears, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries (red), saskatoons, winter squash, tomatoes, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area, birthday parties, school tours
  7100 E. Traverse highway (m-72 West), Traverse City, MI 49684. Phone: 231-632-6293. Email: jacobs.corn.maze@charter.net. Open: Saturday, July 16 through Sunday, October 29, 2011 Hours Sunday 1 pm to 7 pm Mondays 10 am to 6 pm Tuesday 10 am to 6 pm Wednesday 10 am to 6 pm Thursday 10 am to 6 pm Friday 10 am to 6 pm Saturday 10 am to 6 pm Self serve before and after these hours. Directions: We are located 3.5 miles from West Grand Traverse Bay on West M-72. Our farm is on the left, has a big silo, and is 34 of a mile past the big windmill. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Jacob's Corn Maze, Fruit/Vegetable Market & U-Pick Facebook page. . We are located 3.5 miles from West Grand Traverse Bay on West M-72. Our farm is on the left, has a big silo, and is 3/4 of a mile past the big windmill. Saskatoons available for U-Pick Saturday, July 9 through Sunday, July 17; Frozen Saskatoons available after that until they sell out; Raspberries available for U-Pick Tuesday, July 12 through mid-August, 2011; Frozen Raspberries available after that until they sell out. We have our very own Horticulturist/Educator on-site. He is available to teach to any group. School groups love him!.
• Saskatoon Michigan - Saskatoons
  7924 Sayler Road, Williamsburg, MI 49690. Phone: 231-360-0311. Open: From July 5th, 8 am to 1 pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Directions: See their website for directions. Payment: Cash, only. Like us on Facebook to keep up to date with our most up to date U-Pick schedule. Join us in picking and learning about these amazing superfruits. Saskatoons, which are very much like blueberries, have grown in popularity over the past few months, as people have learned about their antioxidant properties, and their versatility in cooking. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . See their website for for current conditions and changes to hours and availability. Crops are limited, so call ahead for availability. We will also be selling frozen berries which can be used for pies, jams, and a variety of other recipes.
• The Saskatoon Berry Patch - saskatoons,
  9520 Bates Rd, Williamsburg, MI 49690. Phone: 231-938-1776. Email: jim@jimdixon.com. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. The Saskatoon Berry Patch Alternate Phone: 231-342-5311. . Tuesday's, Wednesday's, Thursday, Friday's, Saturday's 9 am to 12. North on US 31 from Acme to Elk Rapids MI. Turn right on Angell Road and then right on to Bates farm is at 9520 Bates Road Williamsburg, MI. Please do not go up to house. Call for picking updates the month of July. . Saskatoons month of July. As the name implies, the only crop we have is which are like blueberries. In the U.S. Saskatoon Berries are most commonly known as service berries. Resembling a blue berry in color and size, they are also called prairie berries, Juneberries and Canadian berries. While 'berry' shows up in all of those names, the Saskatoon Berry is really a Pome fruit. This means it is more closely related to the apple than the blue berry.

Leelanau County

• Bull Dog Berries, LLC - blueberries, saskatoons, Honey from hives on the farm, Maple Syrup from trees on the farm, U-pick and already picked, restrooms
  7187 E Harry\'s Road, Traverse City, MI 49686. Phone: (231) 360-9964. Email: nickabillings@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Saturday, from 8 am to 7 pm, July to August. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: (832) 641-9322. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. "Blueberries season is typically: July to August Saskatoons season is typically: June 25 to July 15.
• Cross Farms Saskatoons - Uses integrated pest management practices, saskatoons,
  11966 East Sugar Bush Road, Northport, MI 49670. Phone: 231-386-5406. Email: karen@cross-farms.com. Open: UPDATE for 2019, Their Facebook page is gone; Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me, their last reported hours were July, only certain days, from 8am to 4pm. Directions: Cross Farms located on Michigan\'s beautiful Leelanau Peninsula in Leelanau Township, just 5 minutes north of the Village of Northport. Follow Mill Street \(201\) north out of town. Pass Petersen Park Road, then bear left on Kilcherman Road. Travel for 12 mile and turn right on East Sugar Bush Road. Our farm is 14 mile, on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard. . Alternate Phone: 231-432-0083. . Cross Farms located on Michigan's beautiful Leelanau Peninsula in Leelanau Township, just 5 minutes north of the Village of Northport. Follow Mill Street (201) north out of town. Pass Petersen Park Road, then bear left on Kilcherman Road. Travel for 1/2 mile and turn right on East Sugar Bush Road. Our farm is 1/4 mile, on the right. We use integrated pest management practices. Check in at the garage when you arrive. Saskatoon Berries are the superfruit with wild sweet-berry goodness! Saskatoons have so much personality they will be happy to meet you. Cross Farms is a family owned and operated farm. We are currently Michigan's largest producer of Saskatoon Berries. Cross Farms is environmentally verified by the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program and successfully completed the Safe Food Risk Assessment by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

 

Saskatoon Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Saskatoons, also known as serviceberries or Juneberries, are delicious and nutritious berries native to North America, mostly in the western Canada and northwestern U.S. . These small blue-purple berries grow on shrubs or small trees and have a unique flavor that is often described as a combination of blueberries, raspberries, and almonds. Here's what you need to know about saskatoons, how to use them, when to harvest them, and how to do it:

Flavor and Uses:

Saskatoons have a pleasantly sweet and slightly tart taste, making them a versatile ingredient in various culinary creations. They can be enjoyed fresh, added to fruit salads, used in baked goods such as pies, muffins, and tarts, or even incorporated into jams, jellies, and sauces. Saskatoon berries also freeze well. They can be substituted for blueberries in recipes.

If you're looking for great, easy to follow recipes to make jam, jelly, freeze or make saskatoon pie from Saksatoons / Juneberries, see these pages:

• How to make saskatoon jam
• How to freeze saskatoons
• World's best and easiest saskatoon pie
• How to Can Saskatoons
• How to make saskatoon jelly
• How to make and can saskatoon syrup
• How to make home-canned saskatoon pie filling to use later
• Saskatoon buckle coffee cake: illustrated directions for this great crumb-topping saskatoon coffee cake

Harvesting Season:

The exact timing of saskatoon berry harvest can vary depending on your location and climate, but it generally occurs in the summer months. In most regions, you can expect to start harvesting saskatoons from late June to early August. Keep an eye on the berries as they ripen to determine the best time for harvesting.

Determining Ripeness:

Ripe saskatoon berries are plump, firm, and have a deep purple-blue color. They should come off the plant easily when gently pulled or twisted. Look for berries that have a uniform color and avoid those that are still green or red. Taste a few berries to ensure they have reached the desired sweetness before harvesting the entire crop.

How to pick or harvest:

To harvest saskatoon berries, simply hold the branch beneath the cluster of ripe berries and gently pluck them off with your fingers. It's best to place a container or basket beneath the branch to catch the berries as they fall.

The easiest and fastest way to pick them is hold your bucket under them in one hand and with your other hand, cup a ripe bunch and gently rub them with your fingers.  The ripe berries will drop into your bucket, while the unripe ones will remain attached to the bush.

Be careful not to squeeze or crush the berries while harvesting to maintain their shape and quality.

Handling and Storage:

Handle saskatoon berries with care as they are delicate and can bruise easily. After harvesting, sort through the berries and remove any damaged or overripe ones. Store the freshly picked berries in a shallow container, preferably in a single layer, to prevent crushing and allow for proper airflow. Refrigerate the berries and consume them within a few days for optimal freshness. If you have an abundant harvest, consider freezing the berries for longer-term storage.

• Once picked, don't place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form in the container.
• Don't wash berries until just before using, to prevent berries from becoming mushy.
• Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. Store your fresh saskatoons in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If refrigerated, fresh-picked saskatoons will keep 10 to 14 days.
• Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening.  Place berries one layer deep. Freeze, then pour the frozen berries into freezer containers. Because unwashed saskatoons freeze individually, they can be easily poured from containers in desired amounts. Remember both frozen and fresh berries should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries in cold water.

 

 

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