2024 Omaha and Eastern Nebraska Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Omaha and Eastern Nebraska in 2024, by county

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

Cass County

• Chisholm Family Farm - Uses natural growing practices, beans, beets, cucumbers, herbs or spices, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Turkeys (organic, not-hormone-fed), Fresh eggs, picnic area, farm animals
  27107 Fletcher Ave, Elmwood, NE 68349. Phone: 402-440-9409. Email: laura@chisholmfamilyfarm.com. Directions: From Lincoln head Take US-34 to highway 79 and head north. Go about six miles and you will see the flashing red light at Raymond Road. Go two more miles and turn left onto Davey Road. We are second house. see sign that says Fresh Eggs. From Lincoln - Head north on 14th Street at Superior. Turn left at flashing red light \(Raymond Road\) Turn right on highwhillcrestay 79 \(flashing red light\) go 2 miles and turn left onto Davey Road. We are second house on left see sign that says Fresh Eggs. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . . UPDATE for 2019, Their website 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 We have moved; We do not currently have any produce available to pick with the move but still have our farm stand/store with meats, eggs, and dairy available most days; Sunday we are home in the afternoon after church; Again, call or email for availability and so I can be sure to be home; We are a small 20 acre farm not a large facility;; I am happy to do small homeschool tours to show the difference between grass - fed farming and dairy. From Lincoln head Take US-34 to highway 79 and head north. Go about six miles and you will see the flashing red light at Raymond Road. Go two more miles and turn left onto Davey Road. We are second house. see sign that says Fresh Eggs. From Lincoln - Head north on 14th Street at Superior. Turn left at flashing red light (Raymond Road) Turn right on highwhillcrestay 79 (flashing red light) go 2 miles and turn left onto Davey Road. We are second house on left see sign that says Fresh Eggs. Squashes available from July - September depending on the year; Our garden is only about a half an acre so call or email for availability; I am happy to pick for you or you can pick for yourself; We have pie pumpkins available from September - November; Again, just check on availability. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. We are a pasture based farm located just north of Lincoln, NE. We follow all organic/holistic farming methods and are a soy-free farm.

Douglas County

• Nelson Produce Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, beans, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, melons, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelons, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area you may bring your own food, train rides (train on a track), pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations
  10505 N. 234th St, Valley, NE 68064. Phone: (402) 830-0567. Email: nelsonproduce@gmail.com. Open: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday open June 4 through October 30; Hours of operations 9 am;to 5 pm. Directions: We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, SFMNP Vouchers. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Nelson Produce Farm Facebook page. . . Home of Nebraska's only Sunflower Festival over Labor Day Weekend. Check website for exact dates of this festival. (ADDED: February 10, 2020)
• Richard Sobotka Family - beans, greens, melons, potatoes, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, miscellaneous vegetables
  86379, 498 Avenue, Inman, NE . Phone: (402) 394-5537. Click here for a map and directions. ue, Inman, NE. Also has a roadside stand.
• Wenninghoff Farm - tomatoes, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, U-pick and already picked
  6707 Wenninghoff Road, Omaha, NE 68122. Phone: 402-571-2057. Email: wenninghofffarm@hotmail.com. Open: Farm Store Open Daily July 4th thru October 31st; Most items are already picked, but during September, we usually have extra tomatoes available for you to pick; Call ahead to check on availability. Directions: Northwest Omaha, 1 mile west of Immanual Hospital, 85th and Sorenson Parkway. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, SFMNP Vouchers. .

Lancaster County

• Princeton Produce - beets, carrots, cherries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, herbs or spices, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkins, strawberries, tomatoes,
  1600 Pella Road, Princeton, NE 68404. Phone: 402-798-7723. Email: rlb5x1@netzero.com. Open: Monday through Saturday as produce is available Pumpkin Patch: September 15 to October 31 Payment: Cash, only. Directions: From Princeton, Nebraska \(approx. 18 miles south of Lincoln, Ne., on Hwy 77\) 1.5 miles south and 12 mile east on Pella Road. Look for signs. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . From Princeton, Nebraska (approx. 18 miles south of Lincoln, Ne., on Hwy 77) 1.5 miles south and 1/2 mile east on Pella Road. Look for signs. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, September, October.

Richardson County

• A and B Country Chicken - cantaloupe, carrots, cucumber, green beans, green pepper, leaf lettuce, muskmelon, onions, peas, pumpkins, spinach, squash (summer and winter), tomatoes, watermelon
  RR1, Box 218, Humboldt, NE 68376. Phone: (402) 862-2177. Open: 8 am to dark. Directions: From Humboldt, four miles west on Hwy 4, two miles north on Hwy 105, 14 mile on east CR, 1st house north side of road. . Click here for a map and directions. . From Humboldt, four miles west on Hwy 4, two miles north on Hwy 105, 1/4 mile on east CR, 1st house north side of road. Also has a farmer's market and a roadside stand.
• Hill Top Gardens - cucumbers, eggplant, melons, onions, peas, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, U-pick and already picked, events at your location (call for info)
  65040 707 Trail, Falls City, NE 68355. Phone: 402-245-4330. Email: dwfmvf@hotmail.com. Open: July 4 Friday Saturday and Sundays 10 am till 7 pm or as soon as vegetables are ready oriental vegetables call for specific items. Directions: From State Highway 73 turn West at Home Lumber or Merz Farm Equipment on 707 Trail go one Mile on Gravel road we are on the right just passed the railroad tracks. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. l, Falls City, NE 68355. Alternate Phone: 402-801-0949. . Watermelon and other melon picking begins in the middle of August or as soon as melons are ready call for availability; Pumpkin picking opens in last week of September. Many Oriental vegetables such as Kang Kong, Eggplant, long beans, Bittermelon, Opo, Gabi, Oriental sweet potatoes, Sihkim, and many more call for specific vegetables.

Saline County

• Zurcher Farms - No pesticides are used, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Fresh eggs, gift shop, porta-potties, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, face painting, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations
  1257 County Road J, Dorchester, NE 68343. Phone: (402) 641-4203. Email: zurcherfarms@gmail.com. Open: Call for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, SFMNP Vouchers. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. We do not use pesticides on the crops. (UPDATED: July 8, 2021 JBS) (UPDATED: February 02, 2018)

Saunders County

• Country Road Bees - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, asparagus, cucumbers, onions, hot peppers, sweet peppers, Heirloom tomatoes, paste or Roma tomatoes, tomatoes, sunflowers, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, U-pick and already picked, farm market
  2580 County Road Y, Morse Bluff, NE 68648. Phone: (401) 416-0408. Email: balanplantz@gmail.com. Directions: Three miles South of Morse Bluff Nebraska. 34 mile West of highway 79 on County Road Y. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Venmo. . PYO is available Sunday's during respective crop seasons; The patches are small so please contact us via email to confirm availability. Three miles South of Morse Bluff Nebraska. 3/4 mile West of highway 79 on County Road Y. Asparagus Late April - Mid June blackberries Late July - Mid September;. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. Our focus is to preserve nature's diversity and protect all she has given us. (ADDED: April 01, 2022)

 

Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok.

During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.

Tomato Varieties

In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water.  But you can use any type you can get hold of.  You may just have to cook them down longer to boil off excess water.  See our Master list of tomato varieties

Growing tomatoes

• Master list of tomato varieties
• Master List of Heirloom Tomato Varieties
• How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Yard or Patio - Everything you need to know
• Detailed directions to starting tomatoes from seed
• Master List of Roma and Paste Tomato Varieties for the Home Garden
• Master list of disease-resistant tomato varieties
• Tomato plant diseases

Canning, Freezing, Drying, Preserving Tomatoes and more!

Below are links to pages with easy and reliable directions about how to can, preserve, freeze and make other goodies from tomatoes.  Some of these require a Pressure Canner to prevent potential spoilage and food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food.  For others, you can use a water bath canner OR a Pressure Canner.  I've noted what's required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!

And don't miss: Answers to common tomato canning problems and see this page about what to do with your unripe green tomatoes!

Prepping tomatoes

• How to quickly and easily remove tomato skins

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )

• How to can tomatoes using a water bath canner - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Bruschetta - W
• Tomato sauce - W
• Tomato paste - W
• Barbecue sauce (BBQ sauce) - W
• Chili sauce from your own tomatoes and peppers - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Tomato Preserves- W
• Tomato salsa - W
• Spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
• Spiced Green tomatoes- W
• Pickled Green Tomatoes - W - another pickled green tomato recipe, this one sweet
• Ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
• NEW! SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe - W
• Salsa from your unripe, GREEN tomatoes! - W
• Tomatillo salsa - W
• How to make roasted tomatoes, boiling water bath canner version - W

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

• Canned tomatoes using a Pressure Canner - P
• Baked  Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
• Canning your own chili con carne (with meat) - P
• How to make roasted tomatoes, pressure canner version - P
• Spaghetti sauce - with meat  - P
• Stewed tomatoes - P
• Tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - P
• Tomato sauce - P
• Tomato juice - P
• Tomato juice, like V8 - P

Freezing Tomatoes

• How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
• Space-saving prepping and freezing extra tomatoes from your garden to can later

Drying tomatoes

• NEW! How to make Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Food drying basics and principles
• How to dry your own herbs
• Food Dehydrators - models, specs and pricing information

Ripening green tomatoes in your garage or basement

If you want to bring your green tomatoes indoors before a freeze in the Fall, and ripen them, see:

• How to ripen your green garden tomatoes indoors in the Fall and Winter.

And if you'd like to start you own tomatoes from seed (you can save a small fortune and grow the heirloom varieties you like) see this page for easy directions for growing your own tomato plants from seed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canning, Freezing and Preserving Tomatoes

• See this page for answers to many common questions about tomatoes.

 

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