2024 Northeastern Pennsylvania Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Northeastern Pennsylvania 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.

Luzerne County

• Burgers Farm Market - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, beans, cucumbers, eggplant, herbs or spices, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, restrooms, petting zoo, farm animals, school tours
  371 Saint Johns Road, Drums, PA 18222. Phone: (570)788-1773. Email: Leonard.Burger@yahoo.com. Open: Call during business hours to verify on the vegetables in season. Directions: take exit 256 off I80 to state route 93 south, go 500 yards make left east on to saint johns road continue 2 miles farm is on your left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers. Burgers Farm Market . The pumpkin patch is open Monday to Sunday 9am to dark; Hay rides Saturday and Sundays all day and weekdays by group appointment. They minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Burgers Farm is fifth generation run est.1889. They continue to provide quality fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables for your enjoyment.

Wayne County

• The Stevens' Farm - beans, beets, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, herbs or spices, melons, onions, pears, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, farm market, porta-potties are available
  652 Sterling Rd, Sterling, PA 18463. Phone: 570 689 2125. Open: Blueberries through August, as long as the weather permits; You May pick from 9 am to 6, every day; Call to be certain; They sometimes close for ripening. Directions: They are 5 miles south of Hamlin and 10 miles north of Tobyhanna. From I-84, take exit 17, go south on Route 191 for 14 mile. Turn left onto Springhill Road Go to the stop sign and turn right onto Route 196. The Stevens\' Farm is 14 mile on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. The Stevens' Farm They are 5 miles south of Hamlin and 10 miles north of Tobyhanna. From I-84, take exit 17, go south on Route 191 for 1/4 mile. Turn left onto Springhill Road Go to the stop sign and turn right onto Route 196. is 1/4 mile on the right. The farm stand typically opens in early July and closes by November 10th; After the blueberry season they start with apples, cider, Pumpkins, winter squash and seasonal decorations! This year they hoped to add our delicious homemade pies!. They are a fourth generation family farm that feature fresh-picking.

 

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