This month's notes: May 2012: Strawberries are here in much of the US.  They will be finished in the South in a couple of weeks, so don't miss them! Blueberries will only be a few weeks after them! See this page for hundreds of easy canning and freezing instructions/recipes, canning equipment guide! Also make your own ice cream - see How to make ice cream and ice cream making equipment and manuals. Then see each state's crop availability calendar for more specific dates of upcoming crops. Organic farms are identified in green!  See our guide to local fruit and vegetable festivals!. Please tell the farms you found them here - and ask them to update their information!!

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Where in southwestern Iowa, Omaha area to find pick your own farms and orchards for fruit, vegetables, pumpkins and canning & freezing instructions!

U-Pick Farms and Orchards, sorted by county

Remember: ALWAYS call (or follow the link to the farm's own website, if the name is a blue link) to confirm the information before you go! They may close, run out or change events, times, etc. without notifying me!

Adams County

Audubon County

Cass County

Fremont County

Harrison County

  • River Sioux Orchard, Trapples - apples, apricots, cherries, pears, peaches, plums, raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (Autumn, black),
    1377 145th Street, River Sioux, IA 51545. Phone: 402-502-4136. Email: tjtrapp7@yahoo.com. Open: For Orchard Members: Saturdays 10 am to 5 pm, September 1 to October 31. Directions: I-29, Exit 95. East one half mile to Highway K-45. South one half mile to orchard on the West side of the road. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Come spend the day with the family in Harrison County. Pick apples, visit the many orchards, hike Murray Hill (Iowa's largest), fish the local rivers, camp in Loess Hills State Forest (Iowa's largest). (ADDED: March 28, 2012)
  • Small's Fruit Farm - U-pick apples and strawberries
    1844 194th Street, Mondamin, Iowa 51557. Phone: 712-646-2723, 712-646-2195. Open: winter and spring: daily, 9 to 5; Summer and Fall, daily 8 to 6 pm.

Mills County

Montgomery County

Page County

Pottawattamie County

  • 3 Bee Farms - apples, pumpkins, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), gift shop, concessions / refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
    14922 535th Street, Griswold, IA 51535. Phone: 712-778-4256. Email: donna@3beefarms.com. Open: September through the end of October hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 am until 5 pm; Sunday is 1 pm until 5 pm; We are Closed on Wednesdays. Directions: We are located one mile west of Griswold, IA on highway 92. Click here for a map and directions. Honey Fest September 15 and 16; Johnny Appleseed Fest September 22 and 23; Family Fun Fest September 29 and 30; Apple Days Ocotber 6 and 7; Harvest Festival October 20 and 21; Pumpkin Fest October 27 and 28. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers. We also accept Snap (EBT) (ADDED: February 21, 2012)
  • Ditmars Orchard - Apples, peaches, pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, and prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides
    19475 225th Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51503. Phone: 712-256-7053. Fax: 712-388-0483. Email us at: LyleDitmars@hotmail.com. Directions: Council Bluffs Exit 8 from I-80 then east on Highway 6 one half mile to Hunt Ave. North 1 and one half miles. Click here for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in August, September, October, November. Open: Tuesday thru Satuday 10 to 5, Sunday noon to 5 Generally open August 1 thru December 15. However, special events can scheduled. Payment: Cash, Check. Cider made on site in season. Hot apple pie and fried apple pie with ice cream. Cider slushes. Hand poured candles and other items including gourmet sodas.
  • Pioneer Trail Orchard & Pumpkin Patch - Apples, Pumpkins, hay rides, corn maze and much more.
    21534 Chestnut Road, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-7397. Phone: 712-366-1505. Email: webmaster@ptapples.com. Directions: Click here for a map!   Open: The Pumpkin Patch and events will be open October 1st; Monday through Thursday from 5 pm to 9 pm, Friday from 5 pm to 10 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 10:00 pm, Sunday from Noon to 7:00 pm.   We currently have planted over 625 apple trees of 5 varieties for pick-your-own: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Macintosh, Fuji Myra Red. (UPDATED: October 27, 2010)

Ringold County

Shelby County

Taylor County

Union County

 

 

Current weather - click for forecast, or enter a zip code for a different location:

 

Farmer's Markets, Farm Stands and Roadside Stands, Etc.
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

Harrison County

  • River Sioux Orchard, Trapples - Roadside stand, Wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables,
    1377 145th Street, River Sioux, IA 51545. Phone: 402-502-4136. Email: tjtrapp7@yahoo.com. Open: For Orchard Members: Open Saturdays 10 am to 5 pm, September 1 to October 31. Directions: I-29, Exit 95. East one half mile to Highway K-45. South one half mile to orchard on the West side of the road. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Come spend the day with the family in Harrison County. Pick apples, visit the many orchards, hike Murray Hill (Iowa's largest), fish the local rivers, camp in Loess Hills State Forest (Iowa's largest). (ADDED: March 28, 2012)

Potawattamie County

  • 3 Bee Farms - Farm stand / farm market on a farm, Farmers market (multiple stalls or vendors), Wide variety of seasonal, locally grown fruits and vegetables, Indoor market, Baked goods, Preserves, jams, jellies, Crafts, artistic products, etc, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), gift shop, concessions / refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
    14922 535th Street, Griswold, IA 51535. Phone: 712-778-4256. Email: donna@3beefarms.com. Open: May through the end of August 9 am until 12 noon on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; From the first of September until the end of October the hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 am until 5 pm; Sunday is from 1 pm until 5 pm; Closed on Wednesdays. Directions: We are located one mile west of Griswold, IA on highway 92. Click here for a map and directions. Honey Fest September 15 and 16; Johnny Appleseed Fest September 22 and 23; Family Fun Fest September 29 and 30; Apple Days Ocotber 6 and 7; Harvest Festival October 20 and 21; Pumpkin Fest October 27 and 28. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers. We also accept Snap (EBT)  (ADDED: February 21, 2012)
  • Lynn's Roadside Vegetable Stand - Roadside stand, Farm stand / farm market on a farm, Covered outdoor market, Crafts, artistic products, etc, apples, beans, beets, cucumbers, winter squash, tomatoes,
    18951 360th Street, Oakland, IA 51560. Phone: 7037318102. Email: bishopl2001@yahoo.com. Open: Saturday, From 9 am to 5 pm Wednesday 2pm to 5 pm; May through October Weather permitting. Directions: From the intersection of US Highway 6 and US Highway 59, go west on US 6 for 5 miles to 360th Street. The market is on the south side of the hiway about 150 yards down 360th street. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. All of these crops are produced in my own garden. (ADDED: October 27, 2011)

Wholesale Foods

Pottawattamie County

  • 3 Bee Farms - Local sales at our farm, Local delivery, some produce is grown using IPM (integrated pest management), Baked goods, Preserves, jams, jellies, Crafts, artistic products, etc, apples, asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, herbs/spices, melons, onions, pears, peppers, pumpkins, rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), gift shop, concessions / refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
    14922 535th Street, Griswold, IA 51535. Phone: 712-778-4256. Email: donna@3beefarms.com. Open: May through August the hours are 9 am until 12 noon weekdays, no weekend sales at the orchard; From September through November the hours are 9 am until 5 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; The Sunday hours are 1 pm until 5 pm; We are closed on Wednesdays. Directions: We are located one mile west of Griswold, IA on highway 92. Click here for a map and directions. Honey Fest September 15 and 16; Johnny Appleseed Fest September 22 and 23; Family Fun Fest September 29 and 30; Apple Days Ocotber 6 and 7; Harvest Festival October 20 and 21; Pumpkin Fest October 27 and 28. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers. (ADDED: February 21, 2012)

Local Honey Sources:

Pottawattamie County

  • 3 Bee Farms - Honey (retail), Honey (wholesale), Comb honey, Raw honeys, Strained honey, Whipped honey, Beeswax candles, Pollen, Other honey products, Tours, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), gift shop, concessions / refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
    14922 535th Street, Griswold, IA 51535. Phone: 712-778-4256. Email: donna@3beefarms.com. Open: Honey is available all year long; Please call for winter deliver or pick up from our orchard/farm. Directions: We are located one mile west of Griswold, IA on highway 92. Click here for a map and directions. Honey Fest September 15 and 16; Johnny Appleseed Fest September 22 and 23; Family Fun Fest September 29 and 30; Apple Days Ocotber 6 and 7; Harvest Festival October 20 and 21; Pumpkin Fest October 27 and 28. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers. Creamed honey flavors: cinnamon, regular, apple, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, peach, jalapeno honey stix, honey candy, honey glazed snack mix, cookbook, honey dippers beeswax lotion, honey and beeswax lip balm and honey soap beeswax candles, magnets and ornaments. (ADDED: February 21, 2012)

Picking Tips

[General picking tips and a guide to each fruit and vegetable] [How much do I need to pick? (Yields - how much raw makes how much cooked or frozen)] [Selecting the right varieties to pick] [All about apple varieties - which to pick and why!]  [Picking tips for Vegetables] [ Strawberry picking tips] [ Blueberries picking tips]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illustrated Canning, Freezing, Jam Instructions and Recipes

[ All About Home Canning, Freezing and Making Jams, Pickles, Sauces, etc. ] [FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems] [Recommended books about home canning, jam making, drying and preserving!] [Free canning publications to download and print]