2024 Northern Virginia Pear U-Pick orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Pear U-Pick orchards in Northern Virginia in 2024, by county

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

Fauquier County

• Stribling Orchard - Apples, nectarines, pears, peaches, pumpkins, beef
  11587 Poverty Hollow Lane, Markham, VA 22643. Phone: 540-364-3040. Email: info@striblingorchard.com. Open: 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday thru Sunday, depending on the availability of ripe fruit; We are open in July, August, September, and October. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions.
  Stribling Orchard Facebook page. . . Crop availability: Peaches: Early July - Late August; Apples: Mid/Late August - Early November. Click here for a map to our farm. Our peaches are available from mid-July through mid-August and our apples from mid-August through early November. Beginning in September, we offer fresh cider and all sizes and shapes of pumpkins. Come and enjoy a day in the country at our orchard. Relax, bring a picnic, and enjoy our breath-taking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Come see our historic buildings, visit our many farm animals, and pick some of Virginia's finest fruit. We are the sixth generation of Striblings to farm this land, and we are proud of the fruit our family has grown for over 200 years. But, not only have we been growing fruit, we have also been raising cattle for as long as the farm has existed. For the first time ever, we are selling our grass fed beef directly to the public! Every beef sold is raised from birth by the Stribling family. Our grass fed beef, from the well known Angus breed, spend their days grazing naturally on our pastures in northern Fauquier County. You can see them in the fields adjoining the orchard and in the immediate area.
  Comments from a visitor on September 26, 2010: "Just got back from a great time at! They handed out a map of the orchard with descriptions of the types of apples. You can drive through the orchard and the ground is not very steep for those with trouble walking or small children (we were pulling a toddler in a wagon with no trouble). There were places to picnic in the orchard and plenty of good apples to pick. "

Loudoun County

• Crooked Run Orchard - blackberries, peaches, sour cherries, pears, plums, gooseberries, raspberries, herbs, apples, tomatoes, peppers
  37883 E. Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132. Phone: 540-338-6642. Open: Stand - 8 am to dark, daily. Directions: REMEMBER: Google maps directions are incorrect and they have been notified to make the change. From Rt 287 make the first right in the traffic circle and proceed West on Main St. We\'re the second driveway on the left. On Business Route 7 at Route 287, between Purcellville and Hamilton. 32 miles west of Tysons Corner on Route 7. Turn left at Purcellville exit onto Route 287. Go 0.6 mile. Turn right onto Business Route 7 \(E. Main Street\). Turn immediately left at first driveway for stand. Turn left at second driveway for PYO . Click here for a map and directions. . REMEMBER: Google maps directions are incorrect and they have been notified to make the change. From Rt 287 make the first right in the traffic circle and proceed West on Main St. We are the second driveway on the left. On Business Route 7 at Route 287, between Purcellville and Hamilton. 32 miles west of Tysons Corner on Route 7. Turn left at Purcellville exit onto Route 287. Go 0.6 mile. Turn right onto Business Route 7 (E. Main Street). Turn immediately left at first driveway for stand. Turn left at second driveway for PYO crops. PYO - weekends only - 8 am to 6 pm, Saturday and 9 am to 6 pm, Sunday. Hayrides for school groups by appointment only during September and October. The small fruits and vegetables are grown without, or with a minimum of, chemicals. We use mineral fertilizers on all crops. Apples and pumpkins available in quantity amounts. We have farm animals, a nature trail, and picnic tables. Please, no dogs. Call before visiting the farm about pick-your-own information. Fresh picked asparagus - April 20-June 20; red raspberries and sour cherries - June 20-July 20; gooseberries - July; thornless blackberries and peaches - July-August; summer apples - Tydeman Red and Paula Red - August; fall apples - Red and Golden Delicious, Mutsu, Law Rome, Gala, Jonagold, Braeburn, York - September 15- December 31 or until supply runs out. Seasonal vegetables - tomatoes, salad mixes, sweet corn, squash, green beans, pumpkins and gourds. Christmas wreaths - Scotch and white pine and cedar mix. PYO - strawberries - Memorial Day-June 10; blackberries and peaches - July & August; sour cherries - late June-early July; apples and pears - September 15-October 15. Picking dates vary from year to year. Please call ahead for picking information. (UPDATED: June 03, 2020, JBS)

Rappahannock County

• Jenkins' Orchards - Apples, Peaches, Nectarines, Pears, honey from hives on the farm
  355 Yancey Road, Woodville, VA 22749. Phone: 540 987-8192. Open: Daily from 9am to 6pm, Mid July- Mid December. Directions: Click here for a map and directions&URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapquest.com#c7db2ec54bfcb110c30600a6\>Directions: Click here for a map and directions". Click here for a map and directions. Jenkins' Orchards We have fresh packed honey, plums, red haven peaches, white peaches, nectarines, white nectarines, corn, cantaloupe, watermelons, peppers, onions, cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes, apricots, squash, and more!!! Stop by and pick up some beautiful flowers to help support Sperryville fire department. And don't forget about the lamb,pork and ground beef. We are a family owned orchard since 1954. Our season begins in mid June till Mid December. We are growers of peaches, plums, apple and pears.

 

pear Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

pears, 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 pears, how to use them, when to harvest them, and how to do it:

Flavor and Uses:

pears 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. pear 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 pear pie from Saksatoons / Juneberries, see these pages:

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

Harvesting Season:

The exact timing of pear 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 pears 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 pear 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 pear 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 pear 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 pears in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If refrigerated, fresh-picked pears 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 pears 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