Plum U-Pick Orchards in Southwest Michigan in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for plums that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have plums 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.
Allegan County
- A.W. Overhiser Orchards - cherries (sweet & tart), peaches, pears, plums, apples
NW corner of 64th Street & 109th Avenue, South Haven, MI 49090. Phone: 616-836-3298. Email: awo@i2k.com. Open: July through October, daily, from 9 am to 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . . I-196 to Exit 26 (109th Avenue Pullman Rd.) E 3.5 mi. to 64th St, right on NW corner. Family owned & operated for over 150 years raising tree fruit. Over 300 acres of farmland that include cherries (sweet & tart) and we do the pitting for you. School groups are welcome to visit the farm in fall. Apple picking, hay rides, pumpkin picking and cider tasting make for a fun packed trip to the farm. Farm Market address is 6405-109th Ave., South Haven, MI 49090. (UPDATED: September 19, 2019, JBS)
Comments from a visitor on July 02, 2011: "We spent the day at Overhiser Orchards picking cherries. The orchards are large and beautiful, the fruit is delicious and the staff is very friendly and knowledgable( they even stayed late on a Saturday evening so we could keep picking.) It is also the least expensive orchard we've encountered so far. Great experience, we will definitely be going back for peaches and plums. " - Crane Orchards Upick - apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, pumpkins, hayrides, corn maze
6054 124th (M-89), Fennville, MI . Phone: 616-561-8651. Open: in early September depending on the season, call for dates. Directions: Located in west Michigan between South Haven and Saugatuck. Click here for a map and directions. . U-Pick has 15 varieties of apples to pick in season. Hayrides on weekends in Oct. and a corn maze. 10 am to 6 pm, seven days a week. Close in late Oct. . Take I-196 Exit 34, go E 4 miles on S side of the road, located with Crane's Pie Pantry Restaurant at 6054 124th (M-89), Fennville. PIE PANTRY, FRESH FRUIT AND ORCHARDS, BAKERY & RESTAURANT, WINERY, TASTING BAR, WEDDINGS, EVENTS (UPDATED: September 18, 2019, JBS) (UPDATED: July 12, 2011, by a visitor) - Dutch Farm Market - apples, cherries, peaches, plums,
6967 109th Avenue, South Haven, MI 49090. Phone: 616-637-8334. Email: braak@shps.org. Open: mid-May - July 4, 9 am to 6 pm July 5-Labor Day, 8 am to 7 pm Labor Day-October 31, 9 am to 6 pm, seven days a week. Click here for a map and directions. . . or use their contact page. U-pick. Retail market/bakery complete with already-picked fruits and vegetables. Ice cream, baked goods, pies, jams and jellies. Picnic area. Buses welcome. Click here for harvest dates. N of South Haven on I-96, Exit 26 (Pullman Rd.) is a family run farm/business specializing in homegrown fruits and vegetables. Fruit pies and bakery items are another specialty of the market. Easy on/off highway access, picnic area, and public restrooms available. Ice cream shop available along with Dutch treats. ((UPDATED: September 19, 2019, JBS) - McIntosh Apple Orchards - cherries (sweet and tart), peaches, pears, apples and plums
6431 107th Avenue, South Haven, MI 49090. Phone: 269-637-7922. Email: apple1941@aol.com. Open: June-October, Tuesday to Sun. Click here for a map and directions. . Enjoy a lovely day in the country, visit our orchard, browse through our farm market and cider mill. Watch cider being fermented into hard cider. We have u-pick and ready-picked . Pitted tart cherries (fresh and frozen). Seasonal vegetables. , 8 am to 6 pm. South Haven. From I-94, take I-96 (Exit 34) N to Exit 26 (109th Ave.), E on 109th to 64th (approx. 2.5 miles); S to 107th Avenue, (1 mile ); W to orchard (150 yards.) Look for signs. (UPDATED: September 18, 2019, JBS)
Berrien County
- Johansons Apple World - U-pick apples, pears, plums, pumpkins
8700 Keehn Road, Baroda, MI . Phone: 616-422-2426. Click here for a map and directions. 38539/">. Also jams, jellies, cider. Paula Red, McIntosh, Gala, Spartan, Delicious, Mutsu, Ida Red, Rom and Fuji. Oopen August 15-October 31, 10 am to 7 pm. I-94 from Chicago (E) to Exit 16 in Michigan. Turn right (N), 2 miles to Lemon Creek Road; turn right (E), 2-1/2 miles Turn left (N) on Keehn Road to orchard, 8700 Keehn Road, Baroda. -
Lehmans Orchard -
Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, blueberries, cherries,
red currants, black currants, raspberries (red), raspberries (black),
strawberries, Nectarines, Blueberries, Blackberries, Plums, Peaches, Tomatoes, Peppers, Pears, Sweet Cherries, Tart Cherries, Gooseberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill (fresh apple cider
made on the premises), porta-potties are available, picnic area you may bring your own food
2280 Portage Road, Niles, MI 49120. Phone: 269-683-9078. Alternate Phone: 574-286-7815. Fax: 269-683-9078. Email: stevelecklider@aol.com. Open: Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm; Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm, from late May through October; Off season hours open every day from 12 pm to 5 pm November, December, closed January, February, March then open in April and May. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: coming from Chicago, Take I80-90 Toll Road east to exit 72. Drive north on bypass 31 into Michigan, turn right on US12 and head east one mile. Turn right on Portage Road and head south one mile, the red farm house is on the right. Click here for a map and directions. We use integrated pest management practices. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. Click here for our Facebook page. Pick your own tart cherry and blueberry starting around July 1; Please check website or phone for current pick your own information. Also visit our farm winery/cidery/farm stand during the season. We are always adding interesting products and crops. (UPDATED: August 28, 2023, JBS) - Lemon Creek Fruit Farm - cherries, peaches, nectarines, raspberries, plums, apples and grapes
533 E Lemon Creek, Berrien Springs, MI 49103. Phone: 269-471-1321. Email: farm@lemoncreekwinery.com. Open: June to November, Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm Sunday from 12 to 6 pm. Directions: 6 miles E of Red Arrow Hwy. at Bridgman, 5 miles west of Berrien Springs on Lemon Creek Rd. U-pick available for cherries, peaches, nectarines, raspberries, plums, apples and grapes in season. . Click here for a map and directions. . See this page for when fruits are typically available to pick. Free wine tasting, picnic area, festivals, Father's Day Festival, home wine makers welcome. - Prillwitz Fruit Farm - apples, blueberries, sweet cherries, tart cherries, peaches, plums, grapes, apple cider and pumpkins.
7196 E. Main Street, Eau Claire, MI 49111. Phone: 269-461-6720. Open: Daily June through October call for hours. Directions: Located 1 mile outside Eau Claire on Main Street. Click here for a map and directions. . Daily June through October (call for hours). Family owned and operated for over 60 years. True, authentic, down-home and refreshingly real. Grown and sold right on the farm, including sweet and tart cherries, peaches, plums (dunkelberg, damson and stanley prune), blueberries, grapes, apples, cider and pumpkins. U-Pick or already picked available. . 11 miles from the I-94 Exit or 11 miles north of Niles. (ADDED: June 30, 2016, JBS) - Stover's Farm Market and U-Pic - Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, apricots, red and black blackberries, grapes, and hayrides
7837 M-139, Berrien Springs, MI . Phone: 269-471-1401. Open: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm everyday except Sundays; Early June to late October. Click here for a map and directions.
Stover's Farm Market and U-Pic Facebook page. . U-Pic Schedule: Dates are TENATIVE, please call for availability! Strawberries: June - July; Sweet Cherries June - July; Tart Cherries: June - July; Red & Black Raspberries: June - July; Blackberries: July - August; Apricots July - August; Blueberries: July - August; Peaches July - September; (Red Haven, Crest Haven, Glo Haven, Baby Gold, Red Skins); Fall Red Raspberries: September - October; Pumpkins: September - October; Grapes September - October; Apples September - October; (Molly Delicious, Gala, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Red Rome, Empire, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Jonathan, Mutsu and others). Stovers has hayrides in October. (UPDATED: September 18, 2019, JBS) - Twin Maple Orchards - apples, plums, sweet & tart cherries
15352 Cleveland Avenue, Galien, MI . Phone: 269-545-8840. Email: twinmaple@earthlink.net. Open: Farm 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Eastern Time; U-Pick 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Eastern Time. Click here for a map and directions. . Fax: 269-545-4069. Fresh vegetables, pumpkins, cider, grapes, u-pick apples and more.We are a "Farm Market" U-pick with apples, plums, and vegetables. We grow Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, McIntosh, Red Cortland, Empire, Granny Smith, Ida Red, Jonafree, Mutsu, Macoun, Red Mac's, Paula Red, Connel Red, Winesap, Gala, Transparent, Greening, Jonagold, Jonagored, Honeycrisp, Early Mac's, Luster El Star, Red Romes, etc. (UPDATED: September 18, 2019, JBS)
Van Buren County
- Cleveland Farms - sweet cherries, plums and apples
County Road 380, Bloomingdale, MI . Phone: 616-521-4079. Open: 8:00 AM. Directions: Located 20 miles West of Kalamazoo on M-43 to Glendale. Click here for a map and directions. . U-pick sweet cherries. . At Glendale, turn North on County Road, 665, go 3 miles to County Road 380, then West. First place on County Road 380 is . U-pick sweet cherries starting mid-June. U-pick plums and apples starting late August. Deer apples thru November 10. m. till dark.
Plum Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
In the U.S., Plums typically peak during July for Sugar Plums; August for Blue, Yellow and Red Plums. In order to produce good local plums, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions, and no late frosts. If you are looking for a plum festival, see this page.
Before you leave to go to the farm:
- Always call before you go to the farm - Plums are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
-
Leave
early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON! -
Some growers furnish picking containers designed for plums, but they may
charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to
bring
containers.
If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Plums more than 14 inches deep will bruise the fruit on the bottom. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. - Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.
- You might want to ask whether the plums are! There are two major types of plums: "Freestone" and. "Clingstone". Freestone plums have flesh that slips easily away from the pit. Clingstones are a REAL pain, because the fruit tenaciously clings to the stone or pit! Most plum varieties grown today are freestone and are usually available (depending upon your location) from June through September. Some nectarines are freestone and some are clingstone. Freestone nectarines are available in June and July. Most plum varieties are clingstone.
Tips on How to Pick Plums
A plum is softer than most fruit, so it is important to pick a plum gently, with little pressure. Using the sides of your fingers rather your fingertips helps to avoid bruising. Grab the plum firmly and pull it straight off the branch. DON'T drop the plum into the basket, but set it in gently!
Typical 2019 Orchard Plum Pricing:
- Average price is $2.49 /lb.
Picking Tips:
How to tell if the plums are ripe!
- Attached to the tree: Plums are best picked when the fruit separates easily from the twigs. If it is hard to pull off the tree, it isn't ripe! Plums will not ripen further once removed from the tree (they only "soften")
- Color: Green is definitely unripe, but you can't use red color as an indicator of how ripe a plum is. Different plum varieties have differing colors, darker is usually better in any variety. Pick them when the ground color changes from green to yellow, orange, red or even blue or purple (or a combination).
- Softness: unless you like your plums very firm, pick your plums with just a little "give" when gently pressed. Plums at this stage are great for eating, freezing, and baking. Plums won't ripen very much after picking!
- Odor: It should smell sweet and ripe!
- Larger plums are riper.
- Sugar plums grow in clusters, so carefully select the plum you want out of the cluster.
- Place them gently in a shallow wide container, no more than 8-inches deep, to avoid crushing the fruit.
Marks on the Plums: Bugs (particularly squash bugs and stink bugs)
bite fruit during development and this results in some imperfections in the
plum. This is especially the case with organically raised fruit. These
look like dents in the plums if the plums were bitten by a bug when they
were young. This causes a spot that does not grow properly and makes a wrinkle
in the plum. There's nothing wrong with these plums. They may look funny, but
they will taste just as good as blemish-free plums, and it's better not to
have the pesticides!
When you get home
- Spread the fruit out on towels or newspapers and separate any mushy or damaged fruit to use immediately.
- Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the others and freeze them up!
- Even under ideal conditions plums will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase
Make preserves, can or freeze!
Easy directions, step by step, with photos
- plum jam
- plum jelly
- canned plums
- freeze plums
- canned plum pie filling to use in the winter
- plum pie recipe
- plum-blueberry pie
- plum salsa
- Plum chutney
- Spiced plums
- Plum butter
- Pickled plums
- Here are some great and easy plum desert recipes, like easy plum cobbler..
Plum dessert recipes
- Plum Cobbler
This recipe is easy and
DELICIOUS!!! - Plum Torte
- Italian Prune Plums (Empress Plums)
How much do you need?
Raw measures:
- About 2 medium plums = 1/2 cup sliced plums.
- About 4 medium plums = 1 /2cup pureed plum.
- About 3 medium plums = 1 /2 pound of plums
Process yields (Raw amounts to processed amounts)
- 2 to 21/2 pounds of fresh plums yields 1 quart canned
- 1 lb of fresh plums typically yields 3 cups of peeled, sliced plums or 2 cups or puree.
- It takes about 10 plums to fill one quart jar of canned plums.
- An average of 171/2 pounds of fresh plums are needed per canner load of 7 quarts;
- An average of 11 pounds is needed per canner load of 9 pints.
- 1 bushel = 48 to 50 pounds, yields approximately 18 to 25 quart jars.
Plums-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent
Plum pit tips
It's best to remove plum pits before you cook the plums. Cherry, plum, and apricot pits also contain amygdalin; the latter two, in potentially harmful amounts. Fortunately, plum and apricot pits are sufficiently large and hard that few people intentionally swallow or chew them. (The unapproved anti-cancer drug Laetrile is a semisynthetic derivative of amygdalin; a cheaper version of laetrile produced in Mexico came from crushed apricot pits.) See this page for more information.
Nutritional Information
- plums are virtually fat free. A medium size plum contains less than one gram of fat.
- plums are naturally sodium free.
- plums have no cholesterol.
- plums are a low calorie snack. A medium size plum contains only 40 calories.
- plums contain vitamin A which helps us see in dim light.
- plums are considered a good source of fiber. The skin of a plum provides both roughage and fiber.
Temporary Storage Tips
- Ripe plums have a creamy or golden undertone and "plumy-sweet" fragrance.
- Plums should be refrigerated and used within a few days.
- Putting plums in a loosely closed paper bag at room temperature for a day or two can help soften firm fruit - but they won't become sweeter or ripen further - that stopped when they were removed from th etree.
- For best flavor, allow the fruit to ripen fully on the tree.
- Store at 33�F to 40�F and high humidity (a vegetable drawer in the fridge).
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
Looking for canning equipment and supplies?
Water bath canner with a jar rack
Pressure canners for gas, electric and induction stoves: Presto 23Qt or T-fal 22Qt
Canning scoop (this one is PERFECT)
Ball Blue book (most recent version)
Find Other types of farms:
- Easter egg hunts
- Children's consignment sales
- Farm markets and roadside stands
- Road trips and camping resources
- Local Honey, apiaries, beekeepers
- Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
- Consumer fraud and scams information
- Home canning supplies at the best prices on the internet!
- Maple Syrup Farms, sugarworks, maple syrup festivals
- Environmental information and resources
- Farms For Your Event for birthday parties, weddings, receptions, business meetings, retreats, etc.
- Festivals - local fruit and vegetable festivals
- Pumpkin patches and corn mazes
- Christmas Tree Farms and lots
Get the
most recent version of
the Ball Blue Book
Get the
most recent version of
the Ball Blue Book of Home Canning
Find other types of farms:
- Easter egg hunts
- Children's consignment sales
- Farm markets and roadside stands
- Local Honey
- Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
- Road trip and camping
- Pumpkin patches and corn mazes
- Christmas Tree Farms and lots
- Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
Highly rated canning supplies:
- Regular Mouth Canning Lids with food-grade with BPA Free Silicone seals for Ball, Kerr Jars for Canning
- Canning accessories kit: funnel, jar tongs, lid lifter, etc
- Food Dehydrator, 400W Electric with 8 Trays, 48 hour Timer and Temperature Control 95-176℉, BPA-Free
- Water Bath Canner, 21 Qts with lid, Jar Rack, Speckled Black, cans 7 quart jars, 9 pint jars or 13 half-pint jars
- Air Fryer: Instant Pot Instant Vortex Plus XL 8QT Clear Windows, Custom Programming, 8-in-1 Functions that Crisps, Broils, Roasts, Dehydrates, Bakes, Reheats
- Pressure canner: All American 921, 21.5qt Pressure Cooker/Canner, never needs gaskets, Great for Gas, Electric or Flat Top Stoves - Made in the USA
- The Backyard Homestead:a guide to homesteading , on 1/4 acre, how to raise grains and vegetables; raise animals for meat, eggs, and dairy; and keep honey bees
- Smart silent HEPA Air Purifiers for Home, Large Rooms for Allergies, Smoke, Pets. Eliminates 99.97% of Dust, Pet Hair, Odors
