2024 Chicago and Northeastern Illinois Raspberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org
Find a pick-your-own farm near you! Then learn to can and freeze! Since 2002! We update continuously; Beware the copycat websites!
Search pickyourown.org
Raspberry U-Pick Orchards in Chicago and Northeastern Illinois in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for raspberries that we know of in this area.
Not all areas of a state have raspberries 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.
Search pickyourown.org
Boone County
Edwards Apple Orchard - apples, raspberries, pumpkins, horse-drawn hay rides, hay maze, petting zoo, restrooms, gift shop, pony rides 7601 Centerville Road, Poplar Grove, IL 61065. Phone: 815-765-2234. Open: daily from 9 am to 6 pm in September and October, and in November daily from 9 am - 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. Edwards Apple Orchard Facebook page. Bluegrass music (presumably only on weekends), apple cider and apple cider donuts. lease join us for warm cider donuts, a fresh cup of cider, and the time together that we've all been cravingSee comments about this farm here! Some visitors on Yelp and Google report high prices and a commercialized feel, but the reviews I've received have been positive. Facebook page
DeKalb County
Honey Hill Orchard - apples, raspberries, pumpkins. 11747 Waterman Road, Waterman, IL 60556. Phone: 815-264-3337. Email: honeyhill5@frontier.com. Open: usually starts in late August, PLEASE CHECK BACK CLOSER TO THAT TIME FOR EXACT OPENING DATE AND RIPENING SCHEDULE; Call or email for their dates and hours, and please ask them to update PickYourOwn. Click here for a map and directions. . ORG - Early Season Hours: Labor Day weekend 9 am to 1 pm; Regular Season Hours: open daily from 9 am to 5:30 pm from Tuesday after Labor Day thru October 31stis a family-owned and operated orchard that was started as a hobby in 1965. Today, the original orchard location has 2,100 apple trees, with an additional 500 trees at a second farm location. What started out as a simple farm stand has grown to include pick your own apples, raspberries and pumpkins, a bakery, the Apple Barn Country Store and family activities. Comments from a visitor on October 17, 2009: "We went to the last week (10/10/2009) and had a wonderful time! There were plenty of apples still available and even some raspberries! There was a 10 pound minimum to pick (per group, not per person) for $15 for apples. There were also hay rides out to the pumpkin patch and a bakery that sells delicious pies and donuts as well as a cute store. All of the employees were so friendly there! We decided this is the best orchard we have been to in this area and will be back next year!"
Walnut Grove Vocational Farm - beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, flowers, herbs or spices, onions, peas, peppers, raspberries (Spring, red), summer squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, restrooms, weddings and wedding parties, school tours 33600 Pearl Street, Kirkland, IL 60146. Phone: (815) 793-0950. Email: nutmeg214@gmail.com. Open: U-Pick Strawberry patches typically start in mid-June. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Walnut Grove Vocational Farm Facebook page. Use this link to sign up: https://bit.ly/2N67dxx. Pick-your-own started in 2018. For everyone's safety: U-Pick is open only to adults & supervised children 12+. (ADDED: August 03, 2017)
Grundy County
Olive Berry Acres - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), rhubarb, strawberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available 2575 West Mine Road, Mazon, IL 60444. Phone: 815-474-6511. Email: oliveberryacres@aol.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: Mazon is located on Illinois Route 47, about 15 miles south of Interstate 80. The farm is about 70 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, about an hour and a half drive. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. 88Olive Berry Acres They have a website here website here, but never actually put anything on it so it just gives an error message. Comments from a visitor on June 05, 2010: "We visited (Grundy County, IL) today and had a great time. The owner, Nik, was very friendly and informative. There were three varieties of strawberry available, all were very tasty and flavorful. There were plenty of berries. We picked ten pounds and it was a drop in the bucket. The price was very good ($2/lb). The farm is nice and tranquil, very relaxing. Raspberries will be ready next week, and even though we live in Chicago, we're trying to make time to go back."
Kane County
Spring Bluff Nursery - Uses natural growing practices, beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplants, flowers, gooseberries, herbs or spices, kale, onions, raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), rhubarb, Other fruit or veg, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, gift shop, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals 41w130 Norris Road, Sugar Grove, IL 60554. Phone: (630) 466-4278. Email: plants@springbluffnursery.com. Open: Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm; Sunday 10 am to 4 pm, April 1 to October 31. Directions: 5 miles North of Sugar Grove off Bliss Road at Norris Road. Six miles West of Aurora. Please call for specific directions. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Spring Bluff Nursery Facebook page. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification(ADDED: April 14, 2020)
McHenry County
Heider's Berry Farm - raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), strawberries, U-pick and already picked 1100 North Queen Anne Road, Woodstock, IL 60098. Phone: 815-338-0301. Open: Sunday through Saturday from 9am to 3pm as long as berries are available. Directions: From Chicago and suburbs: Take I90 west to Route 47 north. Go through Huntley to Woodstock. Turn right on route 120. Go 2 miles, then turn left on Queen Anne. Go one-half mile. Farm is on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Heider's Berry Farm Facebook page. Facebook page. Strawberries: about June 10 to July 4 Raspberries: about July 4 to August 1 and about August 25 to frostYou may call ahead for each day's picking conditions and availability. The beginning and ending of each picking season depends on the weather.
Prairie Sky Orchard - apples, pumpkins, raspberries, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms 4914 N Union Road, Union, IL 60180. Phone: 815-923-4834. Open: Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Crops are usually available in late August, September, October. Click here for picking updates Comments from a visitor on October 02, 2009: "Staff was wonderful and I am sure that my family and I will be going back for years to come. Thanks, Rachel" UPDATED: October 02, 2009)
Royal Oak Farm Orchard - apples, blackberries, pumpkins, raspberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, face painting, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours 15908 Hebron Road, Harvard, IL 60033. Phone: 815-648-4141. Email: service@royaloakfarmorchard.com. Open: starting in mid August; Monday to Saturday: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm U - Pick closes at 5 pm Closed on Sunday. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Fax: 815-648-4821 Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Crops are usually available in August, September, October, November. Raspberries: August 1 to October 15 or first heavy frost Blackberries: September 15 to October 31 or first heavy frost Apples: August 15 to November 15 Pumpkins: September 15 to November 15 or first heavy frostNo admission fee Monday to Friday $3.00 Admission fee per car Saturdays, Labor Day and Columbus Day Rides in the Entertainment Area include Royal Oak Express, Royal Oak Carousel and Orchard Tours. Each require a $2.50 token. Free Playground and Petting Zoo. Group Tours and School Tours available by appointment Monday to Friday. (UPDATED: October 10, 2020 JBS) See comments about this farm here!
Stade's Farm and Market - apples, beans, beets, peas, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red), strawberries, tomatoes, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area, inflatables or bounce houses, jumping pillow, ziplines, train rides (train on a track), pedal kart track, petting zoo, school tours, group reservations, events at your location (call for info) 3709 Miller Road, McHenry, IL 60081. Phone: (815) 675-6396. Email: thefarm@stadefarm.com. Open: Pick - Your - Own is open 9 am to 5 pm whenever applicable; Visit our Facebook Page and website for current picking information. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Stade's Farm and Market Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (815) 979-9212 Picking updates: Click here for picking updates Stade's Farm host several special events a year. Please refer to our website for all information about our Classic Car Show, Truck and Tractor Show, and Arts & Crafts on the Farm. UPick strawberries are available from mid June to mid July; Our fall festival in September and October. We are offering both fruits and vegetables for you to harvest, including strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, sugar snap peas, green beans, peppers, and more. We offer a beautiful apple orchard with many of your favorite apples and about 30 acres of pick-your-own pumpkins in the fall. Stade's is home to a large entertainment area, including a petting zoo, corn maze, giant slides, hayrides, and a large variety of unique attractions. Our fall festival, Shades of Autumn, is a harvest time extravaganza featuring 40+ farm-related attractions, pumpkin picking, special events, great food, and lots of family-orientated fun(UPDATED: September 08, 2020)See comments about this farm here!
Tom's Farm Market - raspberries, apples, strawberries, farm market 10214 Algonquin Road, Huntley, IL 60142. Phone: (847) 669-3421. Email: info@tomsfarmmarket.com. Open: during the Holiday Season so you can purchase pies and our specialty breads eggnog teacake, cranberry walnut or our miniature fruit cake. Directions: North on Randall Road to Algonquin Road, turn left \(west\) 3-one half miles. Located on north side of road OR north on Route 47 to Algonquin Road, turn right \(east\), go 1-one half miles. Located on north side of road. We have U-pick strawberries in June, and during our strawberry season, we bake fresh strawberry pies and have shakes and sundaes made to order. What a treat on those hot days! In July and August, we make great peach cakes from the harvest of wonderful Southern Illinois peach - truncated. . Click here for a map and directions. Tom's Farm Market Facebook page. . call, email or see their website for current hors and availability; strawberry fest on Father's Day weekendNorth on Randall Road to Algonquin Road, turn left (west) 3-one half miles. Located on north side of road OR north on Route 47 to Algonquin Road, turn right (east), go 1-one half miles. Located on north side of road. We have U-pick strawberries in June, and during our strawberry season, we bake fresh strawberry pies and have shakes and sundaes made to order. What a treat on those hot days! In July and August, we make great peach cakes from the harvest of wonderful Southern Illinois peaches we receive. Our market is always filled with a delicious aroma that can be smelled right after walking through the door. Our famous pies, cookies, scones and home- made breads are tasty and baked fresh every day. As the season changes, so do our bakery items. For our Fall Fest in September and October, we he have our famous apple cake that is applelicious! November we begin taking orders for our Thanksgiving pies. Call our bakery, to place an order. We are open during the Holiday Season so you can purchase pies and our specialty breads (eggnog teacake, cranberry walnut or our miniature fruit cake). In the Fall, we have a 5 Acre Corn Maze, Straw Mounds, Petting Zoo, Bunny Village, Goat Walk, Wooden Train/School Bus/Tractor, Spider Web)(ADDED: June 22, 2013X)
Woodstock Country Orchard - raspberries, apples 17015 Garden Valley Road, Woodstock, IL 60098. Phone: (815) 923-4359. Email: bytemecomputing@yahoo.com. Click here for a map and directions. . See these pages for more information: [Hours] [Map] [Schedule] [Varieties] [Prices]. 12 varieties of the best apples. See comments about this farm here!
Raspberry
Raspberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
Raspberries can produce an early summer crop or a late summer and Fall
crop.
In
the U.S. Spring / Summer raspberries (called florocanes) typically peak during June in the South, and in July in
the North. The primocane varieties, which produce raspberries on shoots that
come up each Spring are typically read from August until frost.
And for those of you from the upper midwest through the west and up
to Canada, if you are interested in
Thimbleberries, see this
page.
Before you leave to go to the farm:
Always call before you go to the farm - 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!
Most growers furnish picking containers designed for raspberries, 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 raspberries more than
5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries.
Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large
pots make good containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one
at right.
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.
Tips on how to pick raspberries
Raspberry bushes don't have thorns, but they are a pick prickly, so if you
want to hold the stem while picking, a pair of lightweight gloves is
helpful.
A ripe raspberry is deep color with a
plump, soft but firm feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug. The
center will remain on the plant. Keep in mind, raspberries come in many
colors: red, yellow, black, purple, so you want to pick the darker shade of
whichever it is.
Pick only the berries that are fully ripe. Reach in between the stems to
grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the
plant and you will find loads of berries that other people missed!
I find it helps to hold the stem with one hand, while picking with the
other.
Repeat these
operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
Don't overfill
your containers or try to pack the berries down. Ideally, the collection
containers should be wide so the pberries aren't more than a few deep.
Pick berries into a shallow container. If they get piled too
deep they will crush each other.
Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunlight any longer than necessary.
It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car
trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible after picking.
When you get home
DON'T
wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze them. Washing
makes them more prone to spoiling.
DO refrigerate! Right after picking, place raspberries in
the fridge. If your fridge tends to dry out produce, lightly cover the
container.
Raspberries don't store for very long, usually just a few days. The reason
the ones from the grocery store last longer is they are covered with
fungicides!
Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting
berries
Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash off the others, drain
them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away)
raspberries are less perishable than blueberries or strawberries, but
refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34
F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the raspberries (while
they are in the fridge)!
Even under ideal conditions raspberries will only keep for a week in a
refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible
after purchase
Raspberries are a very healthy food;
packed with anthocyanins!
Raspberries contain more vitamin C than oranges, are super high in fibre,
lhave a good amount of folic acid, are high in potassium, vitamin A and
calcium.
The USDA says 1 cup of raspberries has about 62 calories.
11 cup of raspberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
An average raspberry has 100 to 120 seeds.
Select plump, firm, fully raspberries. Unripe berries will not
ripen once picked.
Raspberries belong to a large group of fruits known as brambles, such as
blackberries, in the plant genus Rubus.
Raspberries come in red, yellow, orange, purple and black colors.
Yellow raspberries are red raspberries that don't make red pigment.)
In most areas, raspberries begin to bloom in late May or early June.
Bumblebees, honeybees, and other wild bees love to visit brambles.
60-70 pints of fruits can be
harvested from 100 feet row. Raspberries can be harvested from early
summer through fall, usually right up until a freeze
The United States is the world's third-largest
producer of raspberries (FAOSTAT, 2013).
Production occurs across
much of the country, although most of it is concentrated in California,
Oregon and Washington. California leads the nation in both black and red
raspberry production (NASS, 2015).
According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, the United States
has 8,052 raspberry farms totaling 23,104 acres (Census of Ag, USDA, 2012).
U-pick raspberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart
equals 1 and 1/4 pounds of fresh berries.
Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as raspberries quickly
mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the
refrigerator.
You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just
wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much
air as possible. Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this!
The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.