2024 Central-Northwest Minnesota Raspberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Raspberry U-Pick Orchards in Central-Northwest Minnesota 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 any state, nor even every 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.

Becker County

• JB's Raspberries - raspberries (red), raspberries (yellow), Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked
  15253 Co highway 15, Audubon, MN 56511. Phone: 218-850-8003. Email: jbseley@loretel.net. Open: starting every year around the 1st of July, Call for dates their website is down in 2015, so be sure to call. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . . starting every year around the 1st of July, Call for dates (their website is down in 2015, so be sure to call). We sell nursery stock in the spring around the 1st of April, we have 7 different varieties of raspberry plants, Call for dates.
• Maple Hills Orchard, LLC - Uses integrated pest management practices, raspberries (Autumn, red), Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food, birthday parties, school tours
  29355 130th St, Frazee, MN 56544. Phone: 218-844-5445. Email: maplehillsorchard@hotmail.com. Open: Seasonal September through October, Open Weekends, Saturday 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday 11 am to 6 pm. Directions: Drive 3 miles east of Detroit Lakes or 4 miles west of Frazee, MN on US Highway 10 to 130th Street; proceed on 130th Street 1 mile. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Maple Hills Orchard, LLC Facebook page. . Alternate . We use integrated pest management practices. Pre-picked apples by the 1/2 peck and peck. In addition, they also support and promote local and sustainable agriculture as well as fairtrade products. Family-owned orchard located in the northern Minnesota lakes country between Detroit Lakes and Frazee. The Apple House Store features Minnesota grown apples, orchard honey, winter squash and a variety of gift items. We also have a walking trail, and picnic tables. (ADDED: April 16, 2010X)

Douglas County

• Country Blossom Farm - strawberries, honeyberries, aroniaberries, raspberries, pumpkins, corn maze
  1951 Englund Rd SW, Alexandria, MN 56308. Phone: (320) 334-1620. Email: countryblossomfarmllc@gmail.com. Open: U-Pick hours are from 7 am to 12 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm. Click here for a map and directions.
  Country Blossom Farm Facebook page. . . This year we will be CLOSED from 12 pm to 4 PM, due to the afternoon heat. Call before you come to check the status of the berries and for rain cancelations. If you would like to place an order for pre-picked strawberries call 320-334-1620 and leave a message, someone will return your call. The 2019 cost for for u- pick is $2.25/lb and pre-picked is $3.75/lb. If you would like to pick honeberries you will need to schedule a time to pick before you come so we have staff available. You will need to pick a minimum of 5 1/2 pints, u-pick is $3.00 per half pint and prepicked is $5.00 per half pint. The patch is on the south side of the orchard, follow the signs posted. The orchard store will not be open during strawberry season. See you in June. Typical seasons are: Strawberries from mid-June through July.Honeyberries from Late June to Early July, Honeyberries which are a cross of the Raspberry, Grape and Blueberry taste. Aronia are usually available to pick August through Mid September. Day-Neutral Strawberries are also available to pick August through Mid September. Raspberries from August through November.U-Pick Pumpkin Patch & Squash from early September through October -We are also excited to announce we are planting blueberries to open a u-pick blueberry patch in 2-3 years.We bake our donuts, bars, crisps, strudels, cookies, and famous pies fresh daily. Remember to share, for goodness sake! Order for your next party or event. For year round catering please email us at catering@countryblossomfarm.com. Check out our Catering and Online Store options. Our outdoor activities will open August 10, 2019. Bring your family and pick your own produce or enjoy activities like the corn maze, pedal car races, huge jumping pillow, tractor rides, and so much more. (ADDED: June 18, 2019, JBS)

Otter Tail County

• Herzog Berries - no pesticides are used, raspberries (red), strawberries, restrooms
  29937 Twin Pine Road, Underwood, MN 56538. Phone: 218-739-5483. Email: herzogberries@gmail.com. Open: Our u-pick fields are open Monday - Saturday, 7 am to 12 noon, or until picked out; please call for daily details; Pre-picked berries are available at our farm from 7 - 10 am or at our stand locations See location information on our website. Directions: We are located at the corner of County Road 1 and County Road 35 - 3 miles north of Weetown on County Road 1 or 13 miles north of Fergus Falls on County Road 1 or 7 miles north of Underwood on County Road 35. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 218-826-6459. . Our u-pick fields are open Monday - Saturday, 7 am to 12 noon, or until picked out; please call for daily details; Pre-picked berries are available at our farm from 7 - 10 am or at our stand locations (See location information on our website). Strawberries: Late June to mid-July Raspberries: Early July to late July. We provide five quart pails for strawberries and raspberries, along with flats to take berries home in. We are pesticide free.
• Otter Berry Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red), strawberries, U-pick and already picked, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, inflatables or bounce houses, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations
  38132 470th Avenue, New York Mills, MN 56567. Phone: (218) 346-5034. Email: otterberryfarm@gmail.com. Open: Strawberries - mid June to early July Raspberries - Late August to 1st hard frost. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Otter Berry Farm Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (218) 841-9703. . Strawberries - mid June to early July Raspberries - Late August until 1st hard frost Pumpkins, Gourds, Squash - September to October Corn Maze - September through October;. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Conveniently located near Perham, a few miles off of highway 10 in the heart of Lakes Country. We are a family friendly farm! Come make lasting memories with your family here at the farm. Always check our Facebook page or call the Berry Line before traveling a long distance to see us. We may have to close early due to weather or if we are picked out. Our strawberry field and corn maze is handicap accessible. Sorry no pets or smoking allowed at the farm. (UPDATED: June 18, 2019, JBS) (ADDED: December 15, 2018)
• The GARDEN on Hwy 35 - apples, cherries, currants (red and black), gooseberries, other berries, raspberries (red), rhubarb, saskatoons, other vegetables,
  29700 N. highway 35, Underwood, MN 56586. Phone: 218-495-3160. Email: TheGARDENonHwy35@gmail.com. Open: Call for dates. Directions: 9 miles N of Underwood or 13 miles E Fergus Falls then N on 35 1.7 miles at the junction 1 & 35. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 218-770-8119. . Saskatoon's aka Juneberries, think 4th of July; Call up to 5 days earlier; Very short harvest period; Aronia berries September long harvest; Ripe berries remain on branch; Apples, July - November several varities. (ADDED: January 18, 2015)

Pope County

• Glacial Acres - ORGANIC, broccoli, cucumbers, garlic, peppers, raspberries, rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables
  17734 335th St, Sunburg, MN 56289. Phone: 320-278-2002. Email: kelly@glacialacres.com. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . . Their website says "We won't have any berries this year since we are renovating our fields.". Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August, September, October. We are certified organic for all crops! We are a small family operation, certified organic by MOSA. We specialize in berries, collies and assorted delicious vegetables.

 

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.

In addition to the variety a farm plants, the berries are ready at various times depending the local climate, such as which part of the state you are located. See this page for a list of raspberry festivals around the U.S.

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:

1. 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!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!  
3. 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.
4. 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

1. 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.

   Raspberries Nutritional Data
   (fresh)

   Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
   Energy	220 kJ (53 kcal)
   Carbohydrates	11.94 g
   Sugars	4.42 g
   Dietary fiber	6.5 g
   Fat	0.65 g
   Protein	1.2 g
   Vitamins
   Thiamine	(3%) 0.032 mg
   Riboflavin2	(3%) 0.038 mg
   Niacin3	(4%) 0.598 mg
   Pantothenic acid5	(7%) 0.329 mg
   Vitamin B6	(4%) 0.055 mg
   Folate9	(5%) 21 μg
   Choline	(3%) 12.3 mg
   Vitamin C	(32%) 26.2 mg
   Vitamin E	(6%) 0.87 mg
   Vitamin K	(7%) 7.8 μg
   Minerals
   Calcium	(3%) 25 mg
   Iron	(5%) 0.69 mg
   Magnesium	(6%) 22 mg
   Manganese	(32%) 0.67 mg
   Phosphorus	(4%) 29 mg
   Potassium	(3%) 151 mg
   Zinc	(4%) 0.42 mg
   Other constituents
   Water	85.8 g
   Units μg = micrograms � mg = milligrams IU = International units
   Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source:

   
   
2. 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.
3. 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!
4. I find it helps to hold the stem with one hand, while picking with the other.
5. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
6. 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.
7. Pick berries into a shallow container. If they get piled too deep they will crush each other.
8. 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

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. DO refrigerate! Right after picking, place raspberries in the fridge. If your fridge tends to dry out produce, lightly cover the container.
3. 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!
4. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
5. 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)!
6. 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
7. See this page for illustrated freezing instructions.

Raspberry Recipes

1. Now, get ready to make raspberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free
   raspberry jam directions - very easy! or for a jam with a little kick, try raspberry chipotle jam
2. And if you want to freeze them to use later, see my How to freeze berries page.
3. You can also make your own raspberry vinaigrette,
4. See this page for an easy recipe to make raspberry chipotle sauce

 

Raspberry Facts

• 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.
• Want to go to a raspberry festival? See this page for a list!

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