2024 Northern Minneapolis and Northern Suburbs, Minnesota Raspberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Raspberry U-Pick Orchards in Northern Minneapolis and Northern Suburbs, 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.

Anoka County

• Berry Hill Farm - Strawberries, Raspberries, pumpkins
  6510 185th Avenue, NW, Anoka, MN . Phone: 763-753-5891. Email: ContactUs@BerryHillFarm.com. Open: for family fun last weekend of September & all weekends of October. Click here for a map and directions.
  Berry Hill Farm Facebook page. . Strawberries u-pick or call ahead and we will do it for you. Raspberries both summer and fall bearing. Pumpkins/farm tours - open Don't get lost in our large field maze. U-pick pumpkins, wagon ride, farm animals, squash, gourds, ornamental corn, corn bundles, hay bales and much more. Please call for week day appointments, for school farm tours, childcare, scouts, church picnics, etc. Farm tours only end of September and all of October. Here at the we have strawberries, raspberries, and rhubarb during the summer season. Tentative schedule for strawberries is from approximately the middle of June to the beginning of July. Raspberries are typically in season from early July to the middle of July. Rhubarb is ready to be picked around mid-May, but we will also pick through the strawberry season. Please remember that these dates are approximate. For up to date information please check our Facebook page for up-to-date berry bulletins!
• Minnesota Fresh Farm - Uses natural growing practices, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (Autumn, yellow), weddings and wedding parties
  20241 Highway 65, East Bethel, MN 55011. Phone: 612-735-5459. Email: sharon@minnesotafreshfarm.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: North on Highway 65 to East Bethel. We are one mile north of Viking Boulevard, Country Road 22. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Minnesota Fresh Farm Facebook page. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. The ONLY pyo crops offered are Raspberries. (UPDATED: June 14, 2016)

Hennepin County

• Apple Jack Orchards - apples, pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, red), U-pick and already picked, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, jumping pillow, ziplines, farm animals, school tours, group reservations
  4875 37th Street Se, Delano, MN 55328. Phone: 763-972-6673. Email: jill@applejackorchards.com. Open: Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: Hwy 55 West from Minneapolis 1 mile west of Rockford, MN, go left on Wright County Road 32; One mile to orchard. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Apple Jack Orchards Facebook page. . . Beautiful setting on the Crow River with tons of fun for families!. (UPDATED: July 19, 2016)
• Homestead Orchard - apples, raspberries, tomatoes, pumpkins
  1080 County Road 92 North, Maple Plain, MN 55359. Phone: (763) 479-3186. Email: Moondanceorchard@gmail.com. Directions: Located 23 miles W of Mpls. Click here for a map and directions. Homestead Orchard Phone . Email . Call for hours. ., take 394 (Hwy 12) & watch for sign 3 miles W of Maple Plain, then 2 miles S on Cty Rd 92. Pre-scheduled orchard tours. Pick your own apples, prepicked apples and our own cider. We feature Honeycrisp apples other varieties include Fireside, Haralson, Prairie Spy, Regent, Keepsake, Honeygold, Cortland, Ginger Gold, Zestar & Early Blush. Raspberries, u pick or pre picked. Petting zoo with mini donkeys, calf, goats and baby lambs.

Isanti County

• Dew Fresh Produce - blueberries, currants (red and black), pumpkins, raspberries, rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, Garlic
  404 375thAvenue, Stanchfield, MN 55080. Phone: 763-689-2282. Email: DewFreshProduce@msn.com. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Dew Fresh Produce .
• Jakes Apple Shack - apples, corn (sweet), pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, red), rhubarb, winter squash, strawberries, farm market, porta-potties are available, picnic area you may bring your own food, school tours
  601 375th Ave, Stanchfeild, MN 55080. Phone: 763-689-2282. Email: Dewfreshproduce@msn.com. Open: Call for hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . . (ADDED: August 30, 2015)

Sherburne County

• Goracke Trees - raspberries, gift shop, farm animals
  16598 County Road 14, Elk River, MN 55330. Phone: 763-263-6355. Email: goracketrees@aol.com. Open: Friday after Thanksgiving 10 to 5, Then Saturdays and Sundays 10 to 5 until Christmas; Rasperries: Late June through mid- July, then Christmas Trees from the Friday after Thanksgiving and Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas Eve. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . . Crops are usually available in June, July, November, December.
• Grayson's Berryland - strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.
  , Clear Lake, MN . Phone: 320-743-3384. Open: 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday, 8am - 3pm Sat, 8am - 1pm Sun. Directions: Located 45 minutes north of Twin Cities on I-94. Click here for a map of the area.
  Grayson's Berryland Facebook page. . Open 8am - 6pm (Monday to Friday), 8am - 3pm (Sat), 8am - 1pm (Sun). . Take Clearwater exit and travel north on Hwy 24 to County Road 8. Pick-your-own or already picked Containers are provided.

Wright County

• Apple Jack Orchards - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, red), U-pick and already picked, farm market, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, jumping pillow, pony rides, birthday parties, school tours, corn maze, cow trains
  4875 37th Street Se, Delano, MN 55328. Phone: 763-972-6673. Email: kit@applejackorchards.com. Open: Pick your own on weekends or purchase prepicked every day in Sepember and October. Directions: We use integrated pest management practices. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Apple Jack Orchards Facebook page. . Fax: 763-972-4038. . Beautiful setting on the Crow River with tons of fun for families!. (ADDED: May 18, 2015)
• Fairhaven Farm - u-Pick raspberries, apples (certain varieties and certain weekends only), grapes and pumpkins, school tours, weddings
  13835 51st Avenue, South Haven, MN 55382. Phone: 320-236-7685. Email: fairfarm@lakedalelink.net. Open: 7 am to 7 pm June-July, 11 am to 6 pm daily Aug-Oct; Open June and July for pick-your-own; for apples: daily 10-6 from Labor Day to Thanksgiving; We update our blog every weekend, where you can see whether or not we are still doing u-pick apples. Directions: Located three miles north of South Haven and 18 miles south of St. Cloud. Near the intersection of County Road 44 and 7 in Fairhaven. Our raspberries are all through pick-your-own. We feature fall-bearing raspberry varieties Caroline, and Autumn Bliss. You are welcome to bring your own containers, or use our provided pint size containers.We have 2 acres of our grape crop available for U-Pick, at $1.25lb \(June 2016 price\). Our vineyard contains a multitude of varieties, including ones that are best for eating, jellies and wine. U-Pick grapes is a fun and unique activities for either individuals or families. We can grow pears in Minnesota! Pre-picked. 4 varieties are available beginning in August and going through October. Early: Summercrisp Later: Luscious, Gourmet, and Patton. Plums are available pre-picked. 2 varieties available from late August to mid September, Toka and Alderman. Fairhaven Farm is also a family destination in the Fall when we have our u-pick pumpkin patch, themed corn maze, delicious baked goods, and horse drawn hayrides. Marsha\'s apple pies draws people from far and wide, and available baked on the weekends and frozen all season long. Every year the corn maze has a different theme, in the past they have included Arthur, Dr. Seuss, Hugo, and Harry Potter. \(UPDATED: June 27, 2016\) \(UPDATED: August 02, 2013, by a visitor\) Comments from a visitor on June 21, 2009: \The farm has a corn maze that runs through Halloween weekend along with a horse-drawn wagon ride. The corn maze has a different theme every year. 2007- Curious George. They do not take credit cards. Click here for a map and directions. but do accept checks. Each weekend through November the first weekend in November a \"kitchen specialty\"" is offered"
• The Strawberry Basket - Strawberries, Blueberries, raspberries
  12591 Aetna Ave NE, Monticello, MN 55362. Phone: 763-878-2875. Email: strawberrybasket@mycitescape.com. Open: We anticipate the strawberry picking season to last from June 1 to July 7; hours are from 7 am to 7 pm every day, so come on out at any time - there is plenty of fruit for all. Click here for a map and directions.
  The Strawberry Basket Facebook page. . We reserve the right to suspend operations due to threatening weather (such as thunder and lightening). BLUEBERRY picking will not begin until around July 4th.
  Comments from a visitor on June 26, 2009: "Well organized, clean, reasonable prices, great berries!"
• Woods' Edge Apples - apples, pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, red), gift shop, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals
  1901 50th Street Northeast, Buffalo, MN 55313. Phone: 763-682-4409. Email: woodsedgeapples@msn.com. Open: All open hours as supply allows. Directions: Located three miles north of Buffalo, Minnesota on State Highway 25. Turn west on County Road 113 to get to our driveway. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Woods' Edge Apples Facebook page. . (ADDED: September 03, 2015)

 

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