2024 Omaha and Eastern Nebraska Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Omaha and Eastern Nebraska in 2024, by county

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

Cass County

• Union Orchard - apples, pumpkins, strawberries, farm market
  2405 South Hwy 75, Union, NE 68455. Phone: (402) 263-4845. Open: Strawberries are a special treat of Spring. Click here for a map and directions.
  Union Orchard Facebook page. . We have a large patch which includes a "You-Pick" area. We will have lots of special foods and activities for our Strawberry Weekend. Be sure to browse our apple ripening section of our ripening calendar to find out when your favorites will be ripe for picking! In the Fall, our pumpkin patch is brimming with vine-ripening pumpkins and Heirloom Squash just ready for the picking! Whether you're looking for a great carving pumpkin, something to add some festive flair, or a tasty pumpkin for Grandma's famous recipe, you will find the perfect pumpkin here on the farm! Haunted Fall Fun: Join us at the orchard for a spooky new addition to the farm.

Douglas County

• Bellevue Berry Farm & Pumpkin Patch - blackberries, Red Raspberries, Strawberries,
  11001 S. 48th Street, Papillion, NE 68133. Phone: 402-331-5500. Email: info@bellevueberryfarm.com. Open: We are open 7 days a week; from 8 am to 4 pm on weekdays and 8 to 2 pm on weekends; See their website for for updated hours and availability. Directions: See their website for directions. Payment: Cash, only. Raspberry Season _The 1st. of July; they will produce all summer and into the fall. The variety is called autumn bliss. They are trickle irrigated and the . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Bellevue Berry Farm & Pumpkin Patch Facebook page. . . crops are abundant. We also have three rows of blackberries. They are grown organically. The 2013 price is $3 dollars per pound, less that you can find them at the grocery store. There is no admission to the farm during raspberry season. If kids want to use the play area there is a small charge, adults are free. Strawberry Season is typically June and Strawberry season lasts about two weeks. It starts in middle of June. Pick your own strawberries priced by the pound. Also Asparagus is available, may be pyo.
• Nelson Produce Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, beans, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, melons, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelons, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area you may bring your own food, train rides (train on a track), pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations
  10505 N. 234th St, Valley, NE 68064. Phone: (402) 830-0567. Email: nelsonproduce@gmail.com. Open: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday open June 4 through October 30; Hours of operations 9 am;to 5 pm. Directions: We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, SFMNP Vouchers. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Nelson Produce Farm Facebook page. . . Home of Nebraska's only Sunflower Festival over Labor Day Weekend. Check website for exact dates of this festival. (ADDED: February 10, 2020)

Johnson County

• Hillside Farms - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, grapes, raspberries, strawberries,
  61330 733 Road, Sterling, NE 68443. Phone: 402-866-2165. Email: c_vermeer@yahoo.com. Open: call for appointment. Directions: 2 12 miles east from Sterling on Highway 41, 1 mile north and 14 mile east. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. , Sterling, NE 68443. . 2 1/2 miles east from Sterling on Highway 41, 1 mile north and 1/4 mile east. Crops are usually available in June, July. Blackberries end of June into July, Strawberries June. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic.

Lancaster County

• Martin's Hillside Orchard - Raspberries, Strawberries, Apples and Peaches, concessions or refreshment stand, picnic area, corn maze, pumpkins brought in from the field, school tours
  2024 Ashland Rd, Ceresco, NE 68017. Phone: 402-665-2140. Open: See their website for for hours and availability. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards . . See their website for directions. Suggested by a visitor, ADDED: May 04, 2011)
  Comments from a visitor on May 04, 2011: "They are a fairly small orchard with mainly apple and peach trees. They grow raspberries and strawberries seasonally and do have a limited amount of pumpkins in October. The owners are very nice and have a large garden area, a sand climbing hill, hay bale mound, corn maize, and tricycle track for the kids. (I'm sure they will be adding more and I could be forgetting something but we've had a good time with my family there both in May for Strawberries and late summer for Apples and Peaches! They were all AMAZING by the way!!"
• Princeton Produce - beets, carrots, cherries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, herbs or spices, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkins, strawberries, tomatoes,
  1600 Pella Road, Princeton, NE 68404. Phone: 402-798-7723. Email: rlb5x1@netzero.com. Open: Monday through Saturday as produce is available Pumpkin Patch: September 15 to October 31 Payment: Cash, only. Directions: From Princeton, Nebraska \(approx. 18 miles south of Lincoln, Ne., on Hwy 77\) 1.5 miles south and 12 mile east on Pella Road. Look for signs. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . From Princeton, Nebraska (approx. 18 miles south of Lincoln, Ne., on Hwy 77) 1.5 miles south and 1/2 mile east on Pella Road. Look for signs. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, September, October.
• Roca Berry Farm - apples, strawberries and raspberries
  RR 1 Box 1, Roca, NE . Phone: 402-421-2933. Email: info@rocaberryfarm.com. Open: Daily; call for latest picking conditions. Directions: Hwy 77 to Roca exit, E 2 mi, 34 mile S on 38th street. Roca Berry Farm is a 240-acre farm that raises strawberries, pumpkins, raspberries and gourds. The strawberry season typically runs from late May through June. Roca Berry Farm accepts Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program \(SFMNP\) coupons. \(Footnote: For more information on the SFMNP contact Christin Kamm at \(402\) 471-6856.\) See us on . Click here for a map and directions.
  Roca Berry Farm Facebook page. . Alternate phone: 402-421-2255. Email . Hwy 77 to Roca exit, E 2 mi, 3/4 mile S on 38th street. is a 240-acre farm that raises strawberries, pumpkins, raspberries and gourds. The strawberry season typically runs from late May through June. accepts Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) coupons. (Footnote: For more information on the SFMNP contact Christin Kamm at (402) 471-6856.) See us on Facebook."
  Comments from a visitor on August 12, 2011: "I have been a faithful patron of the for over five years. While looking for patches in Western Nebraska I noticed the description for RBF didn't truly capture this amazing farm. So I decided I should write a little bio for them and send it on to you. I hope you will find the information useful, and thanks for making this site! "Roca Berry Farm just south of Lincoln features the Harvest Barn where you can find pumpkins (pre-picked or from the field), gourds, squash, and Indian corn, as well as handmade crafts, jams, jellies, salsas, and honey. Inside the farm proper you can spend the day with your family enjoying a hay-rack ride out to the pumpkin patch, a life sized game of Candy Land, watching pig races, or taking a stroll in the corn maze. If all these activities rustle up your appetite grab a snack from one of the many delicious eateries, choose from The Pumpkin Cafe, The Roca Smoke House, Frankie's Funnel Cakes, or The Donut Hut. Whatever you do make sure you grab a bag of their wonderful kettle corn made fresh daily. At night the farm transforms into the Roca Scary Farm (recommended for teens and adults only) featuring a Haunted Hay-rack Ride, the Haunted Manor, and the Psych-O-Path, a terrifying 15 minute walk through haunted woods. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at the Harvest Barn, The Pumpkin Cafe, and The Donut Hut, no checks. Open daily from the last weekend of September until Halloween. "

Otoe County

• Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard - apples, blackberries, cherries, grapes, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, school tours
  5995 G Road, Nebraska City, NE 68410. Phone: 402-873-5293. Email: eolson@arbordayfarm.org. Open: Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm Saturday 9am to 5pm Sunday 11am to 5pm. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . . Wine tastings daily. Walking trails. They have a strawberry festival, too: June 6, 2009 from 9 am to 5 pm

Sarpy County

• Bellevue Berry Farm and Pumpkin Ranch - strawberries, hayrides, pumpkin patch, Haunted House,
  11001 S 48th Street, Papillion, NE 68133. Phone: 402-331-5500. Open: September 28th, 2006 through October 31st. Directions: \(Detour\) From Kennedy Freeway turn West on Highway 370. Continue on 370 to 48th St. Turn north \(or right\) and continue until you see the farm on your left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa or Mastercard . . (Detour) From Kennedy Freeway turn West on Highway 370. Continue on 370 to 48th St. Turn north (or right) and continue until you see the farm on your left. click here for for $2 off admission coupons. Hayrack Ride, Haunted House, Activity Barn & Zip Lines, Lewis & Clark Keel Boat, Swiss Robinson Tree House, Sand Pit & Trike Track, The Ranch Animal Corral, Harvest Barn & Hungry Moose Cafe, Lost Gold Mine, Old West Ghost Town and Indian Settlement, Indian Cave Tour

Saunders County

• Martin's Hillside Orchard - Apples, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, Christmas trees-you choose and you cut, Christmas trees- you choose and we cut, Christmas wreaths and boughs, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, and prepicked produce
  2024 Ashland Road, Ceresco, NE 68017. Phone: 402-665-2140. Open: Call for hours! Payment: Cash, only. Directions: From Omaha: Take I-80 W towards Lincoln. Take the US-77North 56th St exit \(exit no. 405\); Turn right onto US-77 N; Drive approx. 11 miles to Ashland Road. Left on Ashland Rd and follow signs for two miles. Orchard will be on your right. From Lincoln: From Highway 77 and Cornhusker Hwy: Take Hwy 77 N 15 miles to Ashland Road. Left on Ashland Rd and follow signs for two miles. Orchard will be on your right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . From Omaha: Take I-80 W towards Lincoln. Take the US-77/North 56th St exit (exit no. 405); Turn right onto US-77 N; Drive approx. 11 miles to Ashland Road. Left on Ashland Rd and follow signs for two miles. Orchard will be on your right. From Lincoln: From Highway 77 and Cornhusker Hwy: Take Hwy 77 N 15 miles to Ashland Road. Left on Ashland Rd and follow signs for two miles. Orchard will be on your right. click here for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August, October. Christmas tree varieties:U-Choose and Cut varieties: White Pine. You Choose and We cut varieties: White Pine.

Washington County

• Mann Family Strawberry Farm - strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs
  6119 County Road 25, Kennard, NE 68034. Phone: 1703774453. Email: Kandtiffmann@gmail.com. Open: Monday through Friday 8am to 3pm. Directions: Located off Scenic Route highway 30 just 14 mile south of Kennard, Nebraska. For a map to our farm, . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. 9. Alternate Phone: 1705019755. . Located off Scenic Route highway 30 just 1/4 mile south of Kennard, Nebraska. For a map to our farm, Strawberries: May 24th through June 18th. (ADDED: May 25, 2016)
• Stary Family Farm - mulberries, strawberries
  6119 County Road 25, Kennard, NE 68034. Phone: (402) 201-6472. Email: staryfamilyfarm@gmail.com. Click here for a map and directions.
  Stary Family Farm Facebook page. . You-pick strawberries for 3 weeks in May/June of each year. $4/pound (2019), chemical free. ​Pick mulberries from our 15+ trees! See their website or Facebook page for hours and availability. Cage-free eggs from the happiest of hens $4/dozen Year-Round. All-you-can-pick mulberries all summer $5/adult (2019), $3/child 3-15.

 

Strawberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S. strawberries typically peak during April in Florida and Texas, May in the deep South, and in early June in middle sections and later June in the far North and Canada. Keep in mind that crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce good local strawberries, producers depend on ideal spring weather conditions. 

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - strawberries 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!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
    
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for strawberries, 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 strawberries 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 Strawberries

1. Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.

2. With the stem broken about one-half inch from the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.

3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. 

4. Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.

5. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick strawberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Be careful that your feet and knees do not damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
   
2. Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
   
3. To help the farmers, also remove from the plants berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury or other defects and place them between the rows behind you. If they are left in the plants, the rot will quickly spread to other berries.
   
4. Berries to be used immediately may be picked any time, but if you plan to hold the fruit for a few days, try to pick in the early morning or on cool, cloudy days. Berries picked during the heat of the day become soft, are easily bruised and will not keep well.
   
5. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunshine 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. Strawberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.
   
6. For interesting and fun strawberry facts and trivia from the California Strawberry Commission, click here!

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the caps (green tops) off the others and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) See this page about how to freeze strawberries.
4. If you like the strawberries you picked, ask the farm what variety they planted, and not the weather conditions the week or two before. The flavor of a strawberry is affected by the variety, the weather and the degree of ripeness when picked.
5. Now, get ready to make strawberry jam. It is VERY easy - especially with our free strawberry jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy.

Strawberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Strawberries

• How to freeze strawberries!
• Strawberry jam (with pectin) (uses less sugar or honey and less cooking)
• Strawberry jam (without pectin) (requires much more sugar and cooking)
• Strawberry (and other berry) jams without sugar
• Strawberry jelly
• Strawberry-rhubarb jam!
• Homemade strawberry ice cream (regular, low fat, nonfat, low sugar, vanilla and even gelato)
• Canning strawberries
• Make gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries
• How to make fruit juice -  strawberry and other berries
• Strawberry pie filling
• Strawberry pie
• Easy Rhubarb-Strawberry pie
• Fig-strawberry jam
• Fig-strawberry jam, made with Jello gelatin

Strawberry Facts, Measurements and Tips

• Picking the best strawberries: Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries DO NOT continue ripen after they are picked! In the photo, only the berry on the far right is completely ripe.
• Strawberry festivals: Most areas that grow strawberries have a strawberry festival, at which you can taste all kinds of fresh strawberry foods, pies, jams, cakes - and most commonly, fresh strawberry shortcake.  To find out where and when there is one near you, see this page for a list of strawberry festivals, sorted by state!
• Strawberries measurements: government agriculture websites tell us that
  1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups and is about the same as 1 liter and
  1 quart of fresh strawberries weighs 1 lbs to 1.25 lbs (or 450 to 600 g). Of course, the weight varies on variety and weather conditions. 
  1 quart is normally enough for 4 servings, although I'll admit my son can eat 1 pint by himself!
• How much to pick? In general, 1 quart of fresh, whole, just-picked strawberries = approximately 3.5 cups hulled, whole berries. In other words, removing the caps/hulls and the occasional mushy berry means you lose 1/4 cup to 1/2 (it depends how much fruit you remove with the hull) or about 7 to 12% of every quart you pick.
• One cup of strawberries contains only about 50 calories
• U-pick strawberries are much healthier than store-bought.  Consumer reports says store bought strawberries have so many pesticide and fungicide residues on they, that they don't recommend you eat them at all!
• U-pick strawberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. 1 lbs of fresh strawberries is about 2/3 of a quart.
• It takes about  10 to 15 minutes to pick a quart, if the berries are reasonably plentiful
• The strawberry plant adapts to wide variety of soil conditions, but does not tolerate drought well, and the berries quickly rot if the weather is rainy. For this reason, the plants are usually grown on raised beds through plastic mulch!
• Cultivation of strawberries began in Europe in the 1300's, but the berry only became very popular in the early 1900's in California.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as strawberries 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 grow your own strawberries?  Here's an article about how to: Strawberries are an Excellent Fruit for the Home Garden, HYG-1424-98!
• See this page for many more fun and interesting strawberry facts, nutritional information and trivia

Other weird strawberry facts

• Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
• Strawberries were originally called strewberries because the fruit was 'strewn' amongst the leaves of the plant.
• California is king of strawberry productions because: California produces 75 percent of the nation's strawberry crops; one billion pounds of strawberries each year.  If all the strawberries produced in California in one year were laid berry to berry, they would go around the world 15 times. Each acre of land in California in strawberry production produces an average of 21 tons of strawberries annually, with a total of 23,000 acres of strawberries planted in California each year.

More conversions

1 pint (2 cups)  of fresh whole strawberries

• = about 8 oz (1/2 lb) of strawberries
• = 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
• = 1 cup pureed strawberries
• = 12-14 large strawberries

2 quarts of fresh strawberries are needed for a 9" pie

A 10 oz package of frozen berries is about the same as 1 cup of sliced fresh strawberries

References:

• University of Illinois Extension
• Driscolls
• Ohio State University Extension
• Strawberries-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

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