2024 Northern Virginia Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Northern Virginia 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.

Clarke County

• Mackintosh Fruit Farm - apples, asparagus, apricots, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, cherries, cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, grapes, herbs or spices, nectarines, onions, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), raspberries (Autumn, black), rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), U-pick and already picked, farm market, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, group reservations
  1608 Russell Rd, Berryville, VA 22611. Phone: 540-955-6225. Email: lori@mackintoshfruitfarm.com. Open: Wednesday to Sunday, from 8 am to 6 pm, May to October 31 and on Memorial Day, July 4 Thursday, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Halloween . Directions: Route 7 West Take right onto Russell Road 1.5 miles on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Mackintosh Fruit Farm Facebook page. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Events: Peach Festival, Honey Bee Day, Honey Crisp Day, Apple Butter Day, monthly farm dinners, and cider pressing; Calendar-May-strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb, and greens; June - strawberries, sweet cherries, raspberries, blueberries, broccoli, onions, and flowers; July-blackberries, black raspberries, blueberries, donut peaches, peaches, corn, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes; August-apples, Asian pears, yellow and white peaches, plums, grapes, and honey; September-apples, pawpaws, honey crisp apples, Asian pears, and potatoes; October -apples, pumpkins, fall squash, sweet potatoes, and cider. All pick your own fruit and vegetables are also available as pre-picked in the market for purchase. Events: We can also host your events including: group meetings, school tours, weddings, and rehearsals. Call for more details. (UPDATED: January 19, 2020 JBS) (UPDATED: June 22, 2016)

Fauquier County

• Berry Good Farm - strawberries, blackberries, blueberries
  6062 Dwyer Lane, Bealeton, VA 22712. Phone: 540-935-1145. Email: info@berrygoodfarm.com. Click here for a map and directions.
  Berry Good Farm Facebook page. . . May and June, in 2019 Pick-Your-Own Strawberriesare $3.75 Per LB, Pre-picked containers are $5 Per LB. Pick your own family owned berry farm offering strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. They also have local honey from hives on the farm: Local Wildflower Honey, Local Clover Honey, Local Buckwheat Honey, Whipped Honey, Pure Honey Comb, and Jams, Jellies, and Preserves: Available Flavors - Strawberry Jam, Strawberry Preserves, Five Pepper Strawberry Jelly, Blueberry Jam, Blueberry Preserves, Blackberry Jelly, Blackberry Jam, Blackberry Preserves, Blackberry Pepper Jelly, Raspberry Jam, Raspberry Chipotle Jelly, Peach Jam, Peach Preserves, Cherry Jelly, Cherry Preserves, Plum Jam, Mild Pepper Jelly, Five Pepper Jelly, Green Jalapeno Jelly. Plus Seasonal - Pumpkin Butter, Apple Butter, Apple Pecan Butter, Cherry Apple Butter, Apple Jelly, Dutch Apple Jelly, Cherry Apple Jelly, Fig Jam and Fruit Cider.
• Buena Vista Agriculture - pumpkins, strawberries, Turkeys, Fresh eggs, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available
  4262 Lee Hwy, Warrenton, VA 20187. Phone: (540) 270-9303. Email: buenavistaagriculture@gmail.com. Open: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 2pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. . . We currently raise a variety of egg laying chickens. Visit our honor system stand for eggs available for purchase year round. Our pick your own fields offer pumpkins in the fall and strawberries in late spring.(ADDED: May 07, 2017)
• Green Truck Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, blackberries, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (black), summer squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available, picnic area, farm animals
  3015 Hartland Lane, Markham, VA 22643. Phone: 540-316-7715. Email: BrianGreen@Green-Truck-Farm.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Green Truck Farm Facebook page. . We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Typical harvest dates (call before you come!): Strawberries: May/June, Blueberries: June/July, Black Raspberries: June/July, Blackberries: June/July, Tomatoes: July - September, Red Raspberries: July - October, Pumpkins/Winter Squash: Sept/Oct.
• Hartland Orchard - apples, blueberries, cherries, corn (sweet), peaches, pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (black), strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm
  3064 Hartland Lane, Markham, VA 22643. Phone: 540-316-7715. Open: every day from 8 am to 6 pm, strawberries usually start in early May, cherries in mid June. Directions: From Northern Virginia, take I-66 to exit 18. At the end of the exit take a right, and then take an immediate left. Then just follow the signs. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate phone: 540-364-2316. Typical harvest dates are Cherries Late June; Blueberries July; Peaches August and Apples in August, September, October. It is always a good idea to call before you visit us for daily changes in crop availability., Hartland Farm and Green Truck Farm are three family businesses operated on the Green family farm. Call for tree fruit information at 540.364.2316. For pick your own strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and raspberry information, call Green Truck Farm at 540.316.7715. Hartland O
• Messick's Farm Market - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, asparagus, beans, blackberries, corn (sweet), herbs or spices, peas, peppers, raspberries (red), summer squash, strawberries, tomatoes, Turkeys (organic, not-hormone-fed), Fresh eggs, U-pick and already picked, farm market, school tours
  6025 Catlett Road, Bealeton, VA 22712. Phone: (540)-439-8900. Email: manager@messicksfarmmarket.com. Open: Monday to Saturday, from 8 am to 6 pm, Sunday 10 am to 6 pm; May 1 through October 31. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers. Click here for our Facebook page. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers.
  Messick's Farm Market Facebook page. . Fax: (540)-439-4245. . year round, we invite families into our fields to enjoy the pick your own experience.

Frederick County

• Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market and Bakery - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, beans, blackberries, peaches, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (yellow), strawberries, tomatoes, Fresh eggs, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
  3035 Cedar Creek Grade, Winchester, VA 22602. Phone: 540-662-1391. Email: hmckay@markermillerorchards.com. Open: Please call ahead for availability starting June 1st. Directions: Take Interstate 66 West to Interstate 81 North. Continue to Exit 310. Turn left onto Route 37 North and continue 2 miles to the WinchesterOpequon exit. Turn left onto Route 622 \(Cedar Creek Grade\) and the market will be 3.5 miles on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
  Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market and Bakery Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 540-662-1980. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Take Interstate 66 West to Interstate 81 North. Continue to Exit 310. Turn left onto Route 37 North and continue 2 miles to the Winchester/Opequon exit. Turn left onto Route 622 (Cedar Creek Grade) and the market will be 3.5 miles on the left. Pick Your Own July: peaches, red raspberries, blackberries, and tomatoes. August: peaches, red raspberries, blackberries, tomatoes, Ginger Gold apples and Gala apples. September & October: 12 varieties of apples, pumpkins, and winter squash. *If you are interested in pick-your-own please visit our check-out area inside the market or our pick-your-own building to purchase containers and get directions. *For picking berries, tomatoes, peaches, and apples we have containers that you purchase prior to picking. We will then provide you with a map and instructions. ; Please refer to our website for fruit availability dates or call for more information. All season - jams, jellies, salad dressings, fresh apple cakes, and our famous Apple Cider Donuts.We use integrated pest management practices.

Loudoun County

• Brossman Family Farm - Strawberries, Peaches, nectarines, pumpkins
  14740 James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg, VA 20176. Phone: 703-777-1127. Email: brossmanfarmstand@gmail.com. Open: See hours at right and updates on oour website. Click here for a map and directions.
  Brossman Family Farm Facebook page. . . Formerly called Brossman's Orchard. For peaches and nectarines, check back around July 4th. We opened on Saturday May 6 with early season fruit and produce: strawberries, asparagus, spinach, spring onions, potatoes, rhubarb, tomatoes and fresh cut lettuce; breads, honey; vegetable plants, hanging tomato baskets, potting soil and fertilizer. Come on out and visit! Mostly a farm market, they do allow some pick-your-own crops from time to time, but apparently do not advertise it. (UPDATED: December 05, 2019, JBS)
• Great Country Farms - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cherries, grapes, other berries, peaches, plums, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (black), summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, restrooms, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, jumping pillow, pedal kart track, mining for gems, mini-golf, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, group reservations
  18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, VA 20135. Phone: 540 554 2073. Email: social@greatcountryfarms.com. Open: Monday - Sunday, 10am to 5pm, March 19th - May 20th; Monday - Sunday, 9am to 6pm, May 21st - October 30th. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Great Country Farms Facebook page. . . We use integrated pest management practices. Strawberries: May Blackberries: July Peaches: August Apples: September Pumpkins: Pumpkins Please visit our web page for other U-Pick items and confirmed dates. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. From strawberries and asparagus in the spring to corn and tomatoes all summer then pumpkins and gourds in the fall, offers a farm experience your whole family will enjoy. Help your children understand how food is grown and how fresh and full of flavor it can be. It is amazing how children will eat produce if they have picked it themselves! Pick your own fruit and veggie farm featuring Non-GMO produce grown using regenerative farming practices, an award-winning CSA program, and seasonal festivals! is a 400 acre working farm with pick your own produce, a Farm Market, CSA, and so much more! UPDATE for 2022: Potatoes ~ AugustDon't miss The Big Dig Potato Harvest. This is the once a year chance to dig potatoes and taste the smoothness and rich flavor of a fresh potato compared to typical store bought options that have been in storage for months. We grow Kenebec White, Pontiac Reds, Yukon Golds and a few Fingerlings.
  Comments from a visitor on November 03, 2010: "We've been CSA members at this farm for 3 years. We are moving and are very sad we won't be able to visit and get our produce from here in the future. We've driven one hour each way once a week because we love it so much. There is so much to do that you can make each visit a day trip and most of the time the u-pick options are great. Like any farm, there are times when weather conditions affect the crops negatively and b/c of that you don't always get as much produce as you may have expected, but for the most part we've always been happy with the CSA and u-pick. My boys (now 7 and 4.5) and I have learned a lot through the farmers and picking our own veggies and fruit. The "playarea" has several slides, rope swings, HUGE "bouncy", corn bin, roller racers, mini gulf course, and more. They seem to add more each year. One negative, since it's gotten so popular the "special" weekends are normally really packed. We enjoyed the Easter Egg hunt there in 2009, but this last year 2010 it was publisized and was way to busy to be enjoyable. "
  Comments from a visitor on May 17, 2009: "We LOVED it! My mother-in-law did as well:)"UPDATE October 2, 2007: a visitor reports they had to replant their apple orchards in 2006 and will not have apples available for a few years (2009?).
• Wegmeyer Farms - pumpkins, strawberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available
  38299 Hughesville Road, Hamilton, VA 20158. Phone: 5407511782. Email: hwegmeyer@nutrientsforlife.org. Open: daily from mid - May to Mid - June. Directions: From Purcellville, take Maple Avenue \(turns into Lincoln Road\) South towards Lincoln. Pass through Lincoln and continue through two one-lane bridges. After a slight incline, turn left on Hughesville Road \(Gravel Rd\). Continue on Hughesville approximately 1 mile and make a right at the stop sign. Wegmeyer Farms is directly in front of you on the hill. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Wegmeyer Farms Facebook page. . From Purcellville, take Maple Avenue (turns into Lincoln Road) South towards Lincoln. Pass through Lincoln and continue through two one-lane bridges. After a slight incline, turn left on Hughesville Road (Gravel Rd). Continue on Hughesville approximately 1 mile and make a right at the stop sign. is directly in front of you on the hill. lease call before you come to verify field conditions. We offer an authentic farm experience and hope you have a great time at our farm. (UPDATED: April 21, 2018, JBS)
• Wegmeyer Farms at Gilberts Corner - strawberries, pumpkins, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available
  Route 50 And Route 15 Intersection, Aldie, VA 20105. Phone: 540-751-1782. Email: wegmeyerfarms@yahoo.com. Open: Daily 9 am to 6 pm from mid - May to Mid - June. Directions: Intersection of Rt 15 and Rt 50 at traffic circle, Aldie, VA. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Wegmeyer Farms at Gilberts Corner Facebook page. . Step back in time and relive history at Oatlands Historic Mansion and Gardens. Hop aboard a hayride through the historic property and arrive at the strawberry field where you are greeted by people in period clothing. Oatlands Strawberry Festival will be Saturday May 30 with food, music and much more. Find more information here! (UPDATED: April 21, 2018, JBS)
• Wegmeyer Farms at Oatlands - strawberries, gift shop, porta-potties are available
  20850 Oatlands Plantation Ln, Leesburg, VA 20175. Phone: 540-751-1782. Email: wegmeyerfarms@yahoo.com. Open: Daily 9 am to 5 pm from mid - May to Mid - June. Directions: 7 miles south of Leesburg on Route 15. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Wegmeyer Farms at Oatlands Facebook page. . Step back in time and relive history at Oatlands Historic Mansion and Gardens. Hop aboard a hayride through the historic property and arrive at the strawberry field where you are greeted by people in period clothing. Oatlands Strawberry Festival will be Saturday May 30 with food, music and much more. Find more information here! ((UPDATED: April 21, 2018, JBS) (ADDED: May 08, 2015)

Prince William County

• Yankey Farms - Uses integrated pest management practices, strawberries,
  13007 Vint Hill Rd, Nokesville, VA 20181. Phone: 703-618-3782. Email: sonjanjay@verizon.net. Open: Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 5pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Yankey Farms Facebook page. . . Strawberries: Early May to Mid June. We use integrated pest management practices. We grow a variety of produce which can be purchased in the summer at our Glenkirk Rd roadside stand or through our CSA subscription program. We also operate a pick your own strawberry patch in the spring and a pick your own pumpkin patch in the fall. In addition to the pumpkins we have other fun farmyard activities including a cow train and corn maze scavenger hunt. We are one of the few "pumpkin patches" in Northern Virginia where you can actually pick your pumpkin out of the field where it grew.

Rappahannock County

• Muskrat Haven - - Strawberries, blueberries, thornless blackberries, red raspberries, peaches, nectarines, apples, vegetables.
  20 Cedarbreak Ln, Amissville, VA 20106. Phone: 540-937-5892. Open: 9 am to 5 pm, daily, beginning May 15-October 31; Pick-your-own strawberries from late May until mid-June; blueberries, mid-June to late July; black raspberries, mid-June for two weeks; red raspberries, late June to first frost; blackberries, mid-July to mid-August; pumpkins from the last of September to October 31. Click here for a map and directions. Muskrat Haven Alpternate phone: 540-937-5891. On Route 211, four miles west of Amissville, VA. We also have a farm market on Route 211, where we have fresh-picked sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes and other veggies. We also have a large variety of Muskrat Haven jams, jellies and Virginia grown mountain honey and much more. (UPDATED: July 19, 2013,JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on October 02, 2009: "Visited in September 2009 on a fluke -- because we saw a PYO raspberries sign on the road. This was my first PYO experience since New Hampshire strawberries 30+ years ago, so I'm not 'up' on how things PYO should be now-adays. Nice folks, nice set-up, good berries, will be going back."

Shenandoah County

• Champion U-Pick Strawberries - UPDATE FOR 2023 PERMANENTLYCLOSED
  100 Bindery Rd, New Market , VA 22844. Open: PERMANENTLY CLOSED 2021 WAS THEIR LAST SEASON.
• Paugh's Orchard - peaches, strawberries, apples, corn maze
  5591 Senedo Road, Quicksburg, VA . Phone: 540-740-8028. Email: paughsorchard@yahoo.com. Open: daily 9 am to 6 pm, Call for current crops. Directions: 7.5 miles north of Timberville on Route 42. Apple varities include Red & Golden Delicious, Empire, Stayman, York, and Fuji. Pumpkins, jams, jellies, and mums also available for sale. Don\'t forget to have fun winding your way through their Corn Maze too. School groups welcome! They also sell a small variety of flowers and plants. We offer several varieties of apples and peaches as well as strawberries, blackberries, fresh garden vegetables, pumpkins and gourds, jams, jellies, honey and much more. Our fruits, vegetables, potted plants, ect. are available seasonally. We offer pick your own available only with permission for most fruits. . Click here for a map and directions. . 7.5 miles north of Timberville on Route 42. Apple varities include Red & Golden Delicious, Empire, Stayman, York, and Fuji. Pumpkins, jams, jellies, and mums also available for sale. Don't forget to have fun winding your way through their Corn Maze too. School groups welcome! They also sell a small variety of flowers and plants. We offer several varieties of apples and peaches as well as strawberries, blackberries, fresh garden vegetables, pumpkins and gourds, jams, jellies, honey and much more. Our fruits, vegetables, potted plants, ect. are available seasonally. We offer pick your own available only with permission for most fruits.
  Comments from a visitor on July 10, 2009: "The peaches are fabulous. The farm stand is very clean and neat. They also sell lots of jams, jellies, etc. which are produced about 40 miles away. The people are great--very friendly and laid back country farmers.

 

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