2024 Madison area of Wisconsin Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Madison area of Wisconsin 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.

Columbia County

• Creek Bed Country Farmacy - strawberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available
  N2767 Mountford Rd, Poynette, WI 53955. Phone: 608-635-8798. Email: farmer@creekbedfarm.com. Open: Monday - Friday 7am to 7pm Saturday and Sunday 7am to 5pm Pre - picked open every day 8am until Sold Out Check website to see when the season begins. Directions: 43.377591,-89.303802. For a map to our farm, . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
  Creek Bed Country Farmacy Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 6086458798. . Approximately 6/10 through 6/30. In June, you're welcome to take a hayride up to our Pick-Your-Own Strawberry patch for some fresh, juicy berries. Or, you may choose to take home some delicious Pre-Picked berries from the Lean-To Gift Shop. (UPDATED: June 23, 2016) (UPDATED: May 14, 2016, JBS) A visitor writes on June 12, 2013: "The Great Pumpkin Run on September 14 2013 is a trail run encompassing everything great about Fall. Start your morning with a run through trails, open fields, bright paths and a corn maze. Finish it off with a glass of crisp apple cider and plenty of Fall activities for you, the kids and the family. The Great Pumpkin Run is a family-friendly event, open to runners of all ages. All runners will receive a small pumpkin to take home and a cup of apple cider, along with an event tour shirt, a custom event bib, chip timing and a post-race party! To learn more about The Great Pumpkin Run, please "
• Furger Family Farm - raspberries (red), strawberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available
  N1204 Lovering Road, Lodi, WI 53555. Phone: (608) 772-1462. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Furger Family Farm Facebook page. . Pick your own strawberries in the beautiful Lodi Valley at. Pick your own berries or order pre-picked strawberries on site, by phone or by Facebook. We are berry excited to see you in early to mid-June!. (ADDED: March 06, 2017)
• Roger Price Produce Farm - strawberries,
  N7556 Wi. 44, Pardeeville, WI 53954. Phone: 608-429-2750. Email: idaprice1333@gmail.com. Open: Monday thru Saturday 7 am to 7 pm June 10 till Frost. Directions: hwy 22 north from Madison to center of Pardeeville turn right on highway 44 north 1.2 miles on right. highway 33 east from Portage turn right on highway 44 at Rhodes sales and service 1.3 miles on left. 33 west from Randolph turn left on highway 44 at Rhodes sales and service 1.3 miles on left. highway 22 south from Montello left on highway 33 turn right at Rhodes sales and service 1.3 miles on left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, WIC Vouchers. . Alternate Phone: 608-697-2810. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. pick your own Strawberries starts around Fathers Day June 20th call for updated times 608 429 2750. (ADDED: February 09, 2016)
• Tom's Raspberries - pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, yellow), rhubarb, strawberries, U-pick and already picked, restrooms
  W13702 highway 60, Prairie Du Sac, WI 53578. Phone: 608-370-2024. Email: tomsawyer300@yahoo.com. Open: August, Probably 8 to 11 on Monday through Saturday. Directions: 2miles east of prairie du sac on highway 60 or 10 miles west of Lodi on highway 60. About 35 miles north of Madison. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Tom's Raspberries Facebook page. . This year with the drought, things may be different.

Crawford County

• Hillcrest of Orchard - strawberries, raspberries, maple syrup, pumpkins
  Corner of Hwy 171 & Hwy 61, Gays Mills, WI . Phone: 608-624-5753. Email: thag@uniontel.net. Click here for a map and directions. or 608-624-5762. . June is the month for strawberries and we have both ready-picked as well as pick-your-own. We also have an excellent raspberry patch. Also, prepicked apples (in the Fall), gift shop, honey, jams, jellies, Amish candy.
• Turkey Ridge Organic Apple Orchard - ORGANIC, raspberries and strawberries, squash and pumpkin patch
  50350 Turkey Ridge Road, Gays Mills, WI 54631. Phone: 608-735-4660. Email: fayerogers2000@yahoo.com. Click here for a map and directions. . Pick-your-own raspberries, strawberries, squash and pumpkin patch. Also cord firewood during the fall season.

Dane County

• Appleberry Farm - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, blueberries, pears, pumpkins, raspberries (red), strawberries, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), gift shop, picnic area, school tours
  8079 Maurer Road, Cross Plains, WI 53528. Phone: 608 798 2780. Email: fun@theappleberryfarm.com. Open: Labor Day through Halloween, Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 12 pm; Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm; For Summer Berry hours, call ahead. Directions: Westside of Madison 1218 Beltline, Exit Mineral Point Road, West 4 miles, turn left on Timber Lane, 1 mile, turn right on Maurer Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. . Westside of Madison 12/18 Beltline, Exit Mineral Point Road, West 4 miles, turn left on Timber Lane, 1 mile, turn right on Maurer Road. Call ahead to verify what is ripe and available 608 to 798 to 2780. We use integrated pest management practices. Come feed the Chickens and sit by the Duck pond. Enjoy a Hayride or walk through the Orchard and explore our oak savanna with beautiful views towards Blue Mounds. Apple varieties: Over 30 Antique apple varieties, plus McIntosh, Cortland, Connell Red, Idared, Empire, Jonathan, NW Greening, Russets, & Prairie Spy.Strawberries are ripe in June after school gets out for the summer. We have a large field of several varieties for pick your own. Learn all about how strawberries are grown and enjoy their delicious taste fresh from the Farm. Call ahead for dates/hours open. (UPDATED: May 14, 2016, JBS) .
• Beelafarm - UPDATE: June 13, 2020: The owner tells me they are now permanently closed Uses natural growing practices, asparagus, corn (sweet), cucumbers, melons, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables,
  2512 Evans Rd, Mcfarland, WI 53558. Phone: (608) 320-0157. Email: beelafarm@yahoo.com. Open: permanently closed. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . May 1 to October 31 Saturday to Sunday 7 am to 7 pm Other times available, please call. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. Peonies available for weddings or other events. Please call before mid May to reserve quantities. (UPDATED: February 11, 2019)
• Carandale Farm - strawberries,
  5683 Lincoln Road, Oregon, WI 53575. Phone: . Email: carandal@chorus.net. Open: hours, days and dates. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Carandale Farm Facebook page.
• JenEhr Family Farm - ORGANIC, Organic Strawberries
  6837 Elder Lane, Sun Prairie, WI 53590. Phone: 608-825-9531. Email: jenehr@aol.com. Open: the strawberry patch for picking. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash, checks and credit cards. . U-Pick only on Friday and Sunday from 9AM to 5PM, but please, please, please phone: ahead (just before you leave home) to make sure we haven't picked out for the day or inclement weather closes the patch. Certified Organic-safe & fun picking for family members of all ages & sizes. Beginning June 24th 2005, Friday, we will offer U-Pick berries here at the farm. read more. Strawberry Upick - starting somewhere around Fathers Day in mid-June, we open CSA Tomato Upicks - In July and August, JenEhr CSA members come back out to the farm to pick tomatatoes. Starting with cherry tomatoes in July. Pick and Pull in August allows you to pick big ripe slicing tomatoes and then pull a few of the tomato plants out of the ground as we prepare for winter spinach. CSA Blueberry U-Pick - an opportunity for JenEhr CSA members to pick through the one acre blueberry field at JenEhr. (UPDATED: May 14, 2016, JBS)
• L'Arc-en-Ciel Prairie - Uses natural growing practices, strawberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available
  5486 Town Hall Drive, Sun Prairie, WI 53590. Phone: (608) 318-2197. Email: larcencielprairie@gmail.com. Open: UPDATE: June 26, 2020: The owner tells me they are closed until next season 2021, when their hours should be: Monday to Saturday, from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sunday from Noon to 6:00 pm Opening Day June 4, 2016; We hope for at least 3 weeks of production and picking. Directions: Our farm is on the east side of Sun Prairie, east of County Highway N. On Town Hall Drive, south of County Highway 19 and just north of County Road T. For a map to our farm, . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . UPDATE: June 26, 2020: The owner tells me they are closed until next season (2021), when their hours should be: Monday to Saturday, from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sunday from Noon to 6:00 pm Opening Day June 4, 2016; We hope for at least 3 weeks of production and picking. Please review our website for more information and pictures. (UPDATED: June 26, 2020)
• Lutz Family Farm - peas, strawberries, U-pick and already picked strawberries
  1477 County Highway T, Marshall, WI 53559. Phone: 608-655-3664. Email: info@lutzfamilyfarm.com. Open: Call 608 655 3664 for current information on pick your own hours and dates. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Strawberries are generally available June 15 to June 30, but call first to verify availability. We offer already-picked and u-pick strawberries during strawberry season (usually mid-June - July 1) and freshly picked sweet corn, tomatoes and other vegetables in late July and August. Please check our daily picking update for availability and hours today. Or, join our email list to stay up-to-date on what's fresh!
• U Pick Strawberry Farm - beans, cucumbers, peas, peppers, summer squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, U-pick and already picked, petting zoo
  5396 Hahn Road, Deforest, WI 53532. Phone: 608-417-9485. Email: info@upickstrawberryfarm.com. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  U Pick Strawberry Farm Facebook page. . UPDATE for 2020: They are closed until the 2021 season; "It is with great disappointment we have decided on the following. The weather pattern of the 2020 strawberry season has not been ideal for our patch. Our berries have set small and medium sized. As a result of possibly disappointing our valued customers, we will not be selling our berries to the public for fresh eating." 8am to 7pm, 7 days a week; It is recommended to call/ text the berry line prior to coming out due to weather and be informed on current picking status. You pick or we pick. We offer wholesale and retail pricing. We encourage fundraising efforts. Also, the educational aspect is very important to us. If you would like to tour our Berry Patch, please feel free to email or call us. At the Berry Patch you will also be able to visit some of our animals.

Grant County

• Vesperman Farms - Strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins, restrooms, concessions or refreshment stand, corn maze, pumpkin patch in the field, pumpkins brought in from the field, farm animals, tours of the operation, group tours
  8149 Stage Road, Lancaster, WI 53813. Phone: 608-723-2542. Email: kyle.vesperman@gmail.com. Open: See their website for for hours and availability. Directions: See their website for directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Vesperman Farms Facebook page. . . (ADDED: June 08, 2016, Suggested by a visitor)

Iowa County

• Bures Berry Patch, Inc. - pumpkins, winter squash, peas, strawberries, other vegetables
  3760 W. Brigham Road, Barneveld, WI 53507. Phone: . Open: see their Facebook page. Click here for a map and directions.
• Busy Bee Berries - strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked
  594 Bowers Road, Highland, WI 53543. Phone: 608-929-7444. Email: busybeeberries@gmail.com. Open: Sunday noon to 4pm; Monday to Saturday 8am to 5pm; Open date May 29, 2012 ;call for berry availability. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . (UPDATED: September 19, 2016, JBS)

Lafayette County

• Penny Hill - No pesticides are used, corn (sweet), raspberries (red), strawberries, U-pick and already picked
  6703 Co highway N, South Wayne, WI 53587. Phone: 608-439-5393. Open: Daylight to dark, every day except Sundays; For pick - your - own, please bring your own buckets!. Directions: Penny Hill farm is just north of the village of South Wayne. From highway 11 in South Wayne, right where you see the Woodford State Bank turn north on to County Road D \(It\'s highway 176 on some maps\). Right after you cross the river bridge you will turn right onto County Road N. As you head north on N, Penny Hill farm is just up the hill on the left. When there are berries available, there\'ll be a big sign in the driveway. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . farm is just north of the village of South Wayne. From highway 11 in South Wayne, right where you see the Woodford State Bank turn north on to County Road D (It's highway 176 on some maps). Right after you cross the river bridge you will turn right onto County Road N. As you head north on N, farm is just up the hill on the left. When there are berries available, there'll be a big sign in the driveway. Strawberries through June; Raspberries start in July; Sweet corn in late summer; Timing depends on weather so call to verify availability. We do not use pesticides on the crops. Bring your own containers, please.

Sauk County

• Country Bumpkin Farm Market - Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, a vast assortment of fresh produce raised on our farm & picked fresh daily, pumpkins, haywagon rides to the pumpkin patches in the fall, corn maze,
  E9745 Hwy P, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965. Phone: 608-254-2311. Email: countrybumpkinfarm@yahoo.com. Directions: We are located 2 miles West of Lake Delton on County Hwy. P, off Hwy. 23 South in the heart of the surrounding vacationland area of Wisconsin Dells. . Click here for a map and directions. . every day from April 22 to October 31, from 10am to 6pm, for both U-Pick & We-Pick; Strawberries ripen June 1 and are good picking for 4 weeks; Special open hours during strawberry season: U-pick = 8am to 6pm daily, rain or shine, We-pick = 10am to 6pm daily, rain or shine. Phone for updated picking report and current prices. We have two types of raspberries: the summer bearers that start July 1 and are great picking for the month, and the fall bearers which start giving berries in July and give their largest yields in August and September and right through October until hard frosts. Blueberries are ripe by July 1 and continue through August 15 when all the berries have been picked and are gone until next year! Please call to set up a picking time and for current prices. Blackberries both thorn and thornless will be ripe August 1 through September 15. They also have a fun ride all season long on the Express! Ice cream cones, gift shop, our own honey, local maple syrup and sorghum, jams & dressings, salsa, mustard, pickles, local fresh farm brown eggs, much more!
• Lazy Patch Farm - Grapes, apples, raspberries and strawberries in season.
  33351 Hwy 154, Hillpoint, WI . Phone: 608-585-2240. Open: Yelp reports they are closed - Not offering pick-your-own strawberries in 2014; come see us next May 2015 when we will likely be open Saturday and Sunday 1 to 6 pm until mid-October depending on supply. Click here for a map and directions. .

 

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