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Berry picking is one of my favorite summer activities. For as long as I can remember, I’ve picked berries at least once each summer. Growing up my parents would take me to an olallieberry u-pick near Santa Cruz. It was a full day excursion, finished off by making our own jam. That inspired me to keep the tradition alive with my husband, Joe. There is something about opening up a fresh jar of homemade jam and being transported back to that summer day. I’ve explored several berry u-pick farms in the Bay Area and wanted to consolidate a list for you.
Berry U-Pick Farms Around the Bay Area
R&R Fresh Farms (Pescadero)
My most recent berry picking trip was R&R Fresh Farms in Pescadero. This little gem is located on Pescadero Creek Road, just off highway 1. They offer a u-pick for olallieberries, blackberries, and strawberries. They also have a small shop with fresh herbs and other goods. Contrary to their website, they do not sell duck eggs (or maybe they just didn’t have them when I was there). When I visited last (July 2021), the prices were as follows: strawberries for $3/lb, olallieberries or blackberries for $4.50/lb, or mixed berries for $6/lb. They do accept credit card š No reservation needed. Every time I’ve visited, it’s relatively quiet with plenty of berries for the picking. There’s plenty of parking and there is a restroom available (important info!). You can stop by and say hi to their chickens too.
During my latest trip, we made a whole day of it in Pescadero (check out my Reel). After picking a few pounds of olallieberries, we headed to Duarte’s Tavern for lunch. Pro tip: make a reservation – it gets busy. We enjoyed a good meal then strolled around downtown. We stopped into Arcangeli Grocery Co to pick up a loaf of their famous artichoke bread. Finally we ended our day by stopping by Harley Farms. This was an unexpected spot and well worth it. Harley Farms is a goat farm with a cute shop. Stop by to visit their goats, dogs, and cats throughout the property. Their farm shop has everything from habanero honey to chĆØvre with edible flowers. If you can, make a whole day out of your trip to Pescadero.
Swanton Berry Farm (Davenport)
Swanton Berry Farm has been one of my go-to u-picks for years. This strawberry farm is located in Davenport, a small coastal town near Santa Cruz, along highway 1. They offer a strawberry u-pick as well as a cute farm stand. The shop sells fresh strawberries, berry pie, lemonade, jam, and other baked goods. You can grab a seat inside or out to enjoy your slice of pie, chocolate covered strawberry, scone or other baked treat. The u-pick is open on the weekends (farm stand is open every day). Strawberries are $6/lb and they do accept credit cards. There is an outhouse near the farm stand as well. I love that they offer jams and baked goods made with unique berries, like tayberries and olallieberries.
George’s Berry Farm (Brentwood)
This is a new spot (for us). We visited this spring to pick strawberries (check out my Reel). I wasn’t familiar with Brentwood but it’s only an hour away from us in San Jose. I learned that Brentwood has several u-pick farms, open throughout the spring/summer. This farm grows strawberries, cherries, stone fruit, and pumpkins. Check out their website to see their seasons. From our experience with the strawberry u-pick, they didn’t require reservations and strawberries were $3/lb. I think they accept credit cards but you may want to call to double check. Also they do have an outhouse š I’d love to go back to pick stone fruit (peaches are my favorite!). It looks like those are available June through August 15th.
Webb Ranch (Portola Valley)
If you live on the Peninsula, Webb Ranch is a relatively easy stop. It’s located in Portola Valley, close to 280. They have a variety of berries for the picking: blackberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, and marionberries. I visited last year and picked blackberries. Berries are $6/lb and they do accept credit cards. Note: they also charge a $4/person entrance fee (age 2 and under are free). Tuesdays and Thursdays are free for seniors (65+). They do have ample parking and you don’t need a reservation. I picked blackberries at Webb Ranch last summer. It was very sunny and warm so I recommend wearing a hat and sunscreen.
U Pick Orchards (Morgan Hill)
Back in June, I shared a thorough post on my experience at U Pick Orchards. I even shared a fun cherry hand pie recipe in that post; the pies turned out beautifully. I won’t repeat myself here so check out that post for all the details. I will note that the cherry season is short. Even if you can’t pick cherries this year, you can always bookmark this post for next summer. My friend also picked cherries in Brentwood so there are a couple cherry picking options in the Bay Area.
That wraps it up for my Bay Area berry u-pick farms guide! I hope this helps you plan a fun day trip to pick some delicious berries. If you have any other u-pick recommendations, please leave a comment or message me on Instagram.
