Twin Cities Pick-Your-Own Produce Farms

When you’ve got parents who don’t garden, how’s a kid supposed to satisfy that itch to hunt and gather? The solution in our family is to visit a variety of pick-your-own farms and orchards throughout the growing season and let the kids harvest to their little hearts’ content. We love to scout berries in the summer months, fresh veggies as summer wanes, and we cram as many apple orchard trips into the fall as our schedule allows. It may cost a little more than purchasing at our local grocery store, but we believe the experience is worth it.

Skip down to our Pick-Your-Own Produce Address Book or continue reading about what you can pick fresh all season long.

2 Twin Cities Spots to Pick Produce for FREE

We know of two locations that plant community gardens and allow the public to harvest for free.

Woodbury Lakes Shopping Center

9020 Hudson Road, Woodbury, MN 55125
The Common Ground Gardens can be found in the mall’s courtyard. Visitors are encouraged to pick any ripe produce and herbs. Take it home, wash it and enjoy.

Crystal Community Center

4800 Douglas Drive North, Crystal, MN 55429
The Edible Courtyard at Crystal Community Center’s motto is “Take what you need, and leave the rest.” Offerings include vegetables like cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, spinach, kale and beans. 

FIND THE BEST PLACES TO PICK BERRIES & PRODUCE IN THE TWIN CITIES

JUNE STRAWBERRY PICKING

Some Twin Cities pick-your-own farms to keep in mind for June that make a great day trip: PLEASANT VALLEY FARM near Taylors Falls was our family’s first berry-picking adventure. Years later we’ve yet to come across a sweeter strawberry than those harvested at that farm. We’ve been treated very well at AFTON APPLE ORCHARD (they offer berries in the summer; see below for fall fruit). I’ve also heard good things about PINE TREE ORCHARD and WYATT’S STRAWBERRIES for a South Metro strawberry picking option. Skip down to our pick-your-own produce address to find the farms that offer strawberries follow the berry link for our own list of the best strawberry farms.

Fresh berries are usually plentiful at TWIN CITIES SPRING & SUMMER FARMERS MARKETS, so if you don’t time to drive to the berry patch, stop in at a local market.

JULY RASPBERRY & BLUEBERRY PICKING

Last July, I loved watching my kids meandering down the rows of raspberry and blueberry bushes at THE BERRY PATCH of Forest Lake. The bushels of wild blueberries from BLUEBERRY FIELDS OF STILLWATER barely survived the trip back home. Keep in mind that many orchards offer pick-your-own fall raspberries if July escapes you: we’ve enjoyed picking at AFTON APPLE ORCHARD and APPLE JACK ORCHARDS of Delano.

Family Fun: Pick-Your-Own Produce Farms

AUGUST VEGGIE PICKING

If it’s veggies you’re craving, we were amazed by the summer selection at WALDOCH FARM GARDEN CENTER of Lino Lakes. Beans, peppers, corn, squash, greens, peas; you name it, you could pick it. My kids have always been decent vegetable-eaters, but I’ve heard reluctant little ones might be more interested in eating them if they’ve had a hand in harvesting and preparing them!

Some Community Supported Agriculture Farms encourage members (and maybe others) to come help with harvesting. If you have a CSA, ask if you can bring the kids to pick vegetables. 

Farmer’s markets don’t allow little ones to pick their own produce, but we have collected a list of the best TWIN CITIES FALL FARMERS MARKETS and paired them with other fun outings.

Get started planning your best summer!

Everything under the sun you need to know about family fun this summer in the Twin Cities. Beat boredom and fill your long school break days exploring the best the Twin Cities has to offer in the way of parks, swim spots, community entertainment and local festivals with our ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SUMMER IN THE TWIN CITIES.

SEPTEMBER PICK-YOUR-OWN APPLE ORCHARDS

As for pick-your-own apples, the fun to be had out at local Twin Cities orchards deserves dedicated posts of its own — and you can find them here in the West MetroEast Metro, South Metro and North Metro — along with all kinds of recommendations for fall family fun.

Family Fun: Pick-Your-Own Produce Farms

OCTOBER TWIN CITIES PICK YOUR OWN PUMPKIN PATCHES

Even if you’re not in the market for a jack-o-lantern, these patches are crammed full of fall fun from corn mazes and farm animals to hayrides and train rides. Carve out some time to check our list of the BEST PUMPKIN PATCHES NEAR THE TWIN CITIES before Halloween hits.

Baby by pumpkin patch at Pleasant Valley Orchard in Shafer, Minnesota
Pumpkins at Pleasant Valley Orchard

TWIN CITIES PICK-YOUR-OWN ADDRESS BOOK

Please, always call ahead to check availability before heading out! This can prevent some major disappointment as well as wasting precious mileage and gas on the drive. Often, the farms have very specific picking hours (typically during the earlier half of the day) or extreme weather has affected the crop. Note that this address book does NOT include all of the APPLE ORCHARDS & PUMPKIN PATCHES in the Twin Cities, but if a farm offers these options, we’ve listed it here.

TWIN CITIES NORTHWEST METRO BERRY FARMS

ANOKA: Berry Hill Farm

6510 185th Ave NW, Anoka, MN 55303
FRESH PICKINGS:
Strawberries, raspberries, and rhubarb during the summer season starting mid-June. Fall brings the pumpkin patch and activities on the weekends. 763-753-5891.

LONG LAKE: Wahlfors Rasberry Farm

1525 Deer Hill Rd, Long Lake, MN 55356
FRESH PICKINGS:
Wahlfors’ speciality is raspberries – red & black. There is no website for this farm so please call 763-473-7770 before coming out.

ST MICHAEL: D Round Barn Berries

2260 Jamison Ave NE, St Michael, MN 55376
FRESH PICKINGS:
Exclusively strawberries. Please note the farm may close early if picked out for the day. 612-237-8443.

NORTH METRO Reader Recommendation: 

8082 33rd St, Princeton, MN 55371
Reader Carol recommends:
J. Q. Fruit Farm and Orchard in Princeton — just an hour’s drive from the metro. She tells us the farm has has blueberries, raspberries and apples. Supervised children are welcome and strollers and wagons are both allowed.

TWIN CITIES NORTHEAST METRO BERRY FARMS

FOREST LAKE: The Berry Patch 

10456 192nd St N, Forest Lake, MN 55025
FRESH PICKINGS:
PYO strawberries in June, raspberries & blueberries in July. You can get hours of operation and prices on their website. This farm is just a few minutes away from a wide sandy beach on Big Marine Lake. We’ve included Big Marine in our list of the 26 BEST TWIN CITIES BEACHES & PLAYGROUNDS. 651-433-3448.

LINO LAKES: Waldoch Farm Garden Center

8174 Lake Dr, Lino Lakes, MN 55014
FRESH PICKINGS:
PYO produce varieties can be found here, including a colorful, extensive list of summer vegetables. There is a $5 fee to pick your own. Waldoch offers tickets to its JOYER ADVENTURE FARM
starting June 15, 2023, through Labor Day weekend and includes admission to playground equipment, a giant slide, sandbox, the barnyard animals and other activities. $11/child, tickets available online.

NORTH BRANCH: Rod’s Berry Farm

28624 Zodiac St NE, North Branch, MN 55056
FRESH PICKINGS:
Fresh strawberries. Rod’s is open longer (8am-8pm) than many berry farms and if mobility is an issue, they provide transportation into the patch. Accepts cash or credit cards.

SHAFER: Pleasant Valley Orchard

17325 Pleasant Valley Rd, Shafer, MN 55074
FRESH PICKINGS:
PYO strawberries in June thru early July, apples and pumpkins plus harvest activities in the fall. 651-257-9159.

More family fun: The orchard is only 10 minutes away from Taylors Falls, one of our favorite day trip destinations from the Twin Cities. We’ve included Pleasant Valley on our list of TOP THINGS TO DO IN TAYLORS FALLS, MINNESOTA, WITH KIDS.

Little girl with strawberries at Pleasant Valley Orchard in Shafer, Minnesota
Pleasant Valley Orchard Strawberry Picking

STILLWATER: Blueberry Fields of Stillwater

9450 Mendel Rd N, Stillwater, MN 55082
FRESH PICKINGS:
PYO certified organic blueberries starting mid-July through early August. 

More family fun: We like to tack a visit to the town of Stillwater onto our berry picking. Younger kids will adore TEDDY BEAR PARK for its giant teddies, train-themed playground equipment, a great climbing. 651-351-0492.

WHITE BEAR LAKE: Pine Tree Orchard 

450 Apple Orchard Rd, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
FRESH PICKINGS:
PYO strawberries in June. Fall apples are pre-picked but come out to explore the grounds and the apple barn.

More family fun: Fall weekends offer hayrides, a corn maze, and live entertainment. 651-429-7202.

TWIN CITIES SOUTHEAST METRO BERRY FARMS

HASTINGS: Afton Apple Orchard

14421 90th St S, Hastings, MN 55033
FRESH PICKINGS:
PYO strawberries mid-June to mid-July, fall raspberries & apples begin in early August. LOTS of activities and entertainment at this orchard (particularly in the fall) so plan to make a day of it. There is no admission fee to pick berries during the summer; come fall the orchard charges a fee $4-$5/pp which includes most of the activities. 651-436-8385.

HASTINGS: Wyatt’s Strawberries

10370 180th St E, Hastings, MN 55033
FRESH PICKINGS:
Pick-your-own strawberries. The farm prefers you call 651-437-8479 OR check their Facebook page for picking hours and availability.

NORTHFIELD: Lorence’s Berry Farm

28625 Foliage Ave, Northfield, MN 55057
FRESH PICKINGS:
Come out and pick your own strawberries (cash or check only).

More family fun: Bring your strawberries as the dessert course to a pizza farm dinner at RED BARN FARM (Wed or Sun only). It’s just down the road from the strawberry patch and included on our list of TWIN CITIES PIZZA FARMS.

TWIN CITIES SOUTHWEST METRO BERRY FARMS

DELANO: Apple Jack Orchards

4875 37th St SE, Delano, MN 55328
FRESH PICKINGS:
Beginning in August, the farm will offer PYO raspberries and fall apples. Check the website for daily updates. LOTS of activities at this busy, very kid-friendly orchard Bring cash for extras! 763-972-6673.


Minnesota Grown Website

Our method for finding these farm gems is a great little tool called the Minnesota Grown website. Maintained by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the website is very user-friendly. You can search for farms by city, zip code or farm name. Or, if you’ve got a hankering for, say, strawberries or some fresh sweet corn, the website allows you to search by produce type as well. Included in the index of farms are independent family farms, farmer’s markets, CSAs, all-organic farms, and farms that sell animal products, textiles, gifts, and landscaping supplies. We also find it a great resource for planning fun family outings – many of the farms offer tours, animal encounters, wagon rides and, particularly in the fall, many other fun activities.

More Ideas for Fun on the Farm: Summer Farm Fun in the Twin Cities

4 thoughts on “Twin Cities Pick-Your-Own Produce Farms”

  1. Looking ahead to June! 🍓🍓🍓 What are the BEST places to pick strawberries around the metro? We are willing to drive.

    1. It is really hard to choose, Lashay! I’m looking forward to Strawberry season, too. Since strawberry season lasts about 3-6 weeks most years, you could map out the farms from south to north and hit up a different farm each week of strawberry season.

  2. Hello, why not include all the berry farms and Orchards. Great activities for whole family.
    J. Q. Fruit Farm and Orchard in Princeton has blueberries, raspberry and apples and we allow strollers, and wagons at our farm. We are an hours drive from the cities, but no further than North Branch.

    Than you.

    1. Hi Carol:

      I assure you, we aren’t slighting you. We rely on community input and our own exploration of the Twin Cities. If you would like to provide more information, we would be happy to add J. Q. Fruit Farm to our listings.

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