Pick-your-own strawberries in Bucks

Blooming Glen Farm strawberries, photo credit Lynne Goldman

strawberry signIt’s strawberry season! Just think of biting into a juicy, ripe, berry that doesn’t need a tractor-trailer to reach your mouth!

If you’re heading out to one of the many local farms that have PYO strawberries, here are some tips that may help:

  • Always call before showing up at the farm (especially this early in the season). Depending on the weather, berries may not be ripe or may be picked out. Ask them if you need to bring your own containers. It isn’t a bad idea to check out a farm’s website, which usually has good information.
  • Only pick firm, plump and fully red berries. Unripe strawberries won’t ripen after being picked. Grasp the stem just above the berry, between the forefinger and thumbnail. Then pull, with a slight twisting motion. Be gentle putting them in the container.
  • Help out the farmers by removing any rotten, bug-eaten or other “bad” berries. Rot will spread quickly to the “good” berries.
  • As far as strawberries are concerned, size DOESN’T matter. As long as they are completely red, they’re good to pick. Some even say that the smaller berries taste better.
  • The best time to pick strawberries is early on a cool, cloudy day. They’ll last longer than in the heat. Plus, you won’t end up looking like a berry from sunburn!
  • Once picked, keep them out of the sun and heat as much as possible. Cool them down as soon as you can. And never wash them until you’re ready to use them—moisture will hasten rotting. Here are some other tips on cleaning strawberries properly.
  • Try not to pile the berries more than 5 inches deep in your container. The ones on the bottom will start to bruise from the weight.
  • Don’t pick more than you’re going to use. Strawberries will quickly mold at room temperature and will only last a couple of days in the fridge. If you’re not going to use them right away, wash them, cut off the hulls and freeze them in a zipper bag (be sure to squeeze out as much air as possible).

Now that you know the ins and outs of PYO strawberries, it’s time to head to the farm. Here’s a list of some of the many Bucks County farms that offer PYO:

Brumbaugh’s Farm 2575 County Line Rd., Telford, PA 18969, 215.723.3508.

Hellerick’s Family Farm 5500 Easton Rd. (Rt. 611), Doylestown, PA 18902, 215.766.8388.

Manoff Market Gardens 3157 Comfort Rd., Solebury, PA 18963, 215.297.8220.

None Such Farm Market 4458 York Rd. (Rt. 263), Buckingham, PA 18912, 215.794.5201.

Penn Vermont Fruit Farm Rt. 113 & Rolling Hills Rd., Bedminster, PA 18910, 215.795.2475.

Shady Brook Farm 931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, PA 19067, 215.968.1670. Pick your own strawberries any time the market is open.

Solly’s Farm Market 707 Almshouse Rd., Ivyland, PA 18974, 215.357.2850. Call ahead to find out when PYO begins.

Tabora Farm & Orchard 1104 Upper Stump Rd., Chalfont, PA 18914, 215.249.3016.

The Market at Del Val by Shady Brook Farm 2100 Lower State Road, Doylestown, PA 18901, 215-230-7170.

Trauger’s Farm Market Rt. 611, Kintnersville, PA 18930, 610.847.5702.

If we missed any, PLEASE let us know. We’ll update the post.

Thanks to Rich Baringer for the original version of this post, and to Sarah Wingert for doing the research.

This post was updated on June 5, 2018.

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19 COMMENTS

  1. We stopped at Penn Vermont today and saw no activity related to strawberries. Perhaps they’re not growing them this year????

  2. Thanks for the information. We love picking our own strawberries and this year we are fortunate enough to have our very own little patch. One thing I might add to your post is that strawberries that are still a little green ripen very nicely when set in a windowsill or in the sun. We often pick them a little early so that the birds or slugs do not get into the juicy, fully red berries.

  3. […] Local strawberries are just starting to show up, a little delayed by all the rain, but hopefully not washed away like two years ago. Do me a favor, however. When you see strawberries, or other berries, locally, let me know where you found them, and also ask the vendor where they are from (sometimes “local” is interpreted rather widely). For tips on where to go and how to pick berries, see Rich Baringer’s post from last May, Pick-your-own-strawberries in Bucks. […]

  4. […] The word for this weekend? Berries. Strawberries are finishing up in Lower and Central Bucks but there are still plenty in Upper Bucks for another week or two. You can pick-your-own at Penn-Vermont Fruit Farm in Bedminster. They also have raspberries! Scott Guiser from the Penn State Cooperative Extension also told me that Penn-Vermont is one of the only places in Bucks you can get black raspberries and it is a short season. Tune into Penn-Vermont’s Facebook page for updates. Manoff’s Market Gardens in Solebury had the last of their strawberries when I stopped by this week, but said they would probably have raspberries and sweet cherries this weekend. Check their website or give them a call to check before going. They also have pick-your-own. For a full listing of where you can pick-your-own berries in Bucks County, see our previous post. […]

  5. 2015: Is there any place that has strawberries for PYO that is “organic” or that doesn’t use any pesticides?

  6. Hi Suz,
    I don’t know of any PYO places that are organic, but both Blooming Glen Farm and Milk House Farm sell organic strawberries (at Wrightstown Farmers Market on Saturdays, or for Milk House, at their farm in Upper Makefield).

  7. […] Local strawberries are just starting to show up, a little delayed by all the rain, but hopefully not washed away like two years ago. Do me a favor, however. When you see strawberries, or other berries, locally, let me know where you found them, and also ask the vendor where they are from (sometimes “local” is interpreted rather widely). For tips on where to go and how to pick berries, see Rich Baringer’s post from last May, Pick-your-own-strawberries in Bucks. […]

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