Berry picking time has begun in Northeast Ohio! If you don’t have a big garden at home, you can still pick your own produce by heading out to a Pick Your Own farm! Picking produce at a local farm is a way to get a lot of produce for a great price. It’s also tons of fun, especially for kids, and teaches them where their food comes from. Picking strawberries, blueberries, and apples have become family traditions for us, and something the kids look forward to every year.
You can pick enough to eat a bunch fresh, make jam, pies, sauce, or other treats, and have plenty to freeze or can. You’ll be amazed at how much you get for a small amount of money, especially compared to some of the prices in the stores. Most farms make it a fun family affair, welcoming kids and encouraging them to have fun picking. You might be surprised at what your kids will be willing to eat once they’ve harvested it with their own hands (this goes for your own garden too!).
Pickyourown.org is a fantastic resource for locating picking spots all over the country. Click on your state, then your region, and you’ll get a list of farms close to home, along with contact information. The site also has information to help you deal with your harvest: tips on canning, freezing, jam recipes, and more (look on the sidebars).
Local (Stark County area) Sisters and Misters can check out:
Waltz Strawberry Patch 13336 Freed St. SE, Paris, OH. Phone: 330-862-2547 (cash only, call for hours–berries are expected to last through this week–call before you head out!)
Wade’s Fruit Farm 12915 Warren Road, Paris, OH 44669. Phone: 330-862-3313 Blueberries, sweet corn, peaches, yellow & black raspberries, potatoes, and more (call for hours and availability)
Vogley Enterprises 3245 Battlesburg Street SE, East Sparta, OH, 44626. Phone: 330-484-4387 Blueberries, blackberries, red raspberries, peaches, and more
Stoffer’s Farm Market 5510 Rochester Road, Homeworth, OH. Phone: 330-525-7447 Facebook page (we pick apples here in the fall–YUM!)
Miller’s Pickin Patch Route 44, Louisville, OH. Phone: 330-875-9227 Facebook page All kinds of veggies–check their Facebook page to find out what’s ready!
Where do you like to pick your own produce? Let us know your favorites, and we’ll add them to our list!
Need some recipes? After you’ve picked, be sure to check out these delicious ways to use your fresh produce:
- Strawberry Recipes (includes How to Freeze Strawberries, Strawberry Sauce, No-Cook Freezer Jam, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, and Easy Strawberry Shortcake)
- Old Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake
- Blueberry Zucchini Bread
- Blueberry Pickin Recipes (includes Freezer Jam, Fruit & Yogurt Freezer Pops, and Banana Blueberry Muffins)
- Black Raspberry Cheesecake Bars
