Above: Summer fruit tastes even sweeter when you pick it yourself.
(images cropped from Facebook clockwise from Tougas Farms [1 ,2, & 3], Lookout Farm, Nourse Farm and Hanson’s Farm)
If you like fresh strawberries, and enjoy doing the picking yourself, it’s time to look at the local options. And if that fruit’s not your jam, maybe another upcoming crop is.
There aren’t any pick-your-own fruit options available to the general public in Southborough*. Fortunately, there are five farms just a stone’s throw away that offer u-pick fun over the summer. Three of those have been promoting that strawberry picking season is already at its peak/winding down.
For all of the following u-pick programs, you should check with the farm that day (or day prior) to ensure conditions are ripe and fruit is plentiful.
My family has traditionally enjoyed fruit picking at Tougas Family Farm in Northborough. Of all the area orchards, they offer the most choices of fruits, and therefore the most consistent picking.
Strawberry season is in full swing. Other crops will start ripening in the following overlapping order:, cherries, blueberries, peaches and nectarines, raspberries, countless varieties of apples, and pumpkins. To check out what’s picking any given day, click here. You can also follow them on Facebook.
They also have a farm store and kitchen selling lunch, cide donuts, baked goods, jams, ice cream, etc. Adding to the entertainment (especially for little kids) are tractor rides to/from the fields/orchards, a great playground, and goats to feed.
Nourse Farms in Westborough also still has PYO strawberries. (Though, it appears that the swarm of pickers yesterday means they’ll need a couple of days for more to ripen up.)
Coming up this summer are red raspberries, black raspberries, red currants, blueberries, red currants, Cut-Your-Own flower bouquets. They’ll be selling peaches (but not PYO) later in the summer, followed by fall pumpkins.
The farm allows PYO customers to bring their own containers.
Click here for the latest picking report. You can also check out some gorgeous, inviting views of the farm (and cattle herd) on Facebook.
You can also enjoy an educational walking trail on the farm (covering the farm’s history) and on Thursdays – Sundays order from their vegan food trailer.
Over in Berlin, Cordelia’s Farm is still offering strawberries. They will again offer blueberries followed by raspberries and flowers. They also have corn and vegetable crops (that aren’t u-pick but are farm fresh) for sale over the summer. Plus, they sell vegetable plants for your own gardens.
Hanson’s Farm on Nixon Road in Framingham is another option. They don’t have strawberries this year but may have blueberries and blackberries later this summer, in addition to flowers (and fall pumpkins). They ask visitors to call first, but you can also check their Facebook page for an update.
The farm also has a Sunflower Maze starting in August, followed by a Corn Maze and Hayrides in the fall. They also have barnyard animals, cider donuts, and a farm stand (including fruit from other local farms).
Lookout Farm in Framingham won’t be offering berries. Their U-Pick season opens in late July/August with peaches. Other late summer/early fall pickings include nectarines, apples and pears. The picking season ends with pumpkins. I don’t see a page dedicated to picking, so I’d check out their Facebook and instagram for updates.
The farm also has a restaurant, its own hard cider
If you have other favorites or suggestions, post a comment below.
If you’re looking for other fun things to do in Southborough and nearby with kids this summer, click here.
*Chestnut Hill Farm does offer its’ CSA members some pick-your-own opportunities — mostly for veggies and flowers.
