Five Places To U-Pick Cherries and Berries in Northern California
From the Central Valley to the Central Coast.
It’s summertime and the berries are abundant, but not everlasting. Cherries and berries have a short harvest season, so make sure you get out there while you can. Last year I wrote a list on where you could find u-pick strawberry locations. This year it’s all about cherries and berries. And the cherries and berries are exceptionally plump this year! Here are five locations where you can pick your own cherries by the bucketful.
Let me know down in the comments if you have a favorite Northern California cherry or berry u-pick!
Mike’s U-Pick
Because of limited availability, overtourism, weather, muddy fields, or just having to wait for more of the fruit to ripen….their social media pages advise you to constantly check their website. You can also stay updated on their social media pages and a handy dandy Phone Update Line! (925) 698-7459
Mike’s will provide you with bags to fill up with your pickin’s. Bringing your own bucket is encouraged. There are no pets, no outside food allowed, and water vessels must be 16 ounces or less.
611 Payne Ave
Brentwood, California 94513
Burge Road Farms
This is my prefered cherry orchard. I’ve been coming to this orchard since for seven-years and hopefully I can come for another 17. I love it so much I wrote about it in my SF Chronicle column back in 2019. It has a very short window to visit, so make sure you’re persistently stalking their Instagram come the month of May.
Entry and parking is free. Buckets will be provided. Cash is preferred. Dog are allowed, but must be on a leash and please clean-up after your pooch.
Picnics are not allowed in the orchard.
3000 Burge Rd
Stockton, California 95215
Webb Ranch
Located in Portola Valley, Webb Ranch opens their gates in mid-June for raspberry and blackberry picking. They have a variety of berries listed on their website including: Obsidian Blackberry, Prime-Ark Blackberry, Navajo Blackberry, Olallieberry and Marionberry.
No reservations. Walk-ins only. $4/person entrance fee (ages 2 and under or 65+ are free). Fruit is $7/lb. Pre-Picked berries are not available.
No smoking. No dogs/pets.
No picnics on the property.
2720 Alpine Rd.
Portola Valley, California 94028
Victoria Island Farms
Family farmed since 1964, Victorian Island Farms has been growing crops on this “island [with] an area of more than 7,000 acres, about half the size of Manhattan. The road around its perimeter stretches 15 miles and there are over 80 miles of irrigation canals crisscrossing the interior of the island.”
Reservations are required. U-Pick is only open during the times listed. Please choose from the available times to schedule your blueberry picking experience at Victoria Island Farms. Bags for picking are provided at check-in. U-Pick blueberries are $6/lb. Only one booking per party required.
The Farm Stand is located at the entrance to the Sabbatical Distillery & Tasting Room. Please use the eastern driveway from HWY 4 (not the farm office entrance, which is not open to the public and is closed on weekends).
16021 W. Highway 4
Holt, California 95234
Lazy K Ranch
Lazy K Ranch is located in Gilroy growing organic cherries fresh for picking opening season is mid-June. They have over 1000 cherry trees including Bings, Brooks, and Vans (dark red sweet cherries), all organic use approved sprays only, for your picking enjoyment. Check their website often for changes to operating hours.
Bring your own containers. Cherries are $6.50/pound
Picnics on their huge lawn are welcomed!
3465 Susie Lane
Gilroy, California 95020
I see that Rainbow Orchards up in Apple Hill is doing blueberry U-Picks too.
I do so love this season of fruit. Happy sigh. My ultimate fave is when watermelon is in season. I could eat that for every meal when it's the gooood stuff.
The closest kind of U-picks to me is the Hood River Fruit Loop which is about 2.5 hours away. But a cool day trip for sure. Apple and pear season is the bomb on the loop.