How to Find Pick Your Own Farms

If you enjoy eating fresh fruits and vegetables rather than produce that has been frozen or trucked across the country, you will enjoy a visit to a Pick Your Own farm. This is a fun and healthy experience that you and your family can share. Here are some tips on how to do it, where to find pick your own farms, and when to go.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Asparagus comes early in the picking season

   Pick Your Own farms are located in every state in the USA, as well as across Canada and in many other countries. A visit to a pick your own farm is a lot of fun for adults as well as children. It is a healthy way to get out in the country for a day, and to bring home fruits and vegetables that are as fresh as can be.

2. The first step is to find a nearby farm that offers Pick Your Own days. Usually these are on weekends, to ensure the farmer has enough help available to assist visitors. You can check your local newspaper during the growing season for farm ads. Check the food section if your paper has one, or the local events page.

3. 
   It's not a good deal unless you eat as much as you pick!

   Your best bet for Pick Your Own information is to go to the website at www.pickyourown.org (link below). You can search by state, province or country for the farms in your area. There are contact links posted as well, so you can visit the farm's website or call if you have questions. The website also offers tips on canning and preserving your harvest so you can enjoy it all year long.

4. Be aware that different crops like pumpkins, corn or strawberries ripen at different times of the year. Go to the crop harvest calendar link posted below, and search by your location to see when different fruits and vegetables will be available in your area. It is a good idea to call the farm before you depart to ensure the crop is ready for picking. Farming is a weather-dependent business, and different conditions can affect when the crops ripen.

5. 
   Pick your own pumpkins in the Fall

   You will be walking through farm fields, so dress appropriately. It can be muddy and hot. Old shoes, comfortable clothes, a hat and sunscreen are good ideas. You may want to pack water and some snacks, especially if you are bringing young children along. You can bring your own picking baskets or the farm will provide them for a small fee. Make sure you bring something to carry your fruit and vegetables home in, like a cooler with some cold packs in it.

6. 
   Corn maze in Louisburg, Kansas

   In addition to pick your own, most farms have a market stand selling freshly-harvested items in case you don't want to pick your own. They may also provide other fun things to do like a petting zoo, corn maze, or a hayride. It can be a fun day for everyone, both young and old.
   
   The pick your own concept also allows you to support local farmers and helps make sure your food doesn't require a lot of resources getting from the farm to your table. See you in the fields!

Tips & Warnings

• Bring a camera along to capture the adventure.
• Pets are usually not allowed in farm fields for health reasons.
• Ensure you wash produce at home before eating, even if it is organically grown.

Resources

• Pickyourown.org
• Crop Harvest Calendars

[JimboJambo]

on 4/6/2009 If you don't like picking your own, you should look into farm shares. You buy a portion of the season's crop, they pick and clean and all you have to do is enjoy the freshness of farm to table. Great article.

[makaksa]

on 4/6/2009 Great article. I love being able to pick my own and now I have a source to help me locate farms that offer this.

[georgelarson]

on 4/6/2009 This is something you could do with your family. Thanks for the information.

[apalmer]

on 4/6/2009 This is a great idea for those who do not garden themselves. 5*

[thomasfence]

on 4/5/2009 How to Find Pick Your Own Farms is a super article cant wait to visit the resources. 5*