Berry Picking Around Saratoga County
Find the sweetest u-pick spots around Saratoga
by Eli King Conklin
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It’s berry picking season! Berries are generally in season spring through summer, but the timing of the season varies each year. In our region, you can typically find strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries during warm weather months. Here’s a map and corresponding list of where to find u-pick berry picking this season near Saratoga:
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Berry Picking Tips
- Go early in the day
- Know what’s ripe for pickin’
- Transport them “berry” carefully
Go Early In The Day
You can avoid crowds and over-picked bushes by heading to berry patches earlier in the day. Morning is the best time to pick – before heat has had a chance to build up in the fruit. They’re also more flavorful when picked in the morning because they’ve retained the moisture and sugars drawn up from the day before.
Know What’s Ripe For Pickin’
Strawberries won’t ripen off the vine, so make sure the ones you pick are ready to eat! It’s also best to pick not just the berry, but also the cap and some of the stem. They will keep in the refrigerator 2-5 days.
Blueberries should be firm and pull easily from the plant when they’re ready.
Raspberries shouldn’t be mushy and should pull easily from the plant.
Blackberries should not be glossy (that means they’re too early & will be sour) but slightly dull.
Transport Them “Berry” Carefully
Berries are fragile, so it’s best to store them in as few layers as possible to prevent them from getting squished. Wider, shallower containers are better than narrow/deep ones. Summer berries are delicate and spoil quickly – it helps to store them in a cooler for the trip home. Once you get home, get them in the refrigerator ASAP and don’t wash them unless you’re ready to eat or process them. You can rinse them in a 3:1 solution of water to distilled white vinegar, then dry carefully (excess water can cause them to spoil). The easiest way to freeze berries is to rinse and dry them, then arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze the whole sheet for at least an hour, then transfer the berries to a heavy duty zip lock freezer bag. This prevents them from all sticking together. Frozen berries are very versatile and can be made into jam or other baked goods. You can also can, pickle and ferment them.
Argyle: Stu-berry Acres Farms
1483 Co Rd 49, Argyle, NY 12809
(518) 638-8926 | Stuberry’s website
Wednesday through Sunday 8am-5pm
Berry Picking Schedule
- July 4th-August: Blueberries, raspberries
- September: Fall raspberries
Pricing (2021)
- Blueberry u-pick: $3.25/lb
- Raspberry u-pick: $4.50/lb
Notes
Accept cash and check only. Use their containers for small fee or bring your own (get it weighed first).
Gansevoort: Ariel’s Farm
194 Northern Pines Road, Gansevoort, NY 12831
(518) 584-2189 | Ariel’s website
*opened June 10, 2022*
Open daily 9am – 6pm
Berry Picking Schedule
- June: Strawberries
- July: Raspberries, blackberries
Pricing (2022)
- Strawberry u-pick: $4.50/lb
- Pre-picked strawberries: $7.50/quart
- Raspberry u-pick: $6.25/pint
Notes
Call ahead for daily picking conditions. Pint, quart and flat trays are available for picking but feel free to bring your own. Wide variety of additional produce available for purchase.
Granville: Hicks Orchard
18 Hicks Road, Granville, NY 12832
(518) 642-1788 | Hicks website
Monday & Friday: 10am-4pm; Sat. & Sun. 10am-5pm
Berry Picking Schedule
- late June: Cherries
- Mid July: Blueberries
Pricing
2022 pricing TBD for season, please call.
Notes
Check website for tons of farm events throughout the year. Also apple picking and hayrides in the fall.
Granville: Liebigs’ Strawberry Ridge Farm
66 Middleton Road, Granville, NY 12832
(518) 642-1385 | Liebigs’ website
Tuesday through Friday: 8am-5pm; Sat/Sun: 8am-4pm; closed Mondays
Berry Picking Schedule
- Mid July-August: Blueberries
- July-September: Raspberries
Pricing (2021)
$2.95/lb
Notes
Cash or check only. They provide containers. No pets in the fields.
Greenwich: Hand Melon Farm
533 Wilbur Avenue, Greenwich, NY 12834
(518) 692-2376 | Hand Melon’s website
*Opened June 10, 2022*
Monday through Friday: 8am-5pm; Sat/Sun 8am-4pm
Berry Picking Schedule
- June: Strawberries, sometimes early raspberries
- July: Blueberries, raspberries
Pricing
- Strawberry u-pick: $3.95/lb (2022)
- Blueberry u-pick: $3.50/pint (2021)
- Raspberry u-pick: $4.25/lb (2021)
Notes
Their Farm Market is located on Route 29 across from the Washington County Fairgrounds, the pick-your-own fields are about a mile further down on Wilbur Avenue.
Rexford: Bowman Orchards
147 Sugar Hill Road, Rexford, NY 12148
(518) 371-2042 | Bowman’s website
*opening June 14, 2022*
Tuesdays-Saturdays 9am-4pm
Berry Picking Schedule
- June: Strawberries
- July: Cherries, raspberries, blackberries
- August: Blackberries
Pricing (2022)
You-Pick Tickets – $3 online, $5 there (doesn’t include picked fruit)
One quart – $8.25
4 Quart – $30
8 Quart – $50
Notes
Every person entering the you-pick fields must purchase the 1 quart picking container. They grown the largest type of blackberry in the world! The farm itself is pet friendly, but furry friends must be leashed and aren’t allowed in the berry patches or areas with low-hanging fruit.
Salem: Gardenworks Farm
1055 County Route 30, Salem, NY 12865
(518) 854-3250 | Gardenworks’ website
*Open now for 2022*
Wednesday-Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 11am-5pm
Berry Picking Schedule
- July (starting 2nd week of July 2022): Blueberries
- Labor Day Weekend: Fall raspberries
Pricing (2022)
2022 pricing TBD, check their website or call.
Notes
Their café is open June 18 through October 9, 2022 from 12 noon-4PM. They offer a service where you can pre-order fresh foods for weekly pickup – sign up is on their website.
Schaghticoke: Liberty Ridge Farm
29 Bevis Road, Schaghticoke, NY 12154
(518) 664-1515 | Liberty Ridge website
Open daily 8am-2pm
Berry Picking Schedule
- Mid July: Blueberries
Pricing
2022 pricing TBD, call for pricing.
Notes
Cash, Debit and Credit Cards accepted, pay by the pound. They provide containers and bags but if you want to bring your own, you can as long as you have them weighed before you begin picking. Check website for tons of other farm events, store, etc.
Schuylerville: Winney’s Blueberry Farm
113 Winney Drive, Schuylerville, NY 12871
(518) 695-5547 | Winney’s website
*mid-July through Labor Day*
Check back or call for 2022 hours
Berry Picking Schedule
- mid-July: Blueberries
Pricing (2021)
- U-pick blueberries: $3.25/lb
- Ready-picked $8/quart
Notes
25 varieties or blueberries. Use their bags for small fee or bring your own (get it weighed first). Accept cash and check only.
Schuylerville: Saratoga Apple
1174 NY-29, Schuylerville, NY 12871
(518) 695-3131 | Saratoga Apple’s website
Open daily 9am-6pm, orchard tap room is open later
Berry Picking Schedule
- Late June/early July: Cherries
- August: Plums
Pricing (2022)
About $5/lb.
Notes
Assortment of local produce including berries sold in orchard store, offer u-pick apples in fall.
Scotia: Buhrmaster Farms
189 Saratoga Road (Route 50), Scotia, NY 12302
(518) 399-5931 | Buhrmaster’s website
*Open now for 2022*
7am-2pm
Berry Picking Schedule
- Mid June (through July): Strawberries
- July: Blueberries
Pricing (2022)
Quart – $6
4 Quarts – $22
8 Quarts – $40
Cash only.