This summer, pick your own strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries at berry-picking farms in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania is one of the country’s leading agricultural producers, and that extends to your favorite berries. But outside of the grocery store or your local farmers market, you can also find berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries at U-pick farms across the state, where you can fill a bucket with berries you’ve picked yourself while enjoying time in the sun.
Different types of berries are available to pick at different times based on region and weather. Read on to learn all you need to know to go berry picking in Pennsylvania and bring home these sweet treats of summer.
When to go berry picking in Pennsylvania
Which berries are in season varies by region and shifts throughout the summer (this also means that you can go berry picking all summer if you know where to go). Availability also depends on berry variety and weather conditions, so the season dates we’ve included are estimates.
Southeastern Pennsylvania is generally warmer and at a lower elevation than much of the rest of the state, so some berries may ripen a little earlier in this part of Pa. We’ve noted when that’s the case!
Strawberries: Late May through June
In Pennsylvania, strawberries are typically in season at U-pick farms in late May through June (and sometimes into July). They’re usually the first major U-pick crop of the year!
Blueberries: June through mid-August
Blueberries are typically ripe on their bushes between June and mid-August—most of the summer season.
Raspberries: July through September
There are both summer and fall varieties of raspberries. Summer raspberries are typically available to pick in July, while fall raspberry picking is in August and September. In addition, you can find both traditional red raspberries as well as rarer black raspberries throughout Pennsylvania. Black raspberries have a much shorter season than their red counterparts and usually peak in late June.
In southeastern Pa., summer raspberries are typically available a little earlier than the rest of the state: mid-June through early July.
Blackberries: July through early August
Blackberry season tends to peak in mid-July and end in early August, though the berries may peak earlier in southeastern Pa.
Where to go: Pick-your-own berry farms in Pennsylvania
U-pick farms in Eastern Pennsylvania
Brecknock Orchard – Mohnton area (Lancaster County)
Brecknock Orchard in Lancaster County is a berry-picking paradise, offering pick-your-own strawberries, blueberries, red raspberries, black raspberries, and blackberries. The pick-your-own schedule on the orchard’s website is detailed and includes prices. Plus, as the orchard is in relatively warmer Lancaster County, red raspberry season is set to run from early June all the way to early November.
Weaver’s Orchard – Morgantown
Berks County farm Weaver’s Orchard grows strawberries, blueberries, red raspberries, black raspberries, and blackberries, all available for U-pick. The orchard reports that for the 2026 season, the strawberry crop is “decent” and expected to have an extended season into July, the raspberry and blackberry crops are “good,” and the blueberry crop is lighter than usual. Check out the pick-your-own schedule for more details.
Spring Mountain Farms – Lehighton (Carbon County)
You can grab (read: pick) your classic blueberries and blackberries at Spring Mountain Farms in Lehighton, but the farm also offers pick-your-own currants (red, white, and black) as well as kiwiberries—small kiwis without the fuzz!
The farm is set to open for the season on the Fourth of July, when pick-your-own blueberries will be available. Currants are also scheduled to be available for picking in July, while kiwiberries have a later season and are set to be available to pick in September, October, and December.
U-pick farms in Western Pennsylvania
Triple B Farms – Monongahela (Allegheny County)
Triple B Farms in the small town of Monongahela has pick-your-own strawberries, black raspberries, and blueberries. It is currently U-pick strawberry season, which runs through early July. Check the Triple B Facebook page for updates about pick-your-own availability for strawberries and U-pick plans for other berries.
Triple B is also home to a kids’ play area, Pop’s Farmyard Fun, which has a playground, games, and other fun activities.
Soergel Orchards – Wexford (Allegheny County)
Soergel Orchards in Wexford, just over 20 minutes from Pittsburgh, offers pick-your-own blueberries and strawberries each year. This year, while blueberries are set to be available for picking in July and August, strawberry crop availability is uncertain.
The farm usually has a strawberry festival to kick off the pick-your-own season, but a freak freeze this spring led to major damage to the strawberry crop, making the festival impossible—an example of how farming, and thus pick-your-own availability, is subject to the whims of nature. Check Soergel’s Facebook page for updates on whether the farm will be able to offer strawberry picking later in the season.
U-pick farms in Central Pennsylvania
Strites’ Orchard – Harrisburg
Strites’ Orchard in Harrisburg is currently offering pick-your-own strawberries. It also grows blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, all of which are available for picking.
Because growing conditions can change quickly, the farm recommends reaching out to check on the status of the crop you’re interested in picking to ensure it’s available.
Updates to the pick-your-own schedule are also posted on Facebook.
Shenk’s Berry Farm – Lititz
Lancaster County’s Shenk’s Berry Farm offers pick-your-own strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. According to the farm, the early strawberry crop did not do well, so U-pick strawberries will be open “intermittently” as berries continue to ripen.
Shenk’s is quite good at sharing updates on its website (almost daily!), so you can be sure to know how the different berry crops are faring as the season unfolds.
Berry picking tips before you head out
We have some tips to make sure you have the best experience berry picking in Pennsylvania this summer.
- For many farms, you’ll want to arrive as close to opening time as you can, not only to avoid the heat of the day but also so that you have the best selection of ripe fruits before others can snag them!
- Some farms only accept cash, so if you’re unsure whether a farm takes credit cards, it’s a good idea to bring some cash along just in case (or call in advance to check).
- Bring plenty of water to drink so you stay hydrated—you usually won’t be in the shade when you’re picking berries from bushes and shrubs. You’ll also want to wear a hat and sunscreen.
- Many farms provide containers to use for picking, though you can also often bring your own. (Policies will vary by farm.)
- Weather and temperature can abruptly affect crop availability, so be sure to confirm that your fruit of choice is available and the farm is open for picking. You can check a farm’s social media for updates or simply give it a call.
- Note that blueberries and strawberries are more common U-pick crops on Pennsylvania farms than raspberries and blackberries (which may be grown at a given farm but not available for pick-your-own). So, if you have your heart set on berry picking this summer, be sure to verify what fruits the farms around you offer so you can plan ahead.
What to do with your berries
I personally like to eat my berries like popcorn—quickly and in one sitting—but there are many other ways to use the fruits of your labor! Here are some ideas.
Bake a crisp or pie
It’s extremely satisfying to bake a treat from scratch with fruit you picked yourself. A berry crisp is delicious, especially with ice cream, and is also easier to make than a pie. However, the effort involved in baking a pie might make your dessert doubly satisfying.
Make jam
The classic use for a load of berries: jam! Besides ensuring plenty of tasty breakfasts, processing berries into jam is also a great way to make your berries last; the jam will stay good for weeks in the fridge, compared to just days for fresh berries.
Freeze your berries
If you’re not sure how you’d like to use your berries and you’d just like to preserve them, you can easily freeze them for a flavorful future project. The best way to freeze berries is to first flash-freeze them by spreading them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper—try not to let the berries touch—and then freeze for about two hours. Then, once the berries are frozen solid, you can transfer them to an airtight freezer container, and they won’t freeze all stuck together.
Frozen berries, when thawed, won’t be as plump as when they were fresh, but you can easily use them in baking or in smoothies.
