Pick Your Own, Pick Local; Sweet Berry Picking Spots Near Ottawa

Summer is berry season in Ontario and there’s nothing better than picking your own basket of fresh locally-grown fruit. With the growing season stretching from mid-June to the end of August, there’s a variety of tasty berries available all throughout the summer months. Support local farmers and visit a local berry farm near Ottawa to pick your own basket of juicy strawberries, sweet raspberries, blueberries or haskap berries this summer.

Pick Your Own Berry Farms Near Ottawa

Proulx Farm

*Berries available for picking: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries

A heavy-hitter on the berry farm scene, Proulx Farm is a local favourite for berry picking in the Ottawa region. Owned and operated by the Proulx family since 1920, this fourth-generation family farm located only 25 minutes from downtown Ottawa offers strawberry, blueberry and raspberry picking. Fill a basket with juicy berries in the summer, and be sure to come back for their epic harvest season activities in the fall, and fun sugar bush events each spring.

Shouldice Farms

*Berries available for picking: strawberries, raspberries

With four convenient locations close to downtown Ottawa, Shouldice Farms is one of the most well-known PYO berry farms near Ottawa for over 30 years. Known for their immense strawberries fields filled with large juicy strawberries ready to be picked, Shouldice Farms is the perfect place to spend a day berry picking. They also have several roadside locations throughout the city with pre-picked berries are available to pick up on your way home.

Rideau Pines Farms

*Berries available for picking: strawberries, haskap berries, raspberries

If you love to pick your own fruits and vegetables, Rideau Pines Farms is the spot for you. Only 25 minutes from downtown Ottawa, this farm not only has pick-your-own strawberries, raspberries and haskap berries, but also a variety of other produce including tomatoes, corn, garlic, peppers, cucumbers and more. This family-owned farm prides themselves on quality and their home-grown produce is served in some of the best restaurant in the Ottawa area.

Balderson Blueberries

*Berries available for picking: blueberries

With thirteen varieties of blueberries available to pick, Balderson Blueberries is one of the most popular blueberry farms in the Ottawa region. Located only 10 minutes outside of Perth, ON and 1 hour from Ottawa, this small family-run U-pick farm is a peaceful spot to spend an afternoon berry picking under the sun. Don’t forget to stop by the Merry Blueberry Store and Café for a great selection of blueberry goods including some delicious home baking -we highly recommend the giant blueberry muffins!

Vergiers Villeneuve

*Berries available for picking: blueberries, raspberries

A fourth-generation family-fun farm in the heart of Eastern Ontario only 45 minutes from Ottawa, les Vergers Villeneuve is a 40-acre farm producing a range of fruits including blueberries, raspberries, grapes, cherries, apples and pears. There are five varieties of blueberries available; Bluecrop, Bluetta, Blue Ray, Spartan and the Patriot, as well as three varieties of raspberries; AC Eden, Madawaska and Nova. With both blueberry and raspberry season overlapping, this is the perfect spot for to pick a mixed basket for the perfect berry bowl.

Rochon Gardens

*Berries available for picking: strawberries

A staple in the Ottawa for over 60 years, Rochon Gardens is one of the top producers of delicious locally grown fruits and vegetables in the region. While you can find them at numerous farmers markets in the Ottawa region, their pick-your-own patch is a fun place to gather your own basket of berries. If you’re looking to source more of your food locally throughout the year, this family farm also offers a CSA (community support agriculture) program allowing you to receive fresh in-season produce boxes on a subscription basis during the growing season from May-October. This is a great way to help support local farmers while indulging in fresh healthy foods.

Millers Farm and Market

*Berries available for picking: strawberries

Known for their abundance of local produce, Millers Farm and Market is the place to go if you’re looking to source your food locally. For over 40 years this family-owned farm has been a favourite spot for families for PYO strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, as well as red and black currants. They also have a huge selection of fruits and vegetables grown on the farm available throughout the year, as well as other regional specialties like Niagara peaches and wild northern Ontario blueberries.

Hugli’s Berry Ranch

*Berries available for picking: blueberries

As the largest blueberry farm in Eastern Ontario, Hugli’s Blueberry Ranch is the place to go for all things blueberry. With over 45 years experience in the berry business, Hugli’s specialize in blueberries, and strolling the 17 acres of blueberries fields while filing a basket is a great way to spend a summer afternoon. When you’re done picking, be sure to take a break on their large covered patio to enjoy your bounty, or grab a blueberry frozen yogurt, frozen blueberry lemonade, fresh fudge or blueberry baked goods from the Country Market onsite.

Avonmore Berry Farm

*Berries available for picking: strawberries

Located only 45 minutes southeast of Ottawa, Avonmore Berry Farm is a 20-acre farm providing a charming country berry picking experience. Head out in the strawberry fields and pick your own ruby red berries, then stop at the pantry for an ice cream cone, fresh baked goods, and pick up some pre-picked vegetables for dinner.

Berry Picking Tips

For those new to berry picking, here are a few tips to enjoy a fun day out in the fields and get that perfect basket of fruit:

Etiquette for visiting a pick-your-own (PYO) berry farm:

• Wear comfortable shoes, and boots on wet days

• Bring a hat, water, and dress for warm weather, berry picking is almost always in a field with no shade

• If you’re visiting after rain or during cooler weather, consider bringing or applying bug spray; especially for raspberry or blueberry picking (which are on taller bushes)

• Leave the pups at home; they can enjoy your bounty when you return

• Only pick what you plan to bring home

• Ask the farm if taste testing is OK before indulging in the field

• Most berry farms will provide baskets, but bringing your own is encouraged to reduce waste (ensure it’s an actual berry basket)

Strawberry picking tips

• Strawberries don’t ripen after they’re picked like other fruit, so be sure to pick bright red berries, or at the ripeness you’d like to eat now

• The best picking technique is to twist, not pull

• Leave the green cap on the strawberry; it will help keep them fresher longer

• Store fresh-picked strawberries in the fridge

Blueberry picking tips

• Pick blueberries that are fully blue without green showing; they should come off the bush easily

• An efficient blueberry picking technique is to cup the cluster of berries in your hand, then roll them off with your thumb into the palm of your hand

Haskap berry and raspberry picking tips

• Choose firm berries that are purple-blue in color without signs of wrinkling or shriveling (haskap), or fully red (raspberries)

• Aim for early morning or late evening to pick when the berries are coolest and most firm

Berries by Season

• Strawberries - Mid-June to mid-July

• Haskap – Late-June to early July

• Raspberries –Mid-July to early August

• Blueberries – Mid-July to mid/early September (blueberry picking season usually begins 1-2 weeks after the start of raspberry season

• Remember that piicking seasons are variable, and may be slightly different each year