Above: Summer fruit tastes even sweeter when you pick it yourself.
(images cropped from Facebook top row from Tougas Farms, bottom L-R from Hanson’s Farm, Cordelia’s Farm and Lookout Farm)
If you like fresh blueberries, and enjoy doing the picking yourself, it’s time to look at the local options. And if that fruit’s not your jam, maybe another crop is.
There aren’t any pick-your-own fruit options available in Southborough. Fortunately, there are four-five farms just a stone’s throw away that offer Pick Your Own fun over the summer.
For all of the following PYO/U-pick programs, you should check with the farm that day (or day prior) to ensure conditions are ripe and fruit is plentiful.
My family traditionally enjoyed fruit picking at Tougas Family Farm in Northborough. Of all the area orchards, they offer the most choices of fruits, and therefore the most consistent picking.
Their strawberry and cherry seasons are already in full swing. Other crops will start ripening this month through the fall in the following overlapping order: blueberries (very soon), blackberries, peaches and nectarines, countless varieties of apples, and pumpkins. To check out what’s picking any given day, click here. You can also follow them on Facebook.
Tougas also has a farm store that starts selling some fruit before there’s enough for PYO, and kitchen selling lunch, cider donuts, baked goods, jams, ice cream, etc. Adding to the entertainment (especially for little kids) are tractor rides to/from the fields/orchards, a great playground, and goats to feed.
Nourse Farms in Westborough currently has raspberries and blueberries for picking. (Their strawberry season is over.) PYO red currants will be available sometime next week.
Coming up the end of this month are Cut-Your-Own flower bouquets. They’ll be selling peaches (but not PYO) later in the summer.
The farm allows PYO customers to bring their own containers.
Click here for the latest picking report. You can also check out some gorgeous, inviting views of the farm (and cattle herd) on Facebook.
You can also enjoy an educational walking trail on the farm (covering the farm’s history). They have a farm store (but the vegan food truck from last year appears to be gone).
Over in Berlin, Cordelia’s Farm is winding down PYO strawberries and starting blueberries. Raspberries and flowers should be available later this month. They also have corn and vegetable crops (that aren’t u-pick but are farm fresh) for sale over the summer. Plus, they sell vegetable plants for your own gardens.
Hanson’s Farm on Nixon Road in Framingham is another option. They are currently between PYO seasons, but blueberries should be ready for picking soon. They’ll also offer blackberries and flowers later this summer, followed by fall pumpkins. They ask visitors to call first, but you can also check their Facebook page for an update.
The farm also has a Sunflower Maze starting in August, followed by a Corn Maze and Hayrides in the fall. Other highlights include barnyard animals, cider donuts, and a farm stand (including fruit from other local farms).
Lookout Farm in Framingham has changed over the years. They don’t offer summer berries, and don’t keep a PYO page on their website. But the last couple of years, they did promote their U-Pick Orchared on social media starting in late July/August with peaches, asian pears, and apples, followed by fall pumpkins. No promos have been posted for that so far this year. To check if they do it again later this summer, follow them on Facebook or instagram for updates.
The farm added a tractor themed play area with an open bounce pad. Normally, there’s an admission fee to access the play space, but they are offering free admission this weekend (July 5th & 6th from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm). They also have a restaurant, tap room, their own hard cider, and musical events.
If you have other favorites or suggestions, post a comment below.
If you’re looking for other fun things to do in Southborough and nearby with kids this summer, click the tag links below.
