West Coast U-Pick Farms: Strawberries and Blueberries
California, Oregon, and Washington have exceptional u-pick berry farms. This guide covers the best West Coast regions, crops, and seasons.
The West Coast of the United States encompasses some of the finest growing conditions for berries and tree fruit in the world. California's coastal strawberry country, Oregon's Willamette Valley, and Washington's berry-producing lowlands each offer distinct and exceptional u-pick experiences. Here is a guide to what makes the West Coast special for farm visitors.
California: Year-Round Berry Country
California's strawberry industry is the largest in the world, producing approximately 90 percent of US strawberries commercially. The state's coastal regions — Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, Watsonville (Santa Cruz County), and Oxnard — have nearly ideal strawberry growing conditions with their combination of cool fog, moderate temperatures, and fertile soils.
California Strawberry Season
Unlike the narrow strawberry windows in most states, coastal California can grow strawberries almost year-round. The primary u-pick windows:
- Spring peak (March through June): The most popular and widely available season for u-pick
- Fall peak (September through November): A second flush in coastal areas
- Winter production: Commercial production continues, though u-pick options are more limited
The Watsonville and Santa Cruz area has particularly robust u-pick options, with organic farms also well-represented.
California Blueberries
California blueberry production is smaller than the Pacific Northwest, but there are u-pick options, particularly in the Central Valley (around Fresno and Tulare counties) and in Sonoma and Mendocino counties in Northern California. Season typically runs from June through August.
California Cherries
The San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills produce exceptional sweet cherries, with u-pick farms concentrated around Lodi, Brentwood, and the El Dorado County foothills. Season runs from mid-April through June — one of the earliest cherry harvests in the nation.
Wine Grape U-Pick in California
Several Napa and Sonoma wineries have offered harvest participation programs in September and October where visitors can pick and crush grapes as part of a winery experience. These are typically reservation-based and may involve a fee. The experience is worth seeking out for wine enthusiasts.
Oregon: The Willamette Valley Berry Country
The Willamette Valley — stretching roughly 150 miles from Portland south to Eugene — is one of the finest berry-growing regions in the world. The valley's fertile volcanic soils, moderate temperatures, and reliable summer dryness (Oregon's rain falls primarily in winter) create exceptional conditions for strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and marionberries.
The Marionberry
Oregon's signature berry is the Marionberry — a blackberry hybrid developed at Oregon State University in the 1940s and named for Marion County. Marionberries have a more complex, wine-like flavor than standard blackberries, with better texture and slightly more sweetness. They are almost exclusively grown in Oregon.
Marionberry season typically runs from late June through August. A few farms offer u-pick, though most Marionberry production is commercial.
Oregon Strawberry Season
Oregon strawberry varieties — particularly the Hood variety — are legendary among Pacific Northwest food lovers. Hood strawberries are small, intensely sweet, and extraordinarily fragrant. They are completely unsuitable for commercial shipping (they bruise if you look at them wrong) but are considered by many people to be the finest flavored strawberry in North America.
Hood strawberry season is brief — typically three to four weeks in June in the Willamette Valley. U-pick farms in the Salem and Corvallis areas are the best places to find them.
Oregon Blueberries and Raspberries
Oregon's Willamette Valley has excellent blueberry and raspberry farms, typically operating from late June through August. Many farms grow multiple varieties to extend their season.
Oregon Cherries
Southern Oregon — particularly around Medford and Grants Pass in Jackson County — produces some of the West's finest sweet cherries. The region's hot, dry summers and cold winters create ideal cherry-growing conditions. U-pick operations here run from mid-June through mid-July.
Washington: Berry Capital of the West
Washington State has an extraordinary concentration of berry production. Whatcom County, in the extreme northwest corner of the state near the Canadian border, is one of the highest-density blueberry-growing regions in the world. The county grows over 50 percent of Washington's blueberry crop and has numerous u-pick operations.
Washington Blueberry Season
Whatcom County blueberry farms typically open in mid-July and run through September, with multiple varieties ripening sequentially. Farms here are professional, well-organized operations with established visitor programs. The combination of quality, volume, and extended season makes Whatcom County one of the nation's premier blueberry u-pick destinations.
Beyond Whatcom County, blueberry u-pick farms are found throughout western Washington's lowland valleys.
Washington Cherries
Washington is the top sweet cherry-producing state in the nation. The Yakima Valley, Lake Chelan, and Wenatchee areas are the heart of cherry country. U-pick sweet cherry farms — growing Bing, Rainier, Sweetheart, Lapins, and other varieties — are found throughout these eastern Washington regions.
Season runs from late June through late July, with higher-elevation orchards ripening later. Rainier cherries (golden with a pink blush) are particularly sought after for their extraordinary sweetness.
Washington Apples
Washington grows more apples than any other state, and the Wenatchee, Chelan, and Yakima valleys have orchards at a scale that must be seen to be believed. U-pick apple operations here often run from late August through October, with dozens of varieties available.
Unique West Coast U-Pick Experiences
Lavender in Sequim, Washington
The Olympic Peninsula town of Sequim has a remarkably dry microclimate (it sits in a rain shadow) that makes it ideal for lavender growing. The area has become one of the nation's premier lavender farming destinations. U-pick lavender and farm visits are available from late June through July.
Wine Country Farm Stays
Several California, Oregon, and Washington wineries have developed agritourism programs that go beyond simple u-pick — including farm stays, harvest dinners, and hands-on winemaking experiences.
Coastal Farm Stands
Oregon and Washington's coastal regions have excellent farm stands selling locally grown produce, including some seasonal u-pick options for hardy coastal crops.