Published on Jul 17, 2019
Picking fruit and vegetables is an activity people love to do with their family. It’s a great way to introduce kids to gardening while you’re educating them about where their food comes from. Plus, it’s an economical way to take advantage of all our favourite fruit and vegetables throughout the summer.
Among all the self-picking offers, strawberry picking is our favourite. First because there are no prickly branches or leaves, and because this fruit is easier for smaller hands to pick.
So, prepare your horde right away and head out as a family to enjoy Wendy, Honeyoye or Jewel varieties at a farm near your home!
Call your produce farm
It’s important to call ahead because, depending on the weather and how busy they are, it’s possible that their crops aren’t ready to be picked that day.
Prepare your containers
Prepare several clean containers for your harvest. Us, we prefer the big Coaticook 2-litre ice cream containers. We also use them for freezing our fruit.
Dress adequately
For evident reasons, it’s important to wear a hat and clothing that can take a few stains, and don’t forget sunscreen.
Bring water
You’ll be working hard picking beautiful strawberries brimming with sunlight, so don’t forget to bring water to a hydrate.
Make sure to bring cash
Some farms only take cash payments. Ask or make sure you have some money on you before you go.
Walking through fields and orchards can be a fun activity with your children, but to make sure you have the best self-picking day, read these few tricks and tips:
Here is a small inventory of farms where they offer strawberry self-picking in the Eastern Townships:
Plantations Stéphan Perreault (Windsor)
The Plantations Stéphan Perreault farm stands out with its friendly ambiance, but also the activities and games for kids.
Ferme Au pré bleu (Ascot Corner)
Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries… This place is as charming as the hosts! A people-friendly farm where you’re always warmly welcomed!
Ferme Wera (Waterville)
The Wera farm offers you strawberries and a great variety of vegetables for self-picking. They offer quality, freshness and are proud to receive an exceptional satisfaction rating from their clientele!
Ferme biologique Sanders (Compton)
Sanders’ organic farm is one of the only places in the region to offer organic strawberries with a self-picking option.
Ferme fruitière Sévigny (St-François-Xavier-de-Brompton)
Set inside an enchanting and flower-filled environment, you’ll be warmly welcomed at Ferme fruitière Sévigny’s stand. You can come pick you own or buy already picked fruit. They have a play area for your children as well.
Le Jardin fruitier (Sherbrooke)
The Jardin Fruitier in Sherbrooke offers strawberry, raspberry, blueberry and blackberry picking. People will love all the abundance of fruit, for sure!
For a complete list of producers in the region who offer self-picking, consult the MAPAQ web site
Did you exaggerate when you last went strawberry picking? Just freeze them or bake dozens of fresh strawberry muffins. I promise you’ll flip when you taste them!
For recipe ideas, consult our strawberry section (in French only) on the Wooloo.ca web site.
Have a great picking season!
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