Strawberry season is in full swing at many farms, and with growers using words like "bumper crop" and "gorgeous," it looks like it will be a fruit-filled summer.
Strawberries are at their peak now, and you'll want to use them in everything from cocktails, salads and ice cream — after the inaugural shortcake, of course. The sweet, sun-kissed berries need nothing but a gentle washing, but you'll thank yourself for buying extra to turn into sauces, pies, jams and cocktails. Soon you'll be able to do the same with raspberries and blueberries — some farms are predicting that yields could be ready around July 4.
But whatever the season, these Minnesota and western Wisconsin U-pick farms offer an ideal excuse to plan an adventure, soak up some sunshine and relax while picking — and eating berries. All are within (roughly) a 90-minute drive of downtown Minneapolis.
Be sure to do your research before visiting to confirm hours, availability and payment options. The farms' social media pages offer the most up-to-date information; conditions and availability change by the day, with many being picked out by midmorning. If you're not on social media, check farm websites or give them a call.
Minnesota
Anoka: Berry Hill Farm, 6510 185th Av. NW., 763-753-5891, berryhillfarm.com.
Cambridge: Windmill Acres, 34365 Hupp St. NE., 763-238-7855, facebook.com/cambridgeMNwindmillacres/. Pre-picked or by appointment only.
Dodge Center: Miracle Strawberry Farm, 60687 205th Av., 507-884-7246, miraclestrawberryfarm.com.
Faribault: Straight River Farm, 3733 E. 220th St., 507-334-2226, straightriverfarm.com.
Foley: Svihel Vegetable Farm, 12004 Duelm Road NE., 320-968-7238, svihelvegetablefarm.com.
Forest Lake: The Berry Patch, 10456 192nd St., 651-433-3448, berrypatchmn.com.
Hastings: Afton Apple Orchard, 14421 S. 90th St., 651-436-8385, aftonapple.com.
Hastings: Wyatt's Strawberries, 10370 180th St. E., 651-346-9548, facebook.com/wyattsstrawberries.
Monticello: The Strawberry Basket, 12591 Aetna Av. NE., 763-878-2875, strawberrybasket.com.
North Branch: Rod's Berry Farm, 28264 Zodiac St. NE., 651-674-8765, rodsberryfarm.com.
Northfield: Lorence's Berry Farm, 28556 Foliage Av., 507-645-9749, lorencesberryfarm.com.
Northfield: Silkey Gardens, 5561 SE. 115th St., 507-645-4158, silkeygardens.com.
Nowthen: Nowthen Berries, 21121 Nowthen Blvd. NW., 763-843-5793, nowthenberries.com.
St. Michael: D Round Barn Berries, 2260 Jamison Av. NE., 612-237-8443, droundbarnberries.com.
Shafer: Pleasant Valley Orchard, 17325 Pleasant Valley Road, 651-257-9159, pleasantvalleyorchard.com.
Rochester: Chester Berry Farm, 6225 10th St. SE., 507-269-4748, chesterberryfarm.wixsite.com/chesterberryfarm.
Rochester: Firefly Berries, 5542 23rd St. NE., 507-252-1309, fireflyberries.com (pre-pick only, orders filled by call list).
Stanchfield: Dew Fresh Produce, 404 375th Av. NE., 763-689-2282, facebook.com/Dew-Fresh-Produce-191144470922866.
White Bear Lake: Pine Tree Apple Orchard, 450 Apple Orchard Road, 651-429-8026, pinetreeappleorchard.com.
Western Wisconsin
Menomonie: Red Cedar Valley Farms, N4439 410th St., 715-235-9411, rcvf.com.
River Falls: White Pine Berry Farm, 1482 Oak Drive, 715-222-2946, whitepineberryfarm.com.
Shell Lake: Lindy's Berries, N3797 Valley View Road, 715-468-7635, facebook.com/lindysberries.
Blueberries
Minnesota
Foley: Svihel Vegetable Farm, 12004 Duelm Road NE., 320-968-7238, svihelvegetablefarm.com.
Forest Lake: The Berry Patch, 10456 192nd St., 651-433-3448, berrypatchmn.com.
Monticello: Strawberry Basket, 12591 Aetna Av. NE., 763-878-2875, strawberrybasket.com.
Northfield: Little Hill Berry Farm, 4339 W. 320th St., 507-301-7183, littlehillberryfarm.com.
Northfield: Silkey Gardens, 5561 SE. 115th St., 507-645-4158, silkeygardens.com.
Princeton: J.Q. Fruit Farm & Orchard, 8082 33rd St., 763-389-2567, jqfruitfarm.com.
Stillwater: Blueberry Fields of Stillwater, 9450 Mendel Road N., 651-351-0492, blueberryfieldsofstillwater.com.
Wisconsin
Maiden Rock: Rush River Produce, W4098 200th Av., 715-594-3648, rushriverproduce.com.
River Falls: Blue Ridge Growers, 246 Carlson Lane, 715-821-8289, facebook.com/BlueRidgeGrowers.
River Falls: White Pine Berry Farm, 1482 Oak Drive, 715-222-2946, whitepineberryfarm.com.
Raspberries
Minnesota
Anoka: Berry Hill Farm, 6510 185th Av. NW., Anoka, 763-753-5891, berryhillfarm.com.
Foley: Svihel Vegetable Farm, 12004 Duelm Road NE., 320-968-7238, svihelvegetablefarm.com.
Forest Lake: The Berry Patch, 10456 192nd St., 651-433-3448, berrypatchmn.com.
Northfield: Lorence's Berry Farm, 28556 Foliage Av., 507-645-9749, lorencesberryfarm.com.
Northfield: Silkey Gardens, 5561 SE. 115th St., 507-645-4158, silkeygardens.com.
Princeton: J.Q. Fruit Farm & Orchard, 8082 33rd St., 763-389-2567, jqfruitfarm.com.
Rockford: Knapton's, 5695 Hwy. 55, 763-479-1184, knaptons.org.
Wisconsin
River Falls: White Pine Berry Farm, 1482 Oak Drive, 715-222-2946, whitepineberryfarm.com.
