Nothing says summer in Oregon like fresh strawberry shortcake featuring intensely sweet, ruby red Hood strawberries or juicy, just-picked peaches in your favorite cobbler recipe. Head to one of Oregon’s many U-pick farms where you can reap the satisfaction of picking your own produce. Here’s a handy guide to when Oregon’s fruits and vegetables are in season and where you can find the freshest produce around the state. If you’re taking a road trip, download an **Oregon Food Trail** brochure to find u-picks and farm stands with the juiciest, ripest berries across the state.

### What produce is in season?

#### June: Strawberries, Raspberries, Cherries

This month, you’ll see the beginning of Oregon’s renown berry season with strawberries and raspberries ripening. In June, rhubarb is about halfway through its cycle and begging to be paired with those strawberries in a fresh-baked pie. Cherries — including Benton, Bing, Chelan, Rainier and Sweetheart — begin to appear in the orchards. Although cherries can be found throughout the Willamette Valley, the majority of Oregon’s crop grows in the shadow of Mt. Hood on hillsides overlooking the Columbia River. June is also time for harvesting broccoli and squash.

#### July: Blackberries, Blueberries, Marionberries

The berry bounty continues in force with the addition of blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries and Oregon’s own marionberries. Did you know that marionberries were first developed at Oregon State University in conjunction with the USDA Agricultural Research Service and released to the world in 1956? Oregonians have gone wild for them ever since. More tree fruits come ripe in July, as well: apricots, nectarines and peaches. Also look for beets, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, melons and tomatoes.

#### August: Apples, Pears, Plums

Toward the end of the summer, attention turns to apples, pears and plums. Oregon ranks second in the nation for pear production, with the majority of the fruit harvested in the Mid-Columbia and Rogue Valleys. Bartlett pears are typically the first variety to mature, followed by winter varieties through the month of October. Also be on the lookout for fresh-picked peppers and ears of sweet corn.

### Where to pick?

Find the fruit you’re craving across Oregon’s seven regions. Before you go, check the farm’s website or their social pages stay up-to-date on opening and closing dates for the picking season.

#### Portland Region

While it is Oregon’s largest urban area, Portland is surrounded by U-pick farms in all directions including **Douglas Farm** (apples, Asian pears, eggplant, peaches and pears) to the north on Sauvie Island, **Powder Blue Berry Farm** (blueberries) to the east in Gresham, **Sherwood Orchards** (apples, cherries, peaches, pears and plums) to the south in Sherwood and **Bays Family Farm** (apples, nectarines, peaches and plums) to the west in Banks.

#### Mt. Hood and the Columbia Gorge

You’ve got dozens of U-pick cherry options including those farms along the **East Gorge Food Trail**: **Columbia View Orchards**, **Evans Fruit Company** (peaches, too), **Keylock Orchard**, **Lopez Farm**, **Root Orchards**, **Rosedale Fruit Farm** and, new for summer 2024, **Analemma Wines **(they also offer a new lavender picking experience) — all in and around Mosier. Further west, enjoy the mountain views while picking at **Draper Girls Country Farm** (apples, cherries, peaches and pears) and **Mt. View Orchards** (apples, cherries, peaches and pears) — both in Mt. Hood.

#### Willamette Valley

There are scores of U-pick farms including these certified organic ones: **Berkey’s Blueberries** in Lebanon and **The Blue Nickol** (blueberries) in McMinnville.

#### Eastern Oregon

Berry lovers can head to **K & K Blueberries** in Hermiston, and **Bluewind Berry Farm** and **Lampson Blueberries** in Milton-Freewater for U-pick options. At **Thomas Orchards** in Kimberly, you have a wide array of U-pick produce: apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines, pears and plums.

#### Central Oregon

If you’re looking for a lovely photo op, check out **Cascade Lavender** in Madras, where the purple fields of English and French lavender are framed by snow-capped mountains. You can pick your own lavender, starting in mid-June. All proceeds benefit the Madras Women’s Shelter.

#### Southern Oregon

You’ll find countless opportunities for picking fresh produce with your own hands. In the Umpqua Valley, look for U-pick strawberries at **The Berry Patch** in Roseburg; for blueberries, head to **Happy Family Farm** in Myrtle Point, **Haven Riverside Blueberry Farms** in Umpqua and **Estill Farms** in Drain and Elkton. At **Norm Lehne Garden and Orchards** in Roseburg and **Brosi’s Sugartree Farms** in Winston, you can pick a wide variety of produce throughout the summer — from tree fruits to tomatoes and more. In the Rogue Valley, most of the focus is on U-pick tree fruits: **Leonard Orchard** (apples) in Medford, **Valley View Orchard** (apples and peaches) in Ashland and **Coats Ranch** in Central Point.

#### Oregon Coast

For U-pick blueberries, bring your buckets to **Clear Lake Blueberry Farm** in Florence on the Central Coast. Along the South Coast, stop at **Happy Family Farm** in Myrtle Point, **Hazen’s Riverside Blueberry Farm** in Coquille, **Jensen Blueberries** in Langlois, and **Twin Creek Ranch** and **Valentine Blueberries** in Bandon. For strawberries, head to **Valley Flora** in Langlois.