2023 Oregon Berry Picking Season Is Here – What You Need To Know

Oregon is famous for lots of things…Pacific Northwest animals (like beavers, ducks, and maybe a sasquatch or two), our lush green forests, the beautiful coast, AND our berries. We can grow some amazing berries in this part of the country. We have the perfect climate and soil for growing berries. What berries grow best here? We grow strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, marionberries, boysenberries, and cherries (which are really stone fruit, but they can join this list). 

Well, when does the berry season start? We begin the whole berry season with strawberries. Now berry season typically begins in May to early June, and that is when we can start picking local strawberries. According to local farmers, our strawberries are a little late because of our long, cold, and wet spring. So, unfortunately, strawberries aren’t quite ready yet. 

Now Oregon strawberries are famous for their juicy sweetness and rich flavor. They are considered some of the best strawberries in the world due to their exceptional taste, texture, and vibrant color. They are really something else. We produce a wide variety of strawberries, including the Hood (THE BEST), Totem, Tillamook, Firecracker, Puget Reliance, Puget Summer, and Redcrest are popular varieties. 

Here is a good guide on Oregon’s typical berry schedule:

May

Strawberries

June

Boysenberries, Cherries, Strawberries, Raspberries

July

Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cherries, Marionberries, Raspberries

August

Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Marionberries, Raspberries

September

Blackberries, Blueberries, Marionberries, Raspberries

FUN FACT: Marionberries are actually a type of blackberry, but we LOVE them so much in Oregon that we give them their own category. 

Check local farms and U-Pick farms for berries. Oregon has several farms that allow visitors to pick their own berries. These farms usually have a variety of berries. Here is a list of local farms for berries. 

Columbia Farms – Not open yet. Located on Sauvie Island, Columbia Farms U-Pick was planted in the early 1990s. They started with one acre of strawberries and now offer more than fifteen different types of berries, covering over eighty acres. They also have peonies, pumpkins, and all types of fall décor items. 

Douglas Farm – Closed until Summer 2023. This is a 5th generation family farm on Sauvie Island, Oregon, specializing in U-PICK fruit and vegetables. They pride themselves on growing and selling the best in fresh farm produce.

Hoffman Farms Store – Open from May- October. This is a seasonal family-friendly destination U-Pick berry farm in the heart of Scholls, Oregon. They have a wonderful bakery and a great facility for all sorts of farm fun. 

Lee Farms – Open Tuesdays-Sundays. They strive to have high-quality products at their farm through our scratch bakery, sustainable meat farming, and stewards of the land. They want their guests to have a place where they can create their own family memories on their seventh-generation farm.

Rowell Bros Berry Farm – Not open yet. For more the 170 years, the Rowell family has farmed their land. They know about growing berries. This farm is all berries. For the most up-to-the-minute info on hours open, early closing due to the hot weather, or for information on what is ripe and available, check their Facebook page. 

Sauvie Island Farms – Not open yet. Sauvie Island Farms offers a variety of ‘pick your own’ fruits and vegetables for those who desire the freshest produce right from the field. Our season begins in June with strawberries and ends in December with Christmas trees.

The Pumpkin Patch – Opening mid-June for strawberries. This is a Fall time favorite, but it is also amazing in the spring and summer! They are celebrating over 50 years of family fun and farm fresh produce on Sauvie Island.

Unger Farm Store – Opening on June 3. Unger Farms has over a century of family and farming. They are excited to have new owners in 2023, coming from a long line of Unger farmers. They will be continuing to grow their farm by combining Unger Farms with Unger Century Farms, bringing together a long history of farming and family in Washington County.

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Be sure to check out these farms for this upcoming berry season. What a perfect way to get to know these local farms, grab some delicious berries, and join the community. 

What are your favorite berry spots? What are your favorite berries? Any favorite recipes for your berry hauls? Anything we missed? Let us know if you hit these farms or other farms. We love to hear about what is happening around town.