Kandice VincentBerry picking is always a fun summer treat, which everyone should really get into. Even under the hot sun, my family and I would go to the nearby farms, filling our baskets with our favorite berries.
As a kid, I would snack on them during the car ride home, and of course, got scolded for it. Whatever I had left, my family would use to make jams, preserves, and all sorts of baked goodies.
Truly, Toronto is so lucky to have a variety of berry farms. From strawberries in June to raspberries in July, there’s always something fresh to gather.
Below, I’ve made a list of the best farms for berry picking in Toronto.
1. Brooks Farm
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Website: http://www.brooksfarms.com/
Location: 122 Ashworth Rd, Mount Albert
Opening hours: Daily 9 AM to 5 PM
Phone: +19054733246
Admission fee: $199.99 Family pass and $69.99 Individual pass
Berries: Saskatoons, raspberries, strawberries, etc.
Brooks Farm is one of the best apple farms in Toronto(apple farm in Toronto), where you can pick the fruits right off their tree branches. But if you swing by before fall, you should be able to do so with berries.
They have a little bit of everything to suit everyone’s taste. They grow strawberries, Saskatoons, raspberries, currants, and gooseberries, which ripen at different times of the year so always check their harvest schedule to get dibs on fresh fruit.
Here, berry lovers of all ages are welcome to pick their fruits. They require everyone above 6 years of age to carry their own basket for berry picking.
Pro Tip:
When it’s harvest season, they open until 5 pm. However, I recommend coming early because the last call to enter the fields will be at 4 PM.
2. Andrews Farm Market and Winery
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Website: https://www.andrewsscenicacres.com/
Location: 9365 10 Side Rd, Milton
Operating hours:
- Mon-Fri, 10 AM to 5 PM
- Sat-Sun, 10 AM to 6 PM
Phone: +19058785807
Walk-in admission fee: $16.50 (+HST) for ages 6 to 65, Free for 5 and under, and Free for personal support workers
Berries: Currants, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries
Andrews Farm Market and Winery is one of my go-to spots for berry picking. They have strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and currants, which typically ripen from June to October.
What I like about the farm is that they offer season passes, giving you unlimited access throughout the harvest period. It can be a bit hefty at $50 for an individual pass, but it should be worth it if you intend to go berry picking several times.
If you’re getting individual tickets, pre-booking isn’t required, but I recommend doing it anyway because it’ll be less stressful, especially during peak season. You can also save a few dollars by buying tickets online.
All pick-your-own berries cost $4.75 per pound. That means you can mix different varieties in your basket, so you have a little bit of everything.
Pro Tip:
Every Monday, the farm offers free admission to senior citizens.
3. Robintide Farms
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Website: http://www.robintidefarms.com/
Location: 2720 King Vaughan Rd, King City
Operating hours:
- Tue-Fri, 9 AM to 6 PM
- Sat-Sun, 8 AM to 5 PM
- Holidays, 8 AM to 5 PM
Phone: +16479882720
Admission fee: None
Berries: Only strawberries
Another farm that offers a pick-your-own berries experience is Robintide in King City. They have veggies, flowers, and pumpkins, but they only grow one type of berry—strawberries.
If you like your strawberries plump and sweet, this farm is perfect for you as they grow Vellay Sunsets, Malwinas, and various other types. You can bring your own bucket for berry picking, or ask for a basket at the farm.
The smallest basket fits up to 2L of berries worth $14, while the largest fits up to 6L worth $42. However, if you bring your own container, you will be charged at a different rate, which is $6.45 per liter.
Pro Tip:
Return the farm’s basket clean and undamaged to receive store credit. For every 2L basket returned, you’ll receive $0.75.
4. Downey’s Farm
Media credit: downeysfarm
Website: http://downeysupickfarm.ca/
Location: 13707 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon
Operating hours: 9 AM to 5 PM
Phone: +19058384777
Admission fee: $21.99 for ages 2+
Berries: Strawberries and raspberries
Downey’s Farm is a family-run establishment, which opens its doors to the public when it’s harvest season. They have corn mazes, tractor rides, and of course, berry picking.
The season for berry picking usually opens in mid-June, starting with strawberries. Then, raspberry picking starts towards the end of the month or the first week of July.
Here, you aren’t allowed to bring containers from home. They provide baskets right at the farm entrance, which you’ll have to pay for before entering the fields.
They also don’t allow wagons and strollers on the fields. Not to worry, the fields are just a quick 5-minute walk from the parking area, which shouldn’t be a problem even if you’re picking loads of berries.
Pro Tip:
No reservations are required for berry picking! Just come early as they operate on a first-come, first-serve basis.
5. Wilmot Orchards
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Website: https://www.wilmotblueberries.com/
Location: 3337 Concession Rd 3, Newcastle, ON L1B 0N1, Canada
Operating hours: 9 AM to 4:30 PM
Admission fee: Free on Wed-Fri, $5 per person on weekends
Berries: Only blueberries
At Wilmot Orchards, you can pick blueberries from mid-August for $15 for 2L of fruit. They have three patches with 9 different varieties to choose from.
For blueberry picking, you must only use the containers provided by the farm, which come in 3 sizes. Once you receive your little basket from the pick-your-own booth, the staff will direct you to the blueberry patches.
After berry picking, go hit up their cafe and try their blueberry ice cream. You should also get their chocolate-coated blueberries as a sweet treat.
Pro Tip:
Tickets are required for blueberry picking and must be booked online before your visit. Just visit their website and click on Picking Times to reserve a spot.
6. Linton’s Farm
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Website: https://lintonsfarmmarket.com/
Location: 571 Raglan Rd E, Oshawa
Operating hours: 8 AM to 4 PM
Phone: +19056553949
Admission fee: None
Berries: Strawberries and raspberries
Starting mid-June, Linton’s Farm opens the u-pick berry season with strawberries. This is followed closely by raspberry picking in early July.
They don’t charge an admission fee. All you have to do before entering the patches is to pay for the berry container, which will vary in cost depending on the size.
Only guests ages 3 and up can have a container. While all the little ones are welcome to join you on the fields, 2-year-olds have to wait another year to have their own fruit basket.
Pro Tip:
They only accept cash and debit cards!
7. Reesor’s Farm
Media credit: reesorsfarmmarket
Website: http://reesors.ca/
Location: Elgin Mills Rd E, 700 metres east of, Ninth Line, Markham
Operating hours:
- Mon-Fri, 10 AM to 6 PM
- Sat, 9 AM to 6 PM
Phone: +19056404568
Admission fee: $7 Adults,
Berries: Only strawberries
Reesor’s Farm Market is known mostly for being a one-stop shop for seasonal fruits and quintessential autumn produce. But in the summer, they offer u-pick strawberries and other fruits—at least whenever the weather allows it.
Although other farms don’t charge entrance, I think $7 for guests 13 and up isn’t that bad. After all, it includes access to other fun activities like the corn maze and pumpkin patches.
During weekdays, walk-ins are allowed. However, if you’re planning on going on a Saturday, they’ll require you to book a ticket online, which will be valid for an hour’s worth of berry picking on their fields.
Pro Tip:
After spending hours in the field, head to the market to try different meals, made from locally sourced produce.
8. Big R’ Apple Farm
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Website: https://www.bigrapplefarm.ca/
Location: 8674 Heritage Rd, Brampton
Operating hours: Sat-Sun 8 AM to 7 PM
Phone: +16479295408
Admission fee: None
Berries: Only strawberries
The Big R’ Apple Farm is a small, family-run operation, where you can pick strawberries in summer and apples in fall. The berries are decent-sized, and they taste sweet.
Perhaps the only downside is that they only open on the weekends. You do have a lot of competition when it’s harvest season.
However, the affordable prices and the quality of the berries make the trip worth it. Just for $20, you can have an entire bucketful of strawberries, which is more affordable than what you would get at the stores.
Pro Tip:
Don’t miss out on their apples. They grow quite a diverse variety of apples on their farm, which you should be able to harvest throughout the fall.
