Guide To Strawberry Picking In Eastern Massachusetts

Here in Massachusetts, we have a very limited window for local strawberry picking. Don't miss it, because the native strawberries here put strawberries from other locales to shame. It's a great activity for the whole family – once you are done, you can all think of ways that you can prepare your bounty!Keep in mind that Mother Nature dictates when all of these strawberry fields will officially open for the season. While mid-June is the general rule of thumb, call before you go to make sure they are ready! Try to go early in the morning, when there will be the most strawberries available for you to pick. Sometimes, the fields have to close in late afternoon if all of the ripe berries are gone. - By Jodi Grundig

Belkin Lookout Farm

Lookout Lane, Natick, Mass.
Weekends: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
website
$8/Children under 2 free

At Belkin Farm, you'll pay for admission to the fields, so come for the whole day to enjoy the petting zoo, the burlap maze, and the other kids' area attractions. Otherwise, the admission price really isn't worth it for just strawberry picking. A tram will take you from the entrance to the kids' area and the fields.

Rogers Spring Hill Garden Center

1269 Boston Road, Ward Hill, Haverhill, Mass.
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
website

Rogers Spring Hill Garden Center offers strawberry picking every late spring/early summer in their farm.

Russell Orchards

143 Argilla Road, Ipswich, Mass.
Daily: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
website

Russell Orchards typically starts their pick your own strawberry season mid-June. The 2012 picking season officially kicked off June 1st.

Sunshine Farm

135 Kendall Ave, Framingham, Mass.
Daily: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
website

Sunshine Farm's strawberry picking season is underway. Sunshine Farms also has an ice cream stand that you just have to visit. It's open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and has loads of different varieties (our favorite is the birthday cake!).

Smolak Farms

315 South Bradford Street, North Andover, Mass.
Strawberry patch: 94 Ipswich Road Boxford, Mass.
Daily: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
website

Smolak Farms celebrates the return of Massachusetts strawberry season in mid June. During strawberry picking season, you can pick strawberries, and enjoy café-style food including baked goods, breads, and doughnuts at the farm stand.

Land's Sake Farm

90 Wellesley St., Weston, Mass.
Tuesday – Sunday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
website

Land's Sake, a nonprofit organization, grows their strawberries and other crops in a sustainable manner, without the use of chemicals. Therefore, the amount of strawberries available to pick each day varies – so call in advance.

Lake's Sake is holding their annual Strawberry Festival on June 16th, 2012 at 10am. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for kids, and proceeds to go their nonprofit organization.

Jodi Grundig is a local freelance writer and blogger, as well as co-founder of Boston Parent Bloggers.