Ah, summer—the time when the sun’s out and the berries are the sweetest. The U-Pick season has officially kicked off and many farms are waving their buckets at you to come over and pick loads of juicy berries.
Whether you want to pick loads to make homemade recipes or want to bond with your family, we’ve got just the thing! Here are the best berry picking spots in Ottawa for fresh, sweet fruits that will make your day!
It’s harvest time!
Ferme Proulx Farm
– Media credit: fermeproulxfarm
Website: https://proulxfarm.com/
Address: 1865 O’Toole Road, Ottawa, ON K4C 1N2, Canada
Contact: 613-833-2417, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Friday – Sunday: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Hours are not fixed. Depends on the season, weather, availability, and berry.
Rates:
- Strawberry: $4.50 – $18 per basket
- Raspberry: $8 – $28 per basket
- Blueberry: $8 – $28 per basket
The Ferme Proulx Farm is a staple for berry picking in Ottawa, having been around since 1920. It’s a fourth-generation farm offering raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries.
Berry U-Picks are available by the container, with up to six choices from one to four litres. You can bring your own container if you don’t want to pay an additional $1.75 but stick to standard baskets only, or it won’t be allowed.
Berry picking at this Ottawa farm is well-managed, with the field attendant assigning rows to the guests. It’s also for safety because there are running wagons in the field.
Pro Tip: If you’re coming with a large group, make sure everyone is up for berry picking. Only people coming in with a container are allowed. |
Orleans Fruit Farm
– Media credit: scottdavy
Website: https://www.fermedorleans.com/
Address: 1399 St Joseph Blvd, Ottawa, ON K1C 7K9, Canada
Contact: 613-830-1303
Operating Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Hours will vary depending on the activity, availability and weather.
Price: $17 per 4L (subject to change)
There’s something to pick at Orleans Fruit Farm every season. They have U-Pick raspberries and strawberries, as well as a fruit stand for pre-picked ones.
One of the most convenient things is they’re easy to reach, making them the ultimate family day trip. The farm only takes a short 15 to 20-minute drive from downtown.
They are also able to harvest their crops and produce pretty consistently according to their calendar, so expect U-Pick to be available once the season starts. Plus, with the number of crops they sell, it’s impossible to drive home without purchasing some.
Pro Tip: Being close to downtown makes them a popular spot for Ottawans, so it’s best to inquire first before heading there in case they run out of berries. |
Potager Eardley
– Media credit: potagereardley
Website: https://www.eardleyco.com/
Address: 398 Chem. Eardley, Gatineau, QC J9J 2Y9, Canada
Contact: 819-684-0273
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
May close early depending on the number of berries left
Price:
- Raspberry: $8.50 per 1L, $16 per 2L
- Blueberry: $11 per 1L, $20 per 2L, $28 per 3L
If you’re looking for the ultimate berry-picking spot, Potager Eardley has blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries available. Their crops are abundant in August, so head there for the sweetest berries.
The farm usually opens around mid-May and closes sometime in November. But once the season starts and the weather cooperates, they’re open daily, even on public holidays.
It’s also family-friendly, with a playground and a mini farm near their fruit stand. If the whole family isn’t up for berry picking, they can supervise little ones at the playground.
Pro Tips: There’s a minimum of 1L of berries per person aged three and up. Unless you’re buying loads, it’s recommended not to enter the farm in a large group, especially if you have toddlers. If you’re the only adult present, don’t bring three kids. There’s a rule of one adult for every two kids aged twelve and under. |
Shouldice Farms
– Media credit: shouldicefarms
Website: https://www.shouldicefarm.com/
Address: 2901 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa, ON K2C 3H1, Canada (list of all locations)
Contact: In-person only at the locations and updates via Facebook
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, mid-June to August
Price: $10 per 2L, $20 per 4L, $25 per 6L
If you’re looking for a U-Pick spot just a short drive from home, Shouldice Farms probably has one near you. With four farms in Ottawa, they can cater to many individuals craving sweet berries.
Raspberries and strawberries are available here, both for pick-your-own and pre-picked. Remember to check which farm has the most berries; strawberries are available around June, while raspberries are in July.
You get to save some loonies, too, because baskets are free but do remember to return them for other berry pickers. You can use your own container, though, as long as it’s labelled as 2L, 4L, or 6L.
Pro Tip: If you missed the pick-your-own season, don’t worry! Their roadside stalls located across the city sell berries throughout the summer. |
Rideau Pines Farm
– Media credit: rideaupinesfarm
Website: https://www.rideaupinesfarm.com/
Address: 5714 Fourth Line Road, North Gower, ON K0A 2T0, Canada
Contact: 613-489-3601, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday: Friday – 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Price: Varies per season
In the quaint village of North Gower, a 30-minute drive from downtown, is where you’ll find Rideau Pines Farm. It might not look like it, but this is not your typical berry-picking farm.
This is a very lively place. Imagine this: picking berries while hearing live music from local artists and heading straight to the market for delicious pickled veggies—what a treat!
Not only are raspberries and strawberries available, but you also get to taste gooseberries and haskap berries. Royalty raspberries, which are known for their intense sweetness and juicy texture, are also available for U-Pick.
Pro Tip: They don’t always have live music available. So, check their socials for the schedule so you get serenaded while picking berries. |
Avonmore Berry Farm
– Media credit: avonmoreberryfarm
Website: https://avonmoreberryfarm.com/
Address: 16365 4th Road, Avonmore, ON K0C 1C0, Canada
Contact: 613-346-5414 (taped message), 613-346-2336
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, mid-June to October 31
Price: $17 per 4L
Bring your hats and the whole gang to Avonmore Berry Farm if you’re looking for a family-friendly spot in the summer. There’s something to do here for all ages, like shopping for snacks and desserts and having a blast in the play area.
Their farm opens in June, when pick-your-own strawberries start, and they have extended hours to cater to everyone. Then, in July, juicy raspberries are available through September.
Marathon enthusiasts in our team were also happy to find out that there’s a 5K run annually at the farm. It’s for a good cause, as all proceeds will go to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation—berries and philanthropy? Count us in!
Pro Tip: They mostly offer U-Pick strawberries because not all seasons will have an abundance of raspberries. If that happens during your visit, better grab a pre-picked box of raspberries because they might run out quickly! |
Canaan Blueberries
– Media credit: rohit
Website: https://www.bluberry.ca/
Address: 2351 Canaan Road, Sarsfield, ON K0A 3E0, Canada
Contact: 613-833-2069
Operating Hours: Depending on the season, may vary on berry availability and weather
Price: Varies per season, available in 2L and 4L baskets
Head east of Ottawa, just near the City of Rockland, and visit Canaan Blueberries if you want plump and juicy blueberries. It’s their main crop, along with honey, so get there early before the berries run out because it has a short season.
Blueberry season usually starts around mid-July, but call ahead before heading out because pick-your-own will depend on availability. They might not be able to pick up the phone all the time, so check their website, which they update once the season starts.
The farm will provide baskets at no charge, and note that you cannot bring your own containers. You can easily fill these baskets without moving too much because the farm is small, which also means you won’t get baked in the sun for too long.
Pro Tips: If you want to get a good parking spot, drive there early to catch some spots in the shade. If you’re picking blueberries, avoid wearing sunglasses as they may distort the colour of the berries, and you may pick some that aren’t ripe yet. Instead, wear a hat that will shade your eyes from the sunlight. |
Les Vergers Villeneuve and Blueberry Farm
– Media credit: vergersvilleneuve
Website: https://vergersvilleneuve.com/
Address: 1341 Rollin Road, Saint-Pascal-Baylon, ON K0A 3N0, Canada
Contact: 613-488-3077, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Around June to September, available by appointment only
Price: May vary depending on the season.
When berry picking in Ottawa pops up in your head, Les Vergers Villeneuve and Blueberry Farm isn’t exactly the first place that comes to mind. It’s because it’s a winery, but fortunately, they opened their orchard for U-Pick!
From July to September, you can indulge in berry picking because they have tonnes of varieties. This place is an absolute dream, as you get to see juicy and sweet blueberries, raspberries, and cherries, all ripe and ready to harvest.
They don’t have a fixed schedule, though, so you can’t arrive any time you please. But keep an eye out for announcements on their socials because the specific dates for U-Pick will vary each year.
Pro Tip: Their farm is pretty hard to track down, but once you’re on Chemin Rollin/Rollin Road, keep a lookout for a yellow house with a red roof. |
Hugli’s Blueberry Ranch
– Media credit: lunahandpies
Website: https://blueberryranch.ca/
Address: 2139 Greenwood Rd, Pembroke, ON K8A 6W2, Canada
Contact: 613-638-1288, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Opens seasonally until December 31
Price:
- Blueberry picking access: $3 for adults and kids, free for under 2 years old
- Pick-your-own (2023 price): $8.95 per kg
If you’re on a quest for a nice outdoor activity for the kids, Hugli’s Blueberry Ranch is a must-visit. Kids will have an absolute blast at the play area to burn their energy off, and they get to see farm animals, such as llamas, peacocks, and rabbits.
The farm has an impressive 17 acres dedicated to blueberries. You can enjoy freshly picked blueberries all season long because they have 17 varieties that ripen at different times, which means you can indulge in sweet and juicy goodness for weeks.
There‘s also wheelchair access, with ample space in between the bushes to move around. Plus, there are designated picking rows specifically for individuals with mobility issues, and chairs are available on request if you need to take a break from the heat.
Pro Tip: If you’re bringing your child to the play area after blueberry picking, bring extra loonies because there’s an admission fee of $3 per guest, except for kids under two years old. |
Fraisière Duquette Strawberries
– Media credit: naturallyjackielane
Website: http://www.duquettestrawberries.com/
Address: 2236 Champlain Rd, Clarence Creek, ON K0A 1N0, Canada
Contact: 613-488-3284, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Saturday: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Sunday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Hours are subject to change depending on availability and public holidays
Price: $2.90 per lb
Fraisière Duquette Strawberries is close to the city, only needing a 45-minute drive from downtown Ottawa. The farm started out with pick-your-own and pre-picked strawberries, making this a staple U-Pick in Clarence Creek.
There’s no need to practice your French because the staff here are bilingual, welcoming everyone to pick berries. They have different varieties of strawberries, all juicy, sweet, and bursting with flavour.
Pro Tip: Before driving to Clarence Creek, it’s highly suggested to call the farm first to check their picking hours. Their closing time depends on the weather and how many strawberries are left. |