Local Fruit Picking: An Idyllic Day Trip from Vancouver

Local berries embody Vancouver’s summer: bright, fresh, and best enjoyed on a leisurely day. Nearby farms offering u-pick (pick your own) are a short drive from the city if you’re looking for a fun outdoor activity with family or friends.

Vancouver is fortunate to have a thriving local food system, with farms growing an array of produce, including fruit (primarily berries) that is abundant in the summer. In general, strawberries ripen roughly from June to July and then sometimes there’s a second crop from July to August; raspberries are available around late June to the early days of August; blueberries in July and August/September; blackberries July and August; and then apples heading into September. Other fruit like boysenberries and tayberries can be available July/August. Keep in mind that each growing season is distinct, so the timing and availability change every year.

Farms to Visit for Fruit-Picking

There are numerous farms within a 1 to 1.5-hour drive from Vancouver in neighbouring municipalities. If you don’t have a car, the city has a couple car sharing programs, such as Evo and Modo, that you can easily sign up for. The farms grow crops but also have a range of experiences that make them ideal for day trips. These destinations are very picturesque, so you’ll have lots of great photos to share with friends/family and to post on social media.

Krause Berry Farms & Estate Winery in Langley has been in operation since 1974 when Alf Krause planted his first crop of strawberries. Now, Alf and Sandee Krause welcome visitors year-round to their expanded farm (200 acres). In the summer, you can pick strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries (depending on season and availability), with u-pick currently open from 9am to 4:30pm on a first come, first pick basis. Everyone 3 years and up must pay for a container (price includes the fruit picked) and then you can fill it once during your visit.

While at Krause, you can purchase pre-picked berries or other produce, like garlic and squash, from their Market, which also sells homemade jams, preserves, and jellies. In addition, you can visit their bakery for treats like their berry custard pies. Other activities on the farm include their Waffle Bar, which serves waffles with whipped cream and fresh berries, or the Estate Winery for wine tastings and snacks, like a cheese board with crackers and berries.

Maan Farms in Abbotsford offers not only u-pick but also different activities that the whole family can enjoy. Jawahar and Gurbachan Maan opened the farm in 1977, and it’s now run by their son Kris and his family. Maan Farms offers specific u-pick reservation times (e.g. weekends) for strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries (depending on season and availability). Walk-ins are limited. They feature Canada’s first standing strawberry u-pick so you don’t have to bend down to pick. Like Krause, all those 3 years and older are required to buy a container for filling with fruit.

While at the farm, take part in Summer at the Farm, a ticketed experience that includes Barnyard Adventureland (11 attractions, including barnyard animals, giant board games, and pedal go-karts), as well as baby chicks and a Petting Patch during the weekends. Summer VIP tickets include bonus features like a Berry Picking Experience, a beverage, a bag of animal feed, and a comeback pass.

Maan Farms also hold goat yoga classes that are summer themed (e.g., goat yoga and strawberry wine slushies, July 12 at 11am). And, stop by their tasting room to try the wines from their Estate Winery, shop for local goods/produce at their shop, and enjoy food like butter chicken and mini donuts.

Another popular u-pick destination is Emma Lea Farms in Ladner (Delta), a family operation that began in 1885 with Joseph and Emma Tamboline. They grow a variety of berries (strawberries, raspberries, tayberries, black currants, blackberries, blueberries), depending on season and availability. Currently, they’re open 8am to 6pm on a first come, first pick basis. Like the others, you pay for a container that you then fill during your visit. This charming farm also contains The Stand, featuring their berries as well as other local produce. You can cool down at The Ice Cream Shoppe, where they serve cones, sundaes, and more. Enjoy your cold treat (or snacks you’ve brought) at The Picnic Area, complete with gazebos, rescue donkeys, a kids’ climbing dome, and vintage tractors.

Tips for Your Fruit-Picking Day Trip

First of all, make sure to check the website as well as social media of the farms to get the latest info about fruit availability, hours, reservations, procedure, weather closures, etc.

Make a reservation when available, and get there early in the day to avoid crowds as well as the midday heat.

Since picking can happen rain or shine—and you’re on a working farm—make sure to dress and pack accordingly. That means, boots, sun protection (hats, sunglasses, sunscreen), and bottled water.

Make sure to acquaint yourself with what you can and cannot bring to each farm. For example, some don’t allow outside containers or outside food/beverages. Some encourage you to bring a wagon for transporting your containers.

Finally, pick in designated areas only, don’t eat fruit in the fields, and pick and process your fruit to maximize their freshness. For example, for berries, select ripe fruit, leave the stem on, put them in a fridge ideally after leaving the farm, and process them as soon as possible.

Above all, don’t forget to have an amazing time at fruit farms close to Vancouver!