Strawberry picking season is once again here, and nothing compares to the sweet flavor of fresh, sun-ripened strawberries.
Strawberry picking is a fun and rewarding activity for families or groups of friends, providing an opportunity to bond, while enjoying the great outdoors, and is also fun, affordable, and family friendly!
Visiting a local strawberry farm to pick your berries also supports local agriculture and businesses, and is a great way to connect with nature, while exploring your community’s resources.
Here are some tips to ensure a successful picking adventure for the entire family.
- When picking strawberries, look for fully red, ripe berries. The tip of the strawberry should be bright red, and the berry should easily roll down into your palm when gently tugged.
- Avoid picking under ripe or rotten strawberries, as they won’t taste as good, and can spoil your entire harvest, just by being in the bunch.
- Pick early in the morning or during cooler parts of the day, when they have the highest sugar content.
- Wear a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun.
- Don’t overfill your container, as this can cause the strawberries at the bottom to become crushed.
- Check the strawberry patch thoroughly, as ripe berries can often be hidden under leaves.
- To find the ripest berries, start at the bottom of the plant, where strawberries tend to ripen first.
- Store them in the fridge as soon as possible, after picking, to keep them fresh for as long as possible.
Rhode Island strawberry picking season falls between June and July each year, so it’s the perfect time for the family to get outdoors and visit some of the Rhode Island strawberry farms.
If you’ve never been strawberry picking in Rhode Island, you’ll want to check out the below strawberry farms for the freshest, sweetest picks.
Don’t procrastinate if you want to participate in this fun and sweet experience because the season doesn’t last long.
The strawberry picking season in Rhode Island usually runs between early June through early July (weather permitting), and there are always other choices of berry picking when the strawberry season in Little Rhody has ended.
Check out the amazing pick-your own strawberry picking locations in and around Rhode Island:
Quonset View Farm
895 Middle Road
Portsmouth, RI
(401) 683-1254
Check out their Facebook page for more details.
Open 8am to 6pm, daily.
Quonset View Farm in Rhode Island has been in business for over 100 years.
Here you can pick your own strawberries from early June through early July.
Salisbury Farm
11 Peck Hill Road
Johnston, RI
(401) 942-9741
salisburyfarm.com
Daily picking, from 10am to 5pm
Salisbury Farm’s store also offers fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the summer and fall seasons, which includes their famous sweet corn!
Between June – October, they offer jellies & preserves, butters, salad dressings, Salisbury Farm Apiary local honey, RI Maple Syrup, hand painted birdhouse gourds, as well as Amish and locally handcrafted toys.
Goodwin Brothers Farm Stand
466 Greenville Road (at the intersection with Greenville Road)
North Smithfield, RI
(401) 765-0368
Check out Goodwin Brothers Farm Stand’s Facebook page, where more details are provided about strawberry picking. This is a multi-generational family owned and operated farm stand. Check their Facebook page to see the most current picking schedule.
Brandon Family Farm
592 Fairgrounds Road
West Kingston, RI
(401) 932-6481
Brandon Family Farm has opened for their annual pick-your-own strawberries, and they provide more details on their website at www.brandonfamilyfarm.com. Brandon Family Farm in Rhode Island also offers pick-your-own organic strawberries.
Sweet Berry Farm
915 Mitchell’s Lane
Middletown, RI
(401) 847-3912
www.sweetberryfarmri.com
Sweet Berry Farm has begun their annual pick-your-own, but suggests calling to confirm on the day you want to pick. In addition to strawberries, Sweet Berry Farm offers six other types of pick-your-own fruit, as well as pumpkins and Christmas trees. Strawberries season usually starts early to mid-June and lasts about three to four weeks.
Young Family Farm
260 W Main Road
Little Compton, RI
You can enjoy pick-your-own strawberries between early June through early July, each year. Their picking schedule is subject to change based on the weather conditions, so check out their website at
www.youngfamilyfarm.com/pick-your-own to obtain updates.
It’s good to note that Young Family Farm donates hundreds of thousands of food each year to the local food bank. Their retail stand features fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers that are sold from May through November.
Four Town Farm
90 George Street
Seekonk, Massachusetts
(508) 336-5587
www.fourtownfarm.com
Four Town Farm is now open for pick-your-own and for purchases at their farm stand. They update their Facebook page with days and hours for picking.
