My family loves going strawberry picking during the early summer months. Our family loves being able to be out in the field and pick, eat, and enjoy the fresh strawberries straight from the bush. To me, that is a win in our list of summer activities. We hope our guide is helpful and makes your trip even more fun. Grab your sunscreen, hat, buckets, and boots and start your summer off with a juicy treat!
The strawberry season in the midwest usually begins between late April and June and continues for 3–4 weeks, depending on the weather and how many people come to pick. This can vary with weather patterns, so it is best to check with the farm you are planning to visit to find out when they expect to open for the season.
Most farms recommend checking their social media pages or calling beforehand for more up-to-date information regarding their crops. We have provided the most up-to-date information possible for each farm, but please call ahead or check their site for further information. For this article, we’ve included a link to each farm’s social media page to make it simpler to track updates. You’ll also find a map of the farms, tips for what to bring, how to pick berries, and how to store them once you get home.
Strawberry Picking Map
Where to Pick Strawberries in 2025
Backwoods Berry Farm
27244 Hettick Scottville Road
Hettick, IL 62649
(217) 436-2510
Facebook
- U-Pick berry farm, with strawberry season currently open for 2025!
- Farm closes in August after U-Pick peach season.
- There is also the option to schedule an appointment for berry picking on the website.
Blue Clay Berry Farm
5154 State Rd 50
Delavan, WI 53115
(262) 745-3720
Facebook
- Opening dates for 2025 are not yet announced.
- Check their Facebook page for when they announce exact dates.
Braffet Berry Farm
9010 E 2250 North Rd,
Carlock, IL 61725
(309) 376-2012
Facebook
- Strawberry season starts early June in 2025.
- Check their social media for up dates.
Cody’s Farm
19502 River Road
Marengo, IL 60152
(815) 568-7976
Facebook
- U-Pick Strawberries will be available starting in June 2025.
- Check Facebook for the date to be announced.
- While you are visiting, check out their fresh pastries at the farm stand-like their fresh strawberry glazed donuts.
Crosswind Farms
14435 West Manhattan-Monee Road,
Manhattan, IL 60442
(708) 567-9090
Facebook
- Costs of strawberries are: $5.75/pint, and $8.75/quart.
- The U-Pick 2025 season has not been announced yet, their social media is the most up to date source of info.
- Crosswind Farms offers seasonal fruits like red raspberries, blackberries, concord grapes, and strawberries.
- They allow strollers and even picnics on their farm, so be sure to call for more details.
- They also have animals on the farm, and have a ‘read to the animal’ opportunitiy for kids.
Garwood Orchards & Farm Markets
5911 West 50 South
La Porte, IN 46350
(219) 362-4385
Facebook
- Strawberry U-Pick begins May 24, 2025.
- Garwood Orchards offers a variety of U-Pick Seasons from May – October 31, 2025.
- Please check their Facebook page for daily updates.
Guelde Strawberries
4779 East 1525th Road
Earlville, IL 60518
(815) 228-9603
Facebook
- U-Pick opening date for 2025 is not yet confirmed.
- Strawberry season typically starts in early June and runs through late June or early July.
- They provide both quart boxes (holds about 1.5 pounds) and also cardboard flat boxes (holds about 9-11 pounds) for U-pick options.
- Please note that their website is not being updated; check Facebook for the latest information
Heider’s Berry Farm
1100 North Queen Anne Road
Woodstock, IL 60098
(815) 338-0301
Facebook
- U-Pick opening date is estimated for mid-June, July and September 2025- till frost.
- Hours: Daily 8:00am – 5:00pm.
Jefferies Orchard
1016 Jefferies Rd
Springfield, IL 62707
(217) 487-7582
Facebook
- U-Pick opening date is Thursday May 29, 2025.
- They plan to have U-pick blueberries following U-Pick Strawberry season this year.
- Refer to their Facebook page for crop updates.
Johnson’s Farm Produce
8960 East Ridge Road
Hobart, IN 46342
(219) 962-1383
Facebook
- U-Pick will open in June for the farm’s Strawberry Festival on June 7, 2025.
- General admission to the farm on a U-Pick day only (not a festival weekend) is $5
- Strawberry Festival every weekend in June, see pricing and details below.
- U-Pick pricing for fruit has not yet been posted for 2025
Olive Berry Acres
2575 West Mine Road
Mazon, IL 60444
(815) 474-6511
Facebook
- Strawberry U-pick 2025 dates and times have not been released yet.
- Check their social media for updates.
- 2024 prices were $14/U-Pick 4 quart, $8/U-Pick 2 quart, $4/U-Pick quart.
Stade’s Farm and Market
3709 West Miller Road
McHenry, IL 60051
(815) 675-6396
Facebook
- The Farm’s opening date is May 24, 2025
- Farm hours are 9:00am-6:00pm daily, U-Pick hours are 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
- U-Pick opening day is not yet determined, but keep an eye on their social media for updates
- Pricing for U-Pick Strawberries: $6 for a 1-quart basket, $12 for 2-quart basket, $18 for a 4-quart basket.
- A $6 minimum strawberry purchase per person is required to enter the strawberry patch for ages 3+.
Kidlist Tip ⭐️ The fields are a good walk from the farm stand. Bring a wagon if you think your kiddos legs may get tired, kids are not allowed to ride on strawberry wagons.
Terrapin Orchards
1063 US Route 20 E
Elizabeth, IL 61028
(815) 202-2180
Facebook
- 4 acres of strawberries with four different varieties
- Opening day for 2025 is June 6.
- Hours are 8:00am – 5:00pm, Friday – Sunday.
- Follow their social media for updates.
Thompson Strawberry Farm
6621 156th Avenue
Bristol, WI 53104
Pre-Picked Location: 14000 75th Street, Bristol, WI
(262) 857-2353
Facebook
- U-Pick starting Mid-June, 2025 U-Pick opening day not yet announced.
- Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-6:00pm, Weekends 8:00am-4:00pm
- Thompson’s also offers U-Pick raspberries (late August-October), sunflowers (August-September 22), pumpkins (September 18-October)
- Pricing from 2023: $18 per 4 quart basket (cash only), pick 6 baskets and pay for 5 baskets. Entrance fee: Weekdays $5.00/car, Weekends $12.00/car.
Tom’s Farm Market
10214 Algonquin Road
Huntley, IL 60142
(847) 669-3421
Facebook
- U-Pick Strawberries coming Mid June.
- Field Access Pass for U-Pick berries is $5 per person
- Children under 2 are free
- Hours: Daily 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Last wagon departs at 1:45 PM)
- Check their social media for updates
Other Ways to Enjoy Strawberries
Windy Acres Farm Strawberry Festival
37W446 Fabyan Pkwy
Geneva, IL, 60134
(630) 232-6429
Facebook
- June 6-8, 2025 and June 13-15, 2025, 9:00am-6:00pm
- Explore the Windy Acres Farm and enjoy a ride around the property on a train, family activities in the barn, petting zoo, fresh strawberry products such as jams, desserts, slushies and fresh strawberry ice cream!
- Tickets begin at $16.99 and are required for all in attendance
Johnson’s Strawberry Festival Weekends
8960 East Ridge Road
Hobart, IN 46342
(219) 962-1383
Facebook
- All weekends in June 2025, 8:00am-6:00pm (EST)
- General admission on a U-Pick day only (not a festival weekend) is $5
- Johnson’s offers a large collection of all farm activities and all things strawberry on festival weekends.
- Visitors can enjoy all the farm activities included with their admission price (with the exception of the fruit cannon and train).
Planning Your Strawberry Picking Trip
- Always call before you go picking to verify hours and crop availability.
- Ask the status of the fields, if the fields are picked over or still have a decent amount of strawberries left to pick.
- Some farms do not supply containers, while others require that you use their supplied containers. Some farms even offer a discount if you bring your own buckets. Call to check the farm’s policies before you leave.
- Ask when the fields were last sprayed. Sometimes, freshly sprayed farms make it less appetizing for sampling as you pick. It’s way more fun, especially for the kids, to pick if you can taste along the way!
- Check if wagons and strollers are allowed and if there are tractors to drive you out to help plan your trip.
Things to Bring Strawberry Picking
- Consider the heat and sun while picking and dress for the weather (and the sun!). There often aren’t trees around strawberry fields so the berries can receive full sun, which means you will get full sun too! This may mean wearing a hat while picking, wearing sunscreen, and light clothing. You may also want to bring or apply bug spray before going as well.
- Pack water, and drink often! You are bent over, crawling on the ground and it is easy to get dizzy in the heat.
- Don’t wear nice clothes or shoes. Especially with kids, you almost always get strawberry juice on your clothes. Usually there is straw or mulch between the rows of plants, but depending on how much rain there has been, there could be mud underneath, too. Bring a change of clothes for the kids (and maybe yourself too)!
Strawberry Picking Tips
- Strawberries do not ripen after being removed from the plant. The size of a strawberry does not affect how sweet the fruit will taste. Many strawberries ripen under the leaves of the plant, so it helps to gently lift the leaves to look towards the center of the plant to find the good ones.
- Strawberries keep better if you pick them with the cap and stem on. Pull the strawberry at the stem with a slight twist and it should come off with the cap and stem. Don’t stress about it too much though because they are still fine without the cap and stem.
- Strawberries ripen quickly and picking conditions can change fast.
When You Get Home
- Don’t wash your strawberries until you are ready to eat them. Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
- Wash in cool water to remove dirt and store in the refrigerator. If you would like to wash some ahead of time to stash in the fridge, prepare a bowl or water with some white vinegar, gently swish the strawberries in the bowl, then drain and rinse with fresh water. The vinegar taste is rinsed off, but the strawberries will store longer.
- To freeze your strawberries: wash and hull them (cut off the green part and remove the core), dry them really well by patting them dry or laying them out to dry on your counter. Lay them on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper and put in freezer. When completely frozen, transfer them into Ziploc bags, removing as much air as you can. Strawberries will be slightly mushier than other frozen fruits when unfrozen, but they are still delicious. Berries can keep for months in the freezer, so don’t hesitate to freeze extras!
For more ways to get out and enjoy the fresh air as a family, check out our guide to summer activities in 2025.
5 Comments. Leave new
We can’t wait to try this…never have. Would you mind sharing a favorite of these? There are so many to choose from!
We have gone to Thompsons and had a good experience there, but I’m considering trying a new place to explore and compare. I’ve definitely learned how important it is to call before going. The two most important things to ask in my opinion are: When is the last time you sprayed? (I don’t feel good about my kids sampling berries as they pick if the fields were just sprayed the day before) and How are the picking conditions? If it’s towards the end of their season there is a good possibility that picking will be frustrating and you will spend more time bending over and searching for berries compared to actually picking. That happened to us last year because we went too late.
Maybe others can chime in too?
Do you happen to know if any of the u-pick have organic strawberries?
Unfortunately we didn’t find any this year.
This is such a great resource, thank you for creating and updating it!