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PrintResources: 2012 U-pick Guide to Erie and Niagara Counties
As children, most of us remember berry-picking expeditions, generally eating more fruit than we placed in our buckets or baskets, and emerging from the sweltering field with our mouths stained and bellies full. But picking your own berries (or apples, or pumpkins, or cherries) shouldn’t be relegated to childhood memory; it should be part of your summer routine. Western New York abounds with “u-pick” options, and at lower than low prices ($1.65 per pound for pick-your-own blueberries vs. $3.25 for farm-harvested), there’s strong incentive to load the car up with willing hands and head out for a day in the sun. The net result could fill your freezer, or net a month’s worth of pies, or a few dozen canning jars.
We’ve assembled a list of Erie and Niagara County farms offering a variety of pick-your-own fruits and vegetables. Check websites and call ahead; with climate change upon us, it’s important to keep in mind that crops don’t operate on a set schedule. Calling a farm will help you ascertain what it has available, what sort of field conditions to expect, and the price per pound of the farm’s fruits and vegetables.
Sales on canning jars are up by over forty percent since 2008. Self-sufficiency is the trend of the day, and with good reason! PickYourOwn.org offers extensive canning and preservation resources, as does CanningAcrossAmerica.com, so if, come winter, you’d like to revel in the tastes of fresh blueberries or silky, from-the-garden tomato sauce, there is nothing stopping you.
ERIE COUNTY
Andolina Farms–strawberries and grapes
10719 Brant Angola Rd., Brant
Please call for information: 716-698-6825
Open: Daily, 8 a.m.–7 p.m.
Awald’s Berry Farm–blueberries and raspberries
10692 Gurney Ave., North Collins
awaldfarms.com
Please call for information: 716-337-2997
Blueberry Ridge–blueberries
12201 Gowanda State Rd. (Rt. 62), Lawtons
Please call for information: 716-337-2037
Open: Daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Bowman Farms–assorted berries and vegetables
11259 Gowanda State Rd. (Rt. 62), North Collins
bowmanfarmsinc.com
Please call for information: 716-337-2965
Open: Daily, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Brant Apple Farm–apples and pears
1355 Rt. #249, Brant
brantapplefarm.com
Please call for information: 716-549-0112
Open: M, T, Th-Sat, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Greg’s U-Pick Farm–strawberries and blueberries
9270 Lapp Rd., Clarence Center
gregsupick.com
Please call for information: 716-741-4239
Hen-Hawk Acres–strawberries
13439 Genesee Rd., Chaffee
Please call for information: 716-496-5380 or 716-560-8302
Peter Gugino Farms–strawberries
10460 Brant-Angola Rd., Brant
Please call for information: 716-549-3608
South Hill Farms–blueberries and grapes
9419 South Hill Rd., Colden
southhillfarm.com
Please call for information: 716-941-5882
Weiss Farms–strawberries
7828 East Eden Rd., Eden
Please call for information: 716-992-9619
West Falls Blueberry Patch–blueberries
1895 Davis Rd., West Falls
Please call for information: 585-409-8314
Open: M–Su, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
NIAGARA COUNTY
Becker Farms–apples, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, sweet cherries, beans and peas, pumpkins, tomatoes, and corn
3724 Quaker Rd., Gasport
beckerfarms.com
Please call for information: 716-772-2211
Blackman Homestead Farm–apples, pears, winter squash, and pumpkins
4472 Thrall Rd., Lockport
blackmanhomesteadfarm.com
Please call for information: 716-434-7116
Bye’s Farm–strawberries
6023 Ridge Rd., Lockport
Please call for information: 716-434-1803
Coulter Farms–raspberries, strawberries, sweet cherries, and peas
3871 North Ridge Rd., Lockport
coulterfarmsllc.com
Please call for information: 716-434-5700
Donovan Orchards–apples
8503 Lower Lake Rd., Barker
donovanorchards.com
Call for information: 585-944-8824
Open: Fri-Sat, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Su, Noon-4 p.m.
Ellis Fruit Farm–apples
4748 Thrall Rd., Lockport
Please call for information: 716-434-1005
Kappus Farms–sweet and sour cherries
6275 Jockey Rd., Burt
Please call for information: 716-778-8396
Open: Daily, 8 a.m.–7 p.m.
LaRose’s Farm–strawberries
5759 Ridge Rd., Lockport
Please call for information: 716-433-9352
Lisiecki Produce–cherries, plums, tomatoes, squash, and strawberries
8427 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Gasport
Please call for information: 716-870-0678
Murphy Orchards–rhubarb, sweet and sour cherries, gooseberries, raspberries, peaches, peppers, black and red currants, herbs, apples, pears, pumpkins, squash, and plums
2402 McClew Rd., Burt
murphyorchards.com
Please call for information: 716-778-7926
Peter Baker Farm–apples, pumpkins, winter squash, and tomatoes
2100 Youngstown-Lockport Rd., Ransomville
Please call for information: 716-791-3440
Open: Fri–Sun, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Peterson’s–strawberries and tomatoes
6365 Ridge Rd., Lockport
Please call for information: 716-434-8427
Pipiles Farm–blueberries
3370 Lockport-Olcott Rd., Lockport
Please call for information: 716-778-7366
Sanger Farms–apples, pears, peaches, strawberries, and cherries
852 Rt. 93, Youngstown
Please call for information: 716-745-7297
Shippy Orchards–apples
735 Lockport Rd., Youngstown
Please call for information: 716-745-9916
Singer Farms–sweet cherries
6730 E. Lake Rd. (Rt. 18), Appleton
singerfarms.com
Please call for information: 716-778-7330
Vincent Wood–concord grapes
2350 Coomer Rd., Burt
Please call for information: 716-778-5354
Whittier Fruit Farm/Russell’s U-Pick–blueberries
7399 Lake Rd., Appleton
whittierfruitfarm.com
For information call: 585-594-9054
