A woman armed with empty pails catches a ride aboard a tractor rumbling down a dirt road. She’s about to join a hunt. Acres and acres of red, ripe strawberries are ripe for the picking and an army of U-pickers invade the field. A little further down the road, rows of raspberries are also plump for the picking.

The pickers are on a mission. They methodically scope rows of bushes, pluck juicy scarlet berries and drop the bounty in plastic pails. And then they repeat. And repeat. Besides hitting the beach, nothing quite screams ‘summertime’ like a trip to a U-pick farm. It’s hard work: Bending down in the bushes, picking berry after berry under the sun isn’t for everyone. Sticky fingers are also a hazard of the job. But it’s all worth it because those juicy morsels will take a starring role in your pies, preserves, jams and outdoor picnics throughout the summer. (Jams and preserves, meanwhile, can be plucked from your pantry year round.)

In Manitoba, pick-your-own-berry farms and orchards abound. On average, prime berry picking season lasts between three and four weeks in June and July. Take a veteran picker’s tip: Always call U-pick farms for hours and conditions before you visit. And to make the day in the country even better, leave time for family friendly activities at nearby farms, parks and attractions. For a complete list of available farm near you, visit the PFGA website.

Take a sticky fingers berry-picking expedition. Here are some of Manitoba’s most popular U-pick farms.

Mayfair Farms

Mayfair farms in Portage La Prairie, is one of Manitoba’s most popular U-pick farms. There are also other family attractions nearby at Island Park. Take a ride down the giant “Splash Attack” or “Funnel Tunnel” waterslide at Splash Island or play a round of golf. And don’t miss the pretty arboretum.

Boonstra Farms

Named Manitoba’s best farm by CAA magazine, Boonstra Farms doesn’t disappoint. Here, there are 25 acres of plump strawberries and four acres of juicy raspberries. As an added bonus: recipes for no-cook strawberry jam come with every U-pick bounty. After you’re done filling your pails, take a tour of the farm. Explore the Great Buffalo Rock, bale pyramid and petting zoo complete with a llama, emu and alpaca.

Cormier’s Berry Patch

Located near La Salle, Cormier’s Berry Patch has 25 years of gardening history. What was once a hobby quickly became a successful small business. Wander through 10 acres of strawberries for a quaint, U-pick experience and support local farmers at the same time.

Think we missed a U-pick farm? Tell us about your favourite farm in the comments!