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Ripe for the Picking: Manitoba’s Berry Boon

Posted: April 16, 2025 | Estimated Read Time: 3 minutes

Manitoba’s annual crop of berries, saskatoons, raspberries and strawberries, come of age by late June. That’s also when legions of berry lovers hit fields across the province and harvest the sweet, luscious fruit for jams, pies and tarts. Enjoy a berry-fun adventure and find a berry-picking farm near you.

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 farms 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 with both strawberry picking and raspberry picking available depending on when you visit. 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 with a variety of animals to meet.

Cormier’s Berry Patch

Four plastic buckets filled with fresh strawberries sit at a patch, showcasing the abundance of a fruitful harvest.

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.

Olde Cramb Farm

For a laid-back strawberry picking experience, plan a trip to Olde Cramb Farm near Stonewall. Visits are by appointment only, giving you plenty of space and time to enjoy the rows of ripe berries at your own pace. Prefer to skip the picking? Pre-picked baskets are also available for easy grab-and-go freshness.

Willow Rock Farms

Just outside Manitou, Willow Rock Farms has been growing juicy, sun-kissed strawberries since 1996 - with raspberries to the mix, too. With decades of experience and a focus on quality, this family-run farm offers a charming and authentic U-pick experience.

Plainview Berries

Nestled just north of Gilbert Plains, Plainview Berries invites you to enjoy the bounty of the Parkland with both U-pick and pre-picked options. Wander the rows of ripe strawberries and saskatoons at your own pace, or simply grab a ready-to-go basket brimming with fresh-picked flavour.

For a complete list of available u-pick berry farms near you, visit the PFGA website.