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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2020)
4A ❚ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2020 ❚ APPEAL TRIBUNE LIFE IN THE VALLEY The Ultimate U-Pick Guide Picking berries can be a fun and memorable family experience. FILE / STATESMAN JOURNAL Emily Teel Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK The Willamette Valley: a beacon of wine, a haven of hazelnuts, and a verita- ble paradise of fruit. It would be a crime to let summer slip by without submit- ting oneself to the heady pleasures of tree-ripened plums or sun-warmed ber- ries. By far the most immediate and eco- nomical way of doing so is by visiting a farm and picking some fruit to take home and stash in the freezer for the gray days to come. Fortunately, there are an abundance of area farms ready to welcome visitors for a day in the field. Though we couldn't possibly capture a list of all of them, what follows is an attempt at a thorough list to represent an abundance of u-pick farmstand and pick-your-own destina- tions. Why go through the trouble of pick- ing your own? Because it's a memorable experience and a great activity for fam- ilies. Because it's virtually impossible to get one's hands on food that could be any fresher. And because the pick-your- own price point is often a vastly better deal than you'll find anywhere else. Some pick-your-own places are full- day events with attractions that can in- clude chances to meet farm animals like chickens or goats; gift shops, restau- rants and general stores; or garden cen- ters. Others are simpler; picture a farm- stand with some fruit or vegetables for sale in addition to u-pick crops. Still, others are even more straightforward: a field and perhaps a shed, or at least a folding table, with little more than a scale and a cash register. Regardless of the scale of the farm you visit, it's always best to call ahead (or check a farm's Facebook page) to confirm what's available for picking that day. Remember to be courteous with the hours you call–at many of the numbers listed below you'll be speaking directly to a farmer on his or her cell phone–so keep calls between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.. Before you leave, make a realistic as- sessment of how much fridge or freezer space you've got to fill at home. Berries are particularly perishable and peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, and pears amass quicker than you might expect. Especially if you're picking with family members, you can wind up with a bush- el (literally) of fruit in hand before you've spent 20 minutes in the field. Pack your car (see below for a list of what to bring), fill a water bottle, call a farm to confirm, and get out there. Hap- py picking! What to bring: Where: 36242 Tapper Lane SE Alba- Sliverfarm Fruit ny ❚ Containers - While many farms will have buckets to pick into and con- tainers to buy, you'll save money if you remember to bring your own. Kitchen containers (like Tupperware) are great for berries because they're lightweight, easy to carry and, once you get home, they can go straight into the fridge. Bring larger cardboard boxes for tree fruit–shallow is better than deep to pre- vent bruising. Remember to have them weighed before you start picking and bring more than you think you need– you'll often use them. ❚ Sunscreen & Hat - There may be some shade if you're picking tree fruit, but picking berries often means stand- ing in full sun. Prepare accordingly and your picking experience will be much more comfortable. ❚ Water & Snacks - Few farmers would begrudge someone snacking on a few berries in the field, but it's rude to treat a u-pick excursion as though it's a snack bar. Bring snacks, especially for kiddos, and plenty of water for every- one. ❚ Bug Spray - In case the flies or mosquitoes are biting. ❚ Long Sleeves - Having sleeves on is particularly helpful if you're picking strawberries, the leaves of which are covered in micro hairs that irritate some peoples' skin. They also protect against scratches from thorns on blackberries, raspberries, tayberries, etc. ❚ Sturdy Shoes - Farms can be mud- dy places. Skip the sandals and opt for closed-toed shoes. ❚ Cooler & Ice - If you're picking ber- ries and you've got a bit of a drive home, having a cooler at the ready will help keep your berries from starting to tun to jam on the way. ❚ Cash - Some farms take credit/ debit cards, but many, especially small- er ones, do not. Bring cash and/or a checkbook. What not to bring: ❚ Pets - It's tempting to bring your pup along with you, but many farms have livestock who might be perturbed by canine visitors. Always call ahead to check with a specific farm on what their policy is on dog visitors. Childers Raspberry Farm Lonnie and Shirley Childers and their son and daughter-in-law Dean and Keri run this family farm that specializes ex- clusively in raspberries. Phone: (541) 926-7478 2020 Picks: raspberries (Meeker and Cascade) Information:Childers Raspberry Farm (Facebook) Brooks Family-run farm with an acre of strawberries devoted entirely to straw- berries. Where: 6000 Perrydale Road Dallas Phone: 503-623-2713 2020 Picks: all star, hood and caven- dish strawberries Information: Sliverfarm Fruit (Facebook) Beilke Family Farm Dayton Where: 4925 Rockdale St NE Brooks Phone: (503) 393-1077 2020 Picks: tomatoes, apples (14+ kinds), peppers, pumpkins Information: ❚ www.beilkefamilyfarm.com ❚ Beilke Family Farm (Facebook) Canby Morning Shade Farm Established 25 years ago, Morning Shade Farm offers a variety of pick- your-own fruits. They're currently im- plementing safety protocols to reopen for 2020, but will close u-pick if area coronavirus cases worsen. Where: 8345 S Barnards Road Canby Phone: (503) 651-2622 2020 Picks: blueberries, currants, marionberries, boysenberries, plums, blackberries, hardy kiwis, apples, pears Information: ❚ Morning Shade Farm (Facebook) ❚ www.canby.com/morningshade South Barlow Berries Where: 29190 South Barlow Road Canby Phone: (503) 266-3193 2020 Picks: strawberries, raspber- ries, blackberries, marionberries, boy- senberries Information: ❚ southbarlowberries.com ❚ South Barlow Berries (Facebook) Dallas Perryhill Farm Where: 5775 Perrydale Rd, Dallas Phone: 503-623-4539 2020 Picks: raspberries, blueberries, peaches, cherries, apples Information: ❚ www.perryhillfarm.net ❚ Perryhill Farm (Facebook) Hildebrandt Cherry Orchards Hildebrandt Cherry Orchards offers more than 12 varieties of cherries. Where: 18905 SE Wallace Road Day- ton Phone: 503-871-9411 2020 Picks: sweet cherries Information:Hildebrandt Cherry Orchards (Facebook) Jeff and Jen's U-Pick Where: 18265 SE Neck Road Dayton Phone: 503-560-9275 2020 Picks: strawberries and blue- berries Information: jeff-and-jens-u-pick.business.site Boones Ferry Berry Farms Where: 19602 Boones Ferry Road NE Hubbard Phone: 503-678-5871 2020 Picks: blueberries, strawber- ries, raspberries, marionberries, boy- senberries Information: ❚ www.boonesberry.com ❚ Boones Ferry Berry Farms (Face- book) Sublimity Jensen Blueberries A small u-pick blueberry field located a mile outside of Sublimity and operat- ed by owners Annette and Mark Jensen. A family friendly field, Jensen Blueber- ries offer Duke, Blue Crop, Legacy and Pink Lemonade varieties. Where: 8485 Anderson Road Sub- limity Phone: 503-769-4244 2020 Picks: blueberries Information:Jensen’s Blueberries (Facebook)
