Seattle's Child

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Raspberry picking: Where to go, how to pick, what to do with your berries

Your all-inclusive guide to picking raspberries with your kids this summer

Raspberry picking is friendly to all heights of pickers. In fact, a multi-height team is a plus. The raspberry canes do have prickles, but they are small and don’t cause problems unless someone falls into them. Best of all, unlike strawberries, you don’t have to bend over to pick them!

Raspberry picking usually starts in late June and peaks in July. In mid-June, start checking the websites of the farms below for the exact opening dates.

Picking tips:

Dress for the weather,Ā  and wear shoes that protect your feet from the prickers.

Bring sunscreen, water, and snacks.

Some of these farms take cash only and some will not take cash.

 

Eastside

 

Harvold Berry Farm, Carnation

This smaller farm in Carnation, has U-pick strawberries and raspberries. New this year: 5 lb minimum for berries and 1lb minimum for green beans due to consumption of berries and produce in the field. Call or check the Facebook or website for updates. Strawberry U-pick will be open mid June. Raspberry U-pick will be open around July time (Check closer to date) before arriving. harvoldberryfarm.com

  • Opening Day for Raspberry U-Pick: Around early to mid July 2025 (Check closer to date)
  • 5207 Carnation-Duvall Rd NE, Carnation, WA 98014
  • 425-298-5125.

Remlinger Farms, Carnation

Remlinger Farms is a wonderful family outing with so much to do whether its picking raspberrys, interacting with various animals or enjoying their weekend live concerts at the brewery! Call or check Facebook for updates. Strawberry U-pick season runs June to July. Raspberry U-pick begins in July (check closer to date). remlingerfarms.com

  • Opening Day for Raspberry U-Pick: Around early-mid July 2025 (Check closer to date)
  • 32610 NE 32nd St, Carnation, WA 98014
  • 425-333-4135

 

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Terra Valley Farms, Monroe

Make a trip to Monroe for a U-pick experience at this beautiful farm. They offer raspberry, strawberry, mulberry and blueberry U-pick. Raspberry U-pick is open in July (be sure to check their facebook for updates closer to date). terravalleyfarms.com.

  • Opening Day Raspberry U-Pick: Around July 2025 (Check closer to date)
  • 19501 Tualco Rd, Monroe, WA 98272
  • (206) 383-9336

 

North Sound

Bailey Family Farm, Snohomish

This family farm is a 5th generation farm, with 350 acres in the Snohomish Valley. They offer 50 acres of vegatables and fruit picking from June through October. They offer a raspberry U-pick in July for families where they can choose their own berries and make an experience out of it. Call or check Facebook or the website for hours. baileyveg.com

  • Opening Day Raspberry U-pick: Around July 2025 (Check closer to date)
  • 12968 Springhetti Road, Snohomish, WA 98296
  • 360-568-8826.

 

Biringer Farm, Arlington

Biringer farm offers a sort of berries including strawberries (June-mid July), raspberries & tayberries (July), black caps and blackberries, blueberries (limited availability) and more. Their raspberry U-pick season starts at the beginning of July (check closer to date). Call or check Facebook or website for hours. biringerfarm.com

  • Opening Day for Raspberry U-Pick: Typically around July 2025 (Check closer to date)
  • 21412 59th Ave. NE, Arlington, WA 98223
  • 425-259-0255

 

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Schuh Farms, Mount Vernon

This Skagit Valley family farm provides fresh produce, pies, baked goods, flowering basket and much more. While the farm is open April through December, it offers a variety of U-pick options for the summer season including strawberry U-pick starting in June, followed by raspberry and blueberry U-pick in July and August. (Check Facebook closer to date). schuhfarmswa.com

  • Opening Day for Raspberry U-Pick: Typically around July 2025 (Check closer to date)
  • 15565 WA-536, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
  • (360) 424-6982

The Rodale Institute Pacific Northwest Organic Center at Cascadia Farm

The Pacific Northwest Organic Center at Cascadian Farm is located in eastern Skagit Valley. The farm offers raspberries and blueberries for U-pick summer 2025. Blueberries typically open from July to August. Raspberry U-pick begins in July (Check closer to date). rodaleinstitute.com

  • Opening Day for Raspberry U-pick: Around July 2025 (Check closer to date)
  • 55749 State Route 20, in Rockport

 

South Sound

Spooner FarmsĀ , Puyallup

Spooner Farms offers U-pick for blackberries and raspberries. Raspberry u-pick will be open around early July (check their Facebook closer to date). spoonerberries.com

  • Opening Day for Raspberry U-pick: Around early July 2025 (Check closer to date)
  • 1200 Orting Kapowsin Hwy E, Orting, WA 98360
  • (253) 840-2059

 

How do you pick out a good raspberry?

  • Ripe raspberries are a little darker red than you think. Think raspberry red, not raspberry pink. Pick only ripe raspberries; they won’t get any riper once picked.
  • Ready raspberries want to be picked. Pull on them and they almost fall into your hand, leaving a white core behind. If you bend the twig and the berry stays put, it’s not ready.
  • Not too squishy. If they are already too soft to eat, leave them there.
  • Refrigerate or freeze them if you have no plans for them before bedtime.

Didn’t eat all the berries you brought home?

Freshly picked sun-ripened raspberries are a sublime summer eating experience so it can be challenging to put more in your container than your mouth. However, most likely you’ll bring home more berries than you manage to eat on the day you pick so here are a few delicious ways to extend the exquisite taste of raspberries.

• Freeze ā€˜em. Raspberries are almost as easy to freeze as blueberries. Rinse them and drain them well, jiggling to drain the centers. Freeze them in a single layer on a flat pan so that they freeze whole and don’t squish. When solid, seal berries in a zip-top bag.

•Make Raspberry Yogurt Popsicles! All you will need is paper cups, popsicle sticks, vanilla yogurt, orange juice, and raspberries. The kids can do this for themselves. For each cup of vanilla yogurt, stir in ½ cup orange juice, and as many raspberries as will fit. Spoon into the paper cups and pop in a stick or spoon. Place in the freezer until solid. Peel off the paper cups and enjoy. Perfect for, “Mom, I’m hungry and it’s too hot!”

• Make a puree. Use a food mill to get an instant purĆ©e and without seeds. Or puree the berries in the blender and squish the blended berries through a sieve to remove seeds. Add sugar to taste and enjoy the gorgeous sauce mixed with yogurt, on top of ice cream, or mixed into bubbly water or lemonade for summer coolness.

• Make jam. Check out our recipe for Raspberry Orange-Flower Jelly Of this simple Raspberry Freezer Jam.

Looking for more kinds of berries to U-pick? Check out our Guide to Berry Picking.

About the Author

Greta Hardin