I reached down to the rows of perfectly spaced plants, grabbed the jewel-red berry, pinched it off the stem, and dropped it into a basket. Then, I did it 100 times more.
That’s the somewhat meditative – and extremely delicious – experience of U-pick strawberry picking.
U-pick fruit farms are a cherished Bay Area tradition. I love going up to Brentwood to pick cherries and heading to Sebastopol for apples in the fall.
But starting in very late May and early June, it’s strawberry season!
The best place in the Bay Area to go U-pick strawberry picking is at Blue House Farm in San Gregorio, California.
Visiting Blue House Farm
Never heard of San Gregorio? That’s not surprising, as the town itself is basically one general store with a built-in post office and a bunch of farms.
This tiny enclave is located about 30 minutes south of Half Moon Bay, California. It’s definitely remote, and that’s part of the appeal. It takes about an hour and a half to get there from San Francisco, and you’ll feel like you’re in a totally different, much slower, and more peaceful world.
The farm is a very trusting business. You don’t need to check in or register. You just grab a basket when you arrive and walk straight out to the field to pick strawberries.
They are all arranged in long rows with plastic-covered mounds and irrigation pipes.
Good for Kids?
I loved that it was very simple for little kids to walk down these rows and grab fresh red berries. Apple picking can be challenging with a toddler, as the trees are way too tall for them to comfortably reach.
Strawberries are the perfect alternative. Even my three-year-old was able to pick some berries himself.
I went the day before Memorial Day, and the berries were still a little tart. The real season begins in June, so they just get sweeter from here.
The fields weren’t too busy, even on a busy holiday. There were a few tour groups that stopped by, but otherwise, it was very peaceful to walk through the fields and pick strawberries.
You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful place to do it.
Visit the Farmstand
Once we finished, we took the baskets back to a little farm stand, where they were weighed, and we were charged $7 per pound for strawberries. That’s still fairly expensive, but these are certified organic strawberries, locally grown, and the freshest you could possibly imagine.
The farm stand also had some delicious locally made pastries, beans grown on the farm, artisan goods, and more, all in a giant authentic barn.
This would be an ambitious day trip from San Francisco. But if you can combine it with a trip to Half Moon Bay, you could stop by an amazing restaurant like Mezzaluna, Sam’s Chowder House, or the Conservatory at the Ritz, maybe take the kids to Lemos Farm, and then finish the afternoon with some strawberry picking.
It’s a fantastic way to stock up on delicious fruit and know where your food comes from.
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