Update as of 6/11/17 Picha Farms in Puyallup is now open for u-pick berry picking on select days. This is one of the only places in the South Sound for u-pick berries (especially strawberries), and it’s definitely your best option if you’re looking for a u pick berry option near Tacoma, so I wanted to make sure it got on your radar.
Whether or not u-pick is available does change from day to day.
The best way to know if they’re open is to go to the Picha Farms fb page to check.
Never been? Read on for my post with all you need to know before you go!
- A rare appearance by my hubby…The Sounds Fun Dad….being a good sport in the berry fields.
Picha Farms is just off River Road. You might also check Spooner. The last couple of years they have not offered u-pick, but it depends on their harvest.
Facebook readers also recommend Duris Farms. They have stands in Puyallup and a u-pick field in Kent.
Readers also recommend Johnson Farms in Lacey No u-pick here, but they are organic.
Remlinger Farms in Carnation is another option if you’re up for a bit of a trek, and they do offer u-pick.
Back to Picha……When you arrive at the fields you’ll pick up boxes from the stand or you can buy already picked berries if you change your mind. As of this writing the price for u pick is 1.85 per pound-cash or check only.
You’ll be directed across the road to the fields, where a berry girl will assign you to a row.
There is truly nothing like the taste of a fresh picked strawberry. Definitely worth a little effort! Here are some more tips to know before you go.
- Dress Appropriately-Wear clothes and shoes suitable for the field, and hats and sunscreen. In terms of facilities, there is a porta-potty with a bottle of hand sanitizer. That’s it.
- Know Your Limits! Picha charges 1.85 pound for upick which is a great deal for fresh strawberries. You may want to decide on how much you want ahead of time, though. We overdid it a bit, which leads to…
- Have a Plan Fresh strawberries go south fast, so if you don’t have time to deal with them, you’ll want to rinse them and spread them in a layer on a cookie sheet to freeze. Then you can bag up the frozen berries for whenever. My friend Jeanne gave me this genius tip.
- Fight the boredom-If you’re planning on some serious picking, be aware that most kids will have fun for the first 30 minutes or so, before boredom sets in. My friend Traci suggests bringing along some cars or other small toys to let them play with in the dirt. Brilliant!
You might also enjoy this post on Free blueberry picking at Charlotte’s Park in Tacoma. Blueberries won’t be ready for quite a while yet, but you’ll want to add this one to your summer bucket list now!
Thank you for this website . It is very useful and very helpful. Keep up the great work. Looking forward to this summer and new adventures with great advice from our new friends at Sounds Fum Mom.
Thanks so much, Laura! We have tons of posts to help you with your summer adventures coming up.