Pick Your Own Strawberries

Late spring brings strawberries to Western Pennsylvania - strawberry festivals, strawberry pies and U-pick strawberry patches. Many Pittsburgh area grocery stores and farm markets carry locally-grown strawberries in June, but if you want to pick your own berries, there are plenty of options available as well. Make sure you call first to check availability, however, and remember that strawberries at the southern farms (i.e. Washington County) ripen earlier than strawberries in more northern counties (i.e. Butler County). Strawberry season in Western Pennsylvania typically runs from Memorial Day through the third week in June.

Farms that feature U-pick strawberry patches in the Pittsburgh area:

Paskorz Berry Farm, West Deer (724-265-3073) Hours: 8am - 8pm, Monday through Friday; 9am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday.

Reilly's Summer Seat Farm, Mount Nebo (412-364-8270). Hours: 9am - 7pm Mondays through Saturday; 10am - 4pm Sunday. Popular for their May Strawberry Blossom Tours and June U-Pick strawberries. Call for availability.

Simmons Farm, McMurray (724-941-1490). Hours: 8am - 12pm and 6pm - 9pm, Monday through Friday; 8am to 12pm Saturday and Sunday. If you're interested in picking strawberries, please call ahead to verify quantity and time availability.

Sarver's Hill Farm, Greensburg (724-834-2334). U-pick strawberries by appointment only.

Soergel Orchards, Wexford (724 935-1743). Hours: 8:00am - 7:30pm, Mondays through Fridays; 8:00am - 6pm, Saturdays and Sundays. Call ahead for pick-your-own strawberries, or stop by for the annual Strawberry Festival the second weekend in June.

Triple B Farms, off Route 51 at Elizabeth exit (724 258-3557). Hours: 8am -7:30pm Monday through Friday; 8am - 5pm, Saturday; 10am - 5pm, Sunday.

Trax Farms, Finleyville (412-835-3246). Berry season hours: 9am - 7pm, Mondays through Fridays; 9am - 5pm Saturday; and 10am - 5pm Sunday. Call ahead for dates and times for pick-your-own strawberries, or stop by for the annual Strawberry Festival the second weekend in June.

Once you've picked the strawberries, be sure to come back and check out these yummy strawberry recipes.