Community Corner

Five Places to Pick Your Own Fruit

Take the kids and show them where fresh fruit comes from.

See the updated article for summer 2012:

There's something special about making a pie--or jam--from fruit you've picked yourself. Here are five small family-owned places to check out this summer and fall for fresh fruit picking. Word of warning--you may need to get up early to pick, as many farms close the gates after a certain number of people come through in a day.

1. Lakeview Farms: This farm in St. Peters has both strawberries and raspberries in the summer and pumpkins in the fall. Strawberry picking in 2011 is expected to wrap up by Tuesday, so get out there while there are some left. The raspberry season is expected to run between June 11 and 24. Hours are 7:30-11 a.m. or when they run out of berries.

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2. Wind Ridge Farm: This pick-your-own farm is located in New Melle, MO and grows blueberries, peaches and blackberries. The blueberry picking season is expected to begin at the end of June. Check the Wind Ridge Farm Facebook page for updates.

3. Thierbach Orchards: Thierbach Orchards has sour cherries and blueberries available for picking from 7 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The Blueberries are $2.50 per pound and the cherries are $1.99 per pound. Later in the summer, they have blackberries, peaches and apples available.

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4. Centennial Farms: Located in Augusta, MO, Centennial Farms has pick your own blackberries, available by appointment in the summer. In the fall, they have pick your own apples and pumpkins available.

5. Mills Apple Farm: Across the river in Illinois, Mills Apple Farm is about 25 minutes away from St. Louis. Head out on a fall weekend, ride the wagon and pick a bag full of apples.


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