Summer is here, which means warm weather, clear skies and time spent outside — and feasting on farm-fresh fruits and veggies. Nothing beats getting your produce straight from the source. So skip the supermarket and head to one of these U-pick farms for some of Washington’s best locally grown bounty.
Bailey Family Farm
Snohomish
Open throughout the summer months, this fifth-generation family farm offers 50 acres of fruits and vegetables for you to pick. July is raspberry season across the state, but here you also can pick snap peas, lettuce and other greens, potatoes, onions, beets, green beans and garlic. In August, come for the cucumbers, herbs, carrots, sunflowers and corn. Load up on fresh berries for baking, cucumbers for pickling and beets and green beans for canning. And don’t forget to bring water and snacks as the farm is large and some produce areas are up to a quarter-mile walk from the entrance. For more information, visit www.baileyveg.com.
Blackburn Gardens
Mount Vernon
Wanting to fill your home with glorious summer color or just looking to bring a smile to the face of someone special? Then head to this micro-urban flower farm on the edge of old town Mount Vernon, where every Tuesday and Saturday in July, you can pick your own bouquet of colorful blooms. For just $42, you can fill a bucket — that’s about 50 stems of floral beauty. Mix classic peonies, lupine, ranunculus, feverfew and heirloom mums with bottle-brush-shaped foxtail lilies and giant delphinium for an eye-catching display. Blackburn Gardens is a private garden, so U-pick times are by ticket only. For more information, visit blackburngardens.com.
Remlinger Farms
Carnation
Named one of the top U-pick attractions in the country by USA Today, this family-owned and -operated U-pick farm in Washington has been offering fresh produce for more than 50 years. Today, it’s grown into a 350-acre “agritainment” center with something for every member of the family. Start the morning with an old-fashioned U-pick experience — July and August are raspberry season — and then enjoy a farm-fresh meal at the on-site restaurant. Afterwards, the kids will thrill to carnival rides, pony rides and a petting zoo, while Mom and Dad can kick back at the property’s wine bar or brewery. For more information, visit remlingerfarms.com.
Schirm Loop Homestead Lavender Farm
Olympia
The purple flowers of lavender plant epitomize the sweetness of summer. Not only are they beautiful to look at, their soothing fragrance is known to reduce stress, improve mood and promote restful sleep. Fresh-cut or dried, they make a perfect warm-weather addition to your home. From the end of June through mid-September, you can cut your own lavender blossoms at this picturesque U-pick farm in Washington, on the shores of the Puget Sound. Wander through the stunning rows of blooming lavender and pick a bouquet or two. Don’t forget to stop at the gift shop for farm-made lavender soaps, oils, candles and more. For more information, visit schirm-loop-homestead-lavender-farm.business.site.
Rodale Institute Pacific Northwest Organic Center at Cascadian Farm
Rockport
Nothing tastes better than fresh-picked berries, and the organic farming practices of this agricultural research center guarantee that you’ll be choosing the juiciest, highest-quality berries around. Part of the famed Pennsylvania-based Rodale Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to the study of regenerative agriculture, this historic farm has been at the forefront of the organic movement since the 1970’s, and it serves as an educational hub for farmers and the general public. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer, you can pick your own berries — raspberries in July and blueberries in August — tour the farm and learn about the organization’s research. For more information, visit rodaleinstitute.org/u-pick.