8 of the Most Exciting and Immersive Strawberry Picking Locations in Ottawa
Do you love strawberries? There’s just something about that incredible blend of sweetness and tanginess that makes me crave the fruit so much.
Besides eating it as is, strawberries are also versatile. Whether it be using the fruit for jam, toppings on a cake, or turning it into a delicious shake, you can enjoy it however you want.
While buying packed strawberries in the ByWard Market or any other groceries in Ottawa is a great way to get the fruit, I have my own way of obtaining it.
See, I have a hobby of driving to nearby farms and picking strawberries by hand. This way, I can pick out the best ones myself and create some of the most delicious dishes in my recipe book.
Though Ottawa itself doesn’t have dedicated strawberry farms, the city is quite close to a lot of great places where we can handpick this tasty fruit. Let me show you some of the best strawberry farms near the city, which I and other locals frequent.
Orleans Fruit Farm
Address: 1399 St Joseph Blvd, Orléans, ON K1C 7K9, Canada
Website: https://www.fermedorleans.com/
Operating hours:
- Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM–5:30 PM
- Saturday-Sunday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Orleans Fruit Farm is a true gem nestled right in the heart of Ottawa’s Orleans neighborhood. As a local, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting this family-owned farm for years, and it never disappoints.
First off, let’s talk about the strawberries. The location offers some of the juiciest, most delicious strawberries you’ll ever taste.
When it’s strawberry season, we flock to this place to experience the joy of picking our own ripe, red berries straight from the fields. The farm has a variety of types to choose from, ensuring there’s something for everyone’s taste buds.
What sets Orleans Fruit Farm apart is the warm and welcoming atmosphere. As soon as you step foot on the farm, you’re greeted with friendly smiles and a sense of community.
The owners and staff are incredibly knowledgeable about their crops and are always happy to offer tips and guidance. They will show you the best picking spots or which strawberries are at their peak ripeness so you get the tastiest ones of the bunch.
Besides the tips, the staff also provides containers for you to collect your strawberries, making the experience convenient and hassle-free.
They understand that strawberry picking is not just about the fruit itself but also about creating lasting memories with family and friends.
It’s the kind of place where you can spend a sunny afternoon connecting with nature and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
Now, let’s talk logistics. Orleans Fruit Farm is conveniently located in Orleans, making it easily accessible for both locals and visitors.
The staff usually updates the website with information about opening times, availability, and any special events happening throughout the season. I recommend checking their website or giving them a quick call before heading out to ensure the best experience.
Oh, and one more thing. Keep in mind that Orleans Fruit Farm doesn’t limit its offerings to just strawberries.
Depending on the season, you may find other delightful fruits and vegetables available for picking, like raspberries, blueberries, or even pumpkins, come fall.
Richmond Nursery
Address: 5740 Old Richmond Rd, Richmond, ON K0A 2Z0, Canada
Website: richmondnursery.com
Operating hours:
- Monday-Sunday: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Richmond Nursery is more than just your average garden center. It’s a place where green thumbs unite and where the beauty of nature comes alive.
I’ve spent countless hours exploring the vast selection of plants, trees, and gardening supplies. But when the ripe season rolls around, it’s an entirely different kind of magic.
The strawberry-picking experience at Richmond Nursery is simply enchanting. The moment you arrive, you’re greeted by the sweet aroma of ripe strawberries and the sight of lush green fields.
Then you have the farm staff, a delightful group that knows just about everything when it comes to growing top-tier fruit. They take great pride in their strawberries and ensure that only the finest, most flavorful berries make it to the farm’s pick-your-own fields.
One of the things I love about Richmond Nursery is the variety of strawberry types it offers. From the classic June-bearing varieties to the everbearing ones, you’ll find options to suit your preferences.
Whether you’re looking for strawberries for fresh eating, baking, or preserving, Richmond has you covered. The farm provides containers for picking, so all you need to bring is your excitement and a sense of adventure.
It’s a fantastic activity for our families, friends, or even a peaceful solo excursion. There’s something incredibly satisfying about plucking ripe strawberries right from the plant and tasting their sweetness on the spot.
Aside from the strawberry gathering itself, Richmond Nursery is known for its warm and friendly staff.
They’re always ready to offer guidance on the best picking spots or share their favorite recipes for using the strawberries you’ve gathered. It’s this personal touch that makes them unique and gives you an even more enjoyable experience.
They typically update their website and social media platforms with information about strawberry picking availability, opening times, and any special events that they will be holding.
If you’re planning a visit to Richmond Nursery for some strawberries, I highly recommend maximizing your time there. Take some time to explore the farm’s beautiful nursery, where you’ll find a wide range of plants, flowers, and gardening essentials.
It’s a haven for plant lovers and an excellent opportunity to gather inspiration for your own garden.
Avonmore Berry Farm
Address: 16365 4 Rd, Avonmore, ON K0C 1C0, Canada
Website: avonmoreberryfarm.com
Operating hours:
- Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM–8 :00 PM
- Saturday-Sunday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Avonmore Berry Farm is a charming destination located near Ottawa, and let me tell you, it’s a place that truly captures the essence of berry picking in the region.
This place is a family-owned gem that offers a fantastic gathering experience. From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted by the sight of vast strawberry fields brimming with luscious red berries just waiting to be plucked.
The farm takes great pride in growing high-quality strawberries, ensuring that every bite is bursting with flavor.
One great thing about Avonmore Berry Farm is its commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. It prioritizes organic growing methods so you can enjoy the strawberries knowing that they’re 100% safe from pesticides and chemicals.
Now for the picking process itself, it’s straightforward and enjoyable. The staff will provide you with containers for collecting your strawberries, making it easy to gather the juiciest ones.
Besides that, they are always on hand to offer guidance, share tips on finding the ripest berries, and ensure that your picking experience is nothing short of fantastic.
If you are interested in other things other than strawberry gathering, Avonmore Berry Farm also offers other activities and attractions to enhance your visit. It has a farm market where you can find additional fresh produce and homemade goodies.
This is a great opportunity to stock up on other locally sourced treats and support the local community.
Ferme Proulx et Érablière (Proulx Sugar Bush & Berry Farm)
Address: 1865 O’Toole Rd, Cumberland, ON K4C 1N2, Canada
Website: proulxfarm.com/fr/francais/
Operating hours:
- Monday-Tuesday: 8 AM–5 PM
- Wednesday-Friday: 8 AM–4 PM
- Saturday-Sunday: 8 AM–3 PM
Ferme Proulx et Érablière is another family-owned farm near Ottawa. It offers an incredible range of activities and experiences for visitors of all ages, making it a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
When it comes to strawberry picking, Ferme Proulx et Érablière provides a delightful opportunity to immerse yourself in the joy of harvesting your own fresh strawberries.
The fields are vast and abundant, with rows upon rows of strawberry plants that are simply begging to be picked. It’s an activity that allows you to connect with nature, appreciate the farming process, and enjoy the fruits of your labor—literally!
One of the standout features of Ferme Proulx et Érablière is the lively and vibrant atmosphere that permeates the farm. From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted by the sights and sounds of a bustling agricultural community.
The farm hosts various family-friendly activities, including a play area for children and a petting zoo where you can interact with adorable farm animals.
These additional attractions add an extra layer of excitement and make it a perfect destination for a fun-filled day out with loved ones.
In addition to strawberry picking, Ferme Proulx et Érablière offers a diverse array of seasonal produce and local products. You can explore its market, where you’ll find fresh fruits, vegetables, and other homemade delights.
It’s an opportunity to support local farmers and discover the abundance of agricultural goodness that the Ottawa region has to offer.
Shouldice Berry Farm
Address: 2110 Merivale Rd, Nepean, ON K2G 3N4, Canada
Website: shouldicefarm.com/
Operating hours:
- Monday-Tuesday: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Wednesday-Friday: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Saturday-Sunday: 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
The Shouldice Berry Farm is another hidden gem that has been delighting people for a long time. When the strawberry season comes, people from all over Canada, not just Ottawa, come to this farm to pick their own sweet, sun-ripened strawberries.
The farm takes great care to grow many different kinds of strawberries so that everyone can find one that fits their tastes. They are big, juicy, sweet, and sour, a testament to how much the farm cares about quality and taste.
Shouldice Berry Farm stands out not only because of its great strawberries but also because of the whole experience it gives.
As soon as you step foot on the farm, the owners and staff will make sure you feel welcome and know everything about the fruit.
Their knowledge and love of farming are clear as they happily lead you through the fields. As they show you around while giving you tips, they will lead you to the place where you can find the ripest strawberries.
Even though picking strawberries is the main activity at Shouldice Berry Farm, it’s important to note that the farm also sells other seasonal and local goods.
You can also find treats like raspberries, blueberries, or even fresh vegetables that you can pick yourself or buy. It’s a great chance to enjoy the “farm-to-table” experience and help out local farmers.
Fraisiere Duquette Strawberries
Address: 2236 Champlain Rd, Clarence Creek, ON K0A 1N0, Canada
Website: duquettestrawberries.com
Operating hours:
- Monday-Saturday: 8:00 AM–7:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
The Fraisiere Duquette Strawberries is a cherished spot among us locals who appreciate the finest strawberries in the region.
When the strawberry season arrives, locals eagerly make their way to this charming farm to experience the joy of picking their own delicious, ripe strawberries.
The strawberries at Fraisiere Duquette are truly exceptional and reflect the farm’s commitment to quality. From the moment you set foot in the strawberry fields, you will see rows of vibrant, meticulously tended plants.
The strawberries here are known for their intense flavor, juiciness, and irresistible sweetness that will leave your taste buds craving for more.
Something I love so much about Fraisiere Duquette is its authentic and down-to-earth ambiance. As you explore the fields, you’ll likely encounter friendly and passionate Duquette family members.
I’ve had plenty of experiences where I’d have a casual chat with them, and they would passionately share their knowledge about strawberries and other farm-related stuff.
This warm hospitality adds a personal touch to the experience, making you feel like a part of their strawberry-picking family.
For its other offerings, Fraisiere Duquette Strawberries has seasonal produce or homemade goodies. Keep an eye out for additional fruit such as raspberries, blueberries, or perhaps some delectable homemade jams and preserves.
Miller’s Farm
Address: 6158 Rideau Valley Dr N, Manotick, ON K4M 1B3, Canada
Website: millersfarmandmarket.ca
Operating hours:
- Monday-Sunday: 8 AM–5 PM
Miller’s Farm is another family-run local treasure that has been serving us for many years. When the strawberry season comes around, we are very eager to go to this beautiful location so we can pick our own delicious strawberries.
The strawberries are known for being of the highest quality and having an incredible taste, something that the farm takes pride in.
As you walk through the large strawberry fields, you’ll see row after row of brightly colored plants that are full of red berries that are ready to be picked.
To really help you get the best fruits of the bunch, the friendly staff in the area are ready to assist you. They can tell you how to find the ripest strawberries and make sure you have a great time picking them.
Every part of the experience shows how much they love farming and want to give you the best strawberries possible.
At Miller’s Farm, they know that picking strawberries is about more than just the fruit. It’s a chance to connect with nature and enjoy the simple life of the country.
As you pick strawberries, you can breathe in the fresh air, look at the beautiful scenery, and enjoy the peace that comes from being in nature.
Just like the rest of the farms on this list, Miller’s Farm has other things for you and other visitors to do and see besides picking strawberries.
You can find a farm market where you can look at a great variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables, homemade jams, and other treats. It’s a chance to not only eat strawberries but also see what else the area has to offer in terms of agriculture.
Beckwith Berries
Address: 9961 Cavanagh Rd, Carleton Place, ON K7C 0C4, Canada
Website: beckwithberries.com
Operating hours:
- Monday-Fridays: 8:00 AM — 8:00 PM
- Saturday-Sunday: 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM
Beckwith Berries has become a popular place for us to go to when the freshest strawberries are ripe for picking. This awesome place has huge fields full of ripe, juicy strawberries that are impossible to resist.
The farm takes great care in growing strawberries, making sure that each one is full of sweetness and has a wonderful smell.
The thing that really sets Beckwith Berries apart is the immersive and personalized experience that it offers. The staff is friendly and passionate about what they do and are always ready to help visitors.
Whether you’ve picked strawberries before or this is your first time, they’ll be happy to give you tips and tricks to help you find the best strawberries and get the most out of your picking trip.
Beckwith Berries makes it easy and fun to pick your own berries. The staff gives you containers or baskets to pick your strawberries, which makes it easy to pick the ripest and juiciest ones.
Besides that, the idyllic setting of the farm, which is surrounded by beautiful countryside, adds to its charm and peace. When you go to Beckwith Berries, you can enjoy being close to nature and enjoying the simple pleasures of farm life.
As you walk through the fields, smell the sweet scent of strawberries and feel the warmth of the sun on your back. You really can’t help but appreciate the beauty and abundance of nature.