We’re lucky to live in California for all sorts of reasons, but the year-round abundance of fresh produce is one of our favorites. From April to August, local fields are overflowing with sweet, juicy strawberries that are ripe for the picking. If you’ve never had the pleasure of picking fresh strawberries straight from the plant, you’re in for a treat at these Bay Area strawberry fields.
California’s strawberry season generally begins in the late spring and runs through early fall. Peak season can vary depending on the farm and location, but it usually lands between April and July.
With this in mind, be sure to check each farm’s strawberry harvest in advance before hitting the road. Happy picking!
Three Nunns Farm
Brentwood’s Three Nunns Farm may best be known for its massive corn maze and pumpkin patch during the fall, but they also have bountiful strawberries and cherries available for U-Pick each summer. While the 2025 season is still TBA, last year’s peaked in May and June. Berry picking is the main event, of course, but Three Nunns also offers some fun attractions for kids including the impressive Cherry Coaster and charming tractor rides.
🌐 Website: Three Nunns Farm
📍 Location: 550 Walnut Blvd, Brentwood, CA 94513
Berry Best Family Farm
Berry Best is anticipating a March-April 2025 opening date for U-Pick strawberries near San Francisco. In past years, ambitious visitors have sold them out, so it’s worth arriving early for the best selection. In addition to the popular strawberry picking, you can purchase pre-picked seasonal produce including cherries, fava beans, blueberries, peaches, boysenberries, melons, and more.
🌐 Instagram: @berrybestfamilyfarm
📍 Location: 7450 Balfour Rd, Brentwood, CA 94513
Chao’s Strawberries
This delightful Bay Area strawberry farm presents a great U-Pick experience about an hour from SF. It’s run by the Chao Family, who trace their roots to the Iu Mien people in Southeast Asia and immigrated from Thailand in the ’90s. After your afternoon of strawberry picking, make sure you stop by the fruit stand and pick up more produce from Mom Chao.
🌐 Instagram: @chaostrawberries
📍 Location: 2600 B Walnut Blvd, Brentwood, CA 94513
Blue House Farm
If you’re driving from San Francisco, you can reach Blue House Farm in just under an hour. The certified organic farm is spread across 74 beautiful acres right off Highway 1, and they have a great bounty of produce in addition to their popular strawberry and pumpkin U-Picks. Leave time to shop at the farmstand after your visit, where you can grab more freshly harvested produce, flowers, heirloom dry beans, and amazing products from the community.
🌐 Website: Blue House Farm
📍 Location: 950 La Honda Rd, San Gregorio, CA 94074
Swanton Berry Farm
Just a bit further down Highway 1, you’ll find Swanton Berry Farm in the charming coastal town of Davenport. Not only is Swanton the first CCOF-certified organic farm in California, but they have uplifted union labor for decades. While the 2025 season is still TBA, you can usually expect U-Pick strawberries from May-October, olallieberries from June-July, and kiwis from November-January.
🌐 Website: Swanton Berry Farm
📍 Location: 25 Swanton Rd, Davenport, CA 95017
Gizdich Ranch
Watsonville’s Gizdich Ranch is where I grew up fruit picking (me, Jamie, the author, hello!). They invite guests to pick their own strawberries, ollalieberries, boysenberries, and in the fall, apples. Run by a 4th-generation family, Gizdich has been around since 1937 and continues to be a local authority in Watsonville’s apple country.
You can’t leave Gizdich without having a slice of pie à la mode at their on-site bakery, which offers tons of pie flavors like apple olallie, strawberry rhubarb, apricot, boysenberry, and more. I’d argue that anyone who grew up within a 20-mile radius of Gizdich is well-acquainted with their legendary pies, which are highly coveted for holidays and celebrations. Enjoy!
🌐 Website: Gizdich Ranch
📍 Location: 55 Peckham Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076