Start With A Simple Goal: Pick Berries You Will Be Happy To Bring Home

Strawberry picking should feel fun, but it also helps to know what you are looking for before you start filling a basket. At Peterson Family Farm, we want your visit to feel easy from the moment you get to the field. You do not need to be an expert, and you do not need to rush. A little patience, a careful eye, and a gentle hand will help you pick better berries and protect the plants for the next family who comes through the row.

The main goal is simple: pick strawberries that are fully ready, handle them carefully, and avoid damaging berries that still need more time. Strawberries do not keep ripening the same way some other fruits do after they are picked, so choosing the right berries in the field matters. The best berries are the ones that are already fully red, fresh-looking, and ready to eat or take home. That is why good strawberry picking starts before your hand even touches the fruit.

1Check In Before You Head To The Field

When you arrive at Peterson Family Farm, come check in with us near the little red farm stand before heading out to pick. We’ll let you know where to go, what the picking looks like that day, and whether there are any field details you should know before you start. If you brought your own basket or bag, we will weigh it before you pick so you do not pay for the weight of the container. If you did not bring a container, we have baskets available to help you get started.

Checking in first helps the whole visit go more smoothly. Strawberry fields change from day to day because berries ripen in stages, and one row may have better picking than another depending on the weather and how much has already been picked. We can point you toward the best area for that day, which saves time and helps you avoid wandering into rows that are not ready. It also helps us protect the field and keep everyone picking in the right place.

Why It Matters

• You know where to pick before entering the field.
• Your basket or bag is weighed before you start.
• You do not pay for container weight.
• We can answer questions before you begin.
• You get current field guidance instead of guessing.

Why Not Skip This Step

Skipping check-in can make the visit more confusing than it needs to be. You may head toward an area that has already been picked or miss the section where berries are ready. You may also forget to weigh your container, which makes checkout harder. A quick check-in keeps the visit simple for you and for the farm.

2Look Under The Leaves Before You Move On

Strawberries like to hide under the leaves, so do not judge a row too quickly. A plant can look empty from above and still have ripe berries tucked underneath. This is one of the biggest mistakes new pickers make because they look only at what is visible on top. Before moving to another plant, gently lift the leaves and check around the base.

This does not mean pulling, stepping, or digging through the plant roughly. Strawberry plants are low and delicate, and the leaves help protect the fruit. Use one hand to gently move the leaves aside and the other hand to look for berries that are ready. If you take your time, you will usually find more ripe fruit than you first noticed.

How To Do It

• Stand or kneel carefully beside the row.
• Gently lift the leaves without pulling the plant.
• Look near the crown and under the leaf cover.
• Check both sides of the plant before moving on.
• Put the leaves back gently when you are done.

Why It Works

Many ripe strawberries hang low or sit partly hidden under foliage. Looking under the leaves helps you find berries other visitors may miss. It also keeps you from walking too far too quickly and overlooking good fruit. Slower picking often leads to a better basket.

3Choose Berries That Are Fully Red

A strawberry is ready to pick when it is entirely red, including the tip. If the berry still has a white or pale area near the end, leave it on the plant so it can finish ripening. This matters because strawberries develop their best flavor while attached to the plant. Once picked, they do not improve in sweetness the way people sometimes expect.

Peterson’s strawberry page already gives visitors the most important picking rule: pick berries that are entirely red, with no white tips. That simple visual check helps you avoid fruit that is not ready yet. It also helps the next picking day because berries left on the plant can continue developing. Picking too early gives you a less flavorful berry and removes fruit that would have been better for another visitor later.

4Pick With The Stem, Not By Crushing The Berry

Once you find a ripe strawberry, pick it gently. Try to hold the stem just above the berry and pinch or snap the stem instead of squeezing the fruit itself. The goal is to remove the berry cleanly without crushing it in your hand. If you pull hard on the berry, you can bruise the fruit or damage the plant.

A small piece of stem and the green cap help protect the berry after picking. Leaving the cap attached can also help the fruit hold up better on the way home. Strawberries are soft fruit, and rough handling shows up quickly as bruising or leaking. A careful pick keeps your berries in better condition and keeps the plants healthier.

How To Pick Gently

• Find a fully red berry.
• Hold the stem just above the berry.
• Pinch or snap the stem cleanly.
• Keep the green cap attached when possible.
• Place the berry gently into your basket.

Why Not Pull Hard

Pulling hard can tear the plant, knock off nearby berries, or bruise the fruit you are picking. It can also disturb berries that are not ready yet. Strawberry plants continue producing during the season, so protecting the plant matters. A clean, gentle pick is better for your basket and better for the field.

5Place Berries Gently In Your Basket

After you pick a berry, place it into your basket instead of dropping it. Strawberries bruise easily because they have soft flesh and a high water content. A berry that looks perfect in the field can get damaged if it is tossed, pressed under too much weight, or packed into a deep pile. Gentle handling helps the berries stay better for the ride home.

You do not need to build a mountain of berries in one container. If your basket is getting full, use another container if you have one or ask us what works best. A shallow layer is better than a heavy pile because the berries at the bottom do not get crushed. This matters most on warm days, when ripe fruit softens faster.

6Walk Slowly And Watch Where You Step

We love seeing families enjoy the strawberry field, but we do ask everyone to walk carefully through the rows. Strawberry plants grow close to the ground, and fruit can sit under the leaves or along the edge of the row. Walking too quickly makes it easier to step on plants, flowers, or berries. Running through the field can damage fruit that is ready now and fruit that still needs more time.

This is especially important when visiting with kids. Kids are welcome, and strawberry picking is a great family activity, but they may not realize how easily a plant can be damaged. A quick reminder before heading into the field helps. Ask them to walk, look before stepping, and stay near you while picking.

Good Field Habits

• Walk slowly through the rows.
• Keep feet out of the plants.
• Watch where children step.
• Stay in the picking area we direct you to.
• Avoid stepping across rows unless directed.
• Ask us if you are unsure where to go.

Why It Matters

Careful walking protects the crop and keeps picking better for everyone. A damaged plant may lose berries for that day or later in the season. A crushed berry cannot be picked by the next visitor. When everyone moves carefully, more families get to enjoy the field.

7Taste Thoughtfully If You Are Sampling

We allow visitors to taste test while out in the field because we want you to be happy with the variety you pick. Peterson grows several strawberry varieties, including Galletta, Flavorfest, Cabot, and AC Valley Sunset, and each one has its own timing and flavor. A small taste can help you decide what you like before filling your basket. That is especially helpful if more than one variety is available during your visit.

Tasting should be thoughtful and respectful. Try enough to understand the flavor, then focus on picking what you plan to take home. The field is shared by everyone, and each ripe berry matters during a short season. If you are not sure what variety you are picking or where to find the best berries, ask us before you continue.

8Know When To Stop Picking

It is easy to pick more strawberries than you planned, especially when the field is good. Before your basket gets too full, think about how you will use the berries after you get home. Fresh eating, freezing, jam, sauce, and desserts all use different amounts. Picking the right amount helps you enjoy what you bring home without letting good fruit go to waste.

This does not mean you need a detailed plan before arriving. It just helps to pause once your container starts filling up. Strawberries are best when they are used while fresh, and overpicking can lead to soft berries sitting too long at home. If you want more later, you can come back during the season when availability allows.

Good Reasons To Keep Picking

• You plan to eat them fresh within the next few days.
• You are making jam, sauce, pie, or dessert.
• You want to freeze berries for later.
• You are sharing with family or friends.
• The berries are firm, fresh, and fully ripe.

Good Reasons To Pause

• Your basket is getting too deep.
• You are not sure how you will use them.
• The berries at the bottom are getting pressed.
• The day is hot and fruit is softening.
• You have enough for your household.

9Come Back To Weigh And Pay

When you are done picking, bring your berries back to the farm stand area. We weigh what you picked and charge based on the final berry weight. If you brought your own basket or bag, we already weighed it before you started, so you are paying for the strawberries, not the container. Pick-your-own strawberries are $5.50 per pound for the 2026 season.

There is no entry fee for strawberry picking at Peterson Family Farm. We do have a $5 minimum strawberry purchase per person for visitors age 4 and older, which is not an admission fee. It is a minimum purchase tied to the berries. We accept cash, check, and card, so checkout is simple when you return from the field.

10Check Before You Visit Again

Strawberry picking changes from day to day, especially early in the season and after busy picking days. The field may have strong picking one day and lighter picking the next while more berries ripen. Weather also matters because rain, heat, and field conditions can affect how much fruit is ready. That is why we recommend checking back or calling before each visit.

If you had a great picking day, we hope you come back. If you are planning another trip with family or friends, check current availability before heading over. Strawberry season is short, and the field changes quickly. A quick call or update check helps you choose the right day.

The Best Picking Comes From Slowing Down

Good strawberry picking is not complicated, but it does reward patience. Check in first, look under the leaves, choose fully red berries, pick gently by the stem, place fruit carefully in your basket, and walk slowly through the field. Those steps help you bring home better berries and help us protect the plants during a short picking season. They also make the visit more relaxed for your family because you know what to do and why it matters.

We are excited to have you at Peterson Family Farm for strawberry season. Bring your family, ask questions when you get here, and let us point you toward the best picking available that day. The field changes as berries ripen, weather shifts, and visitors pick, so checking current conditions before coming is always a good idea. When you take your time and pick carefully, you get more from the visit and more from every berry you bring home.