Pick your own strawberries at these Delaware farms this spring

Late spring is prime strawberry season in Delaware, and we’ve gathered all you need to know to embark on a strawberry-picking adventure.  

With clear skies and plenty of sunshine, picking a bucket of Delaware’s official fruit is a great family outing or something fun to do with friends, while also supporting local farmers. 

Before you go, make sure you check the weather forecast, pack a water bottle and apply sunscreen. It is also recommended that you wear closed-toe shoes when picking produce on the farms.  

For anyone who is new to the world of strawberry picking, all you have to do is pinch the green stem between your thumb and index finger, then lightly pull and twist at the same time. 

A few more key tips for a successful berry bounty include picking only strawberries that are fully red, looking through plant beds that are less picked over and not picking any berries with white tips, green berries or strawberry flowers.  

To help your strawberries last longer, refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking them and only wash them right before you plan to eat them. If you won’t be using them soon after picking them, wash them, remove the stems and freeze them. 

Now that we’ve gone through the basics, here are several local farms ready to provide a day full of strawberry picking: 

Fifer Orchards, Camden

Recognized as a Delaware century family farm, having opened in 1919,  Fifer Orchards in Camden offers strawberry picking Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the U-Pick experience. U-Play admission features yard games perfect for families, with picnic tables and restrooms for public use. Saturday admission requires an all-inclusive Spring Fest ticket.   

You also can stop by the Farm Store to purchase local goodies and a selection of the orchard’s fresh fruits and vegetables.   

If you find yourself getting hungry after picking strawberries, the Farm Kitchen building sells lunch and dessert items including cider doughnuts, strawberry ice cream, apple cider slushies and homemade strawberry shortcakes.    

Looking for another u-pick offering? Fifer Orchards Provides u-pick blueberries in June and July from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and u-pick peaches on Fridays and Saturdays in July and early August from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. U-pick flowers are available from July to mid-August Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The farm uses its Facebook page to keep guests updated on daily picking conditions and orchard offerings.  

1919 Allabands Mill Road, Camden, (302) 697-2141; fiferorchards.com/.  

Hundred Acre Farms, Smyrna  

Hundred Acre Farms in Smyrna is located on about three acres of land and focuses on fruits, vegetables, bees, small batch jams and Christmas trees. Purchased in 1938, the farm is nearly a century old. 

The small family farm offers strawberry picking while they are in season. The farm said in an April 21 Facebook post that u-pick strawberries will begin in May, so stay tuned for updates on when the berries are ready.  

Following your day in the fields, check out some of their homemade honey jams that come in two strawberry flavors. Their red, black and blue jam is made with strawberries, blackberries and blueberries, and their strawberry apple jam, one of their most popular flavors, includes strawberries, apples, honey and no added sugar.    

If you’re unable to partake in a day of fruit picking but still want fresh local produce, Hundred Acre Farms offers a pick-up option so visitors can have their favorite farm produce set aside for them. All you need to do is reserve your items through the farm and they will deliver the order right to your car when you arrive.   

2124 Vandyke Greenspring Road, Smyrna, (602) 689-6403; hundredacrefarms.org/.  

Twisted Steel Cattle Co. LLC, Harrington  

In Harrington, Twisted Steel Cattle Co. LLC is a farm market specializing in homegrown beef, produce and other goods.    

Strawberry picking is usually open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, but keep an eye on Twisted Steel’s Facebook page for daily updates on picking conditions.   

If you want more strawberry goodness, they offer prepicked strawberries by the quart, berries for dipping or that have been pre-dipped and fresh strawberry jam.    

Preorder and pickup options also are available for any of their market offerings.    

14255 S. DuPont Hwy., Harrington, (302) 566-6943; facebook.com/TwistedSteelBeef/. 

More fresh fruit, veggies: Your guide to Delaware farmers markets for 2026

Parsons Farms Produce, Dagsboro  

Parsons Farms Produce in Dagsboro began offering U-Pick strawberries by the gallon in April.  

Strawberry picking is typically open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. If you want more strawberry goodness, they offer prepicked strawberries by the quart, berries for dipping or that have been pre-dipped and fresh strawberry jam.   

To make the U-Pick outing complete, they also have fresh beef for sale, a country store filled with fresh produce, ice cream, events and farm animals available for feeding and petting.    

Blueberries and peaches are also available in the spring and summer months. The farm’s Facebook page will provide u-pick updates as the crops change.   

30391 Armory Road, Dagsboro, (302) 732-3336;parsonsfarmsproduce.com/. 

Ramsey’s Farm, Brandywine Hundred  

Ramsey’s Farm in Brandywine Hundred has plenty of U-Pick options throughout the year, including strawberries. The farm announced on Facebook in late April that strawberry U-Pick season was about one month away. Stay tuned on their social media for more updates.  

Beyond berries, flowers will be available at Ramsey’s farm stand later in the year, along U-Pick pumpkins and a variety of fall fun.  

440 Ramsey Road, Brandywine Hundred, (302) 496-6426; ramseysfarm.com/. 

Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.