A beautiful sunny Summer means a gorgeous and early blueberry harvest! See the guide below for Pick-Your-Own locations and information. Most local farm stands also have quarts of fresh blueberries, if pick-your-own isn't your thing.
Thanks to our sponsor Parlee Farms! The support of our sponsors enables us to bring you all the fun info on Macaroni KID Lowell! Read more about Parlee Farms below and please support local farms like Parlee Farms whenever you can!
A note from Ellen Parlee at Parlee Farms:
Blueberry picking is a great activity for families with children, as there are many blueberries that a child can pick on their own. And at Parlee Farms, our blueberry fields are stroller friendly. When you come to Parlee Farms, you can make the most of your visit by getting a warm blueberry crisp from Mary’s Country Kitchen, enjoying our new Sandbox, and feeding our friendly animals at Annie’s Animal Barn.
Here are some tips from Ellen Parlee at Parlee Farms to help make your picking experience the best for your family and for the delicate plants on the farm:
- Pick only the fully ripe berries that are round, blue, and not cracked in any way
- Blueberries that are the darkest in color are often the sweetest
- Avoid berries that are not fully blue in color because they aren’t yet ripe and will not be sweet.
- A blueberry that is ready to be picked will easily roll off of the stem. These perfectly ripened berries have a superior flavor and it is worth it to take the extra step to pick only the best! Sometimes ripe blueberries roll off so easily that they might slip through your fingers ~ it can help to cup your hand underneath if you spy a really ripe group of berries, or even hold your bucket under and just gently brush them off the stem and into the bucket.
TYNGSBORO
Parlee Farms
95 Farwell Rd, Tyngsborough 978-649-3854
Blueberry picking starts July 2nd! Be sure to check their Facebook page or website for the latest picking conditions and hours. Due to the farm's popularity, they often open the picking fields for only a few hours in the morning. While at Parlee Farms kids can enjoy time in the giant sandbox, seeing the farm animal and snacking on tasty treats!
DRACUT
Farmer Dave's
437 Parker Rd, Dracut 978-454-3434
Blueberry picking early July. Fields are open 9 AM - 6 PM Tuesday through Sunday. Picking schedule is dependent on various conditions. Check the daily schedule on Facebook or their website before heading to the farm. Pre-picked blueberries are also available at the farm stand. See our article to learn more: Pick-Your-Own Blueberries at Farmer Dave’s in Dracut.
CHELMSFORD
Parlee's Farm
135 Pine Hill Rd, Chelmsford. 978-256-2859
(Note: this is a different farm than Parlee Farms in Tyngsboro.)
Picking schedule is dependent on various conditions. Check the daily schedule on Facebook before heading to the farm.
GROTON
Autumn Hill Orchard
495 Chicopee Row, Groton 978-448-8388
Autumn Hill Orchard offers pick-your-own blueberries beginning in July and is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 AM - 4 PM. Autumn Hill Orchard is expecting a great harvest of raspberries, blueberries, pears, grapes, and apples. Please check their Facebook page, updated daily, to find out what is available each day.
PEPPERELL
Kimball Fruit Farm
184 Hollis St (Rt. 122), Pepperell. 978-433-9751
Check their Facebook page for the latest picking conditions. Quarts of freshly-picked fruit are already available at the farm stand. Open daily 9 AM to 6 PM.
Kimball Fruit Farm practices Integrated Pest Management which results in a reduced use of chemicals. They offer pick-your-own strawberries, raspberries and apples and have a farm stand with a wide variety of produce grown on-site.
HARVARD
Carlson Orchard
115 Oak Hill Rd, Harvard 978-456-3916
Carlson Orchard offers pick-your-own blueberries plus cherries, strawberries, apples and more. They are open daily from 9 AM - 4 PM. Please check their Facebook page, updated daily with what is available each day.
Doe Orchards
327 Ayer Rd, Harvard 978-772-4139
Different varieties of blueberries ripen at different times; they will have blueberries from early July through August. Pick your own blueberries Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM - 4 PM. Their website or Facebook page are not updated often; the quickest way to find out about pick-your-own is to call.
Westward Orchards
178 Mass Ave, Harvard 978-456-8363
Westward Orchard offers pick-your-own blueberries mid-July, see their website and Facebook page for updates.
STOW
Honey Pot Hill Orchard
138 Sudury Road, Stow 978-562-5666
The farm is opening on July 17 for pick-your-own. Check their Facebook page or website for the latest picking update.
NORTHBOROUGH
Tougas Family Farm
234 Ball St, Northborough 508-393-6406
Blueberry Season at Tougas Family Farm runs from July to mid-August. Check their Facebook page for daily updates on pick-your-own. Open daily 8 AM to 4 PM. Picking at Tougas Family Farm can be a whole day of fun! After picking, enjoy farm fresh homemade baked goods, apple cider donuts, and ice cream at the Tougas Farm Kitchen, and then visit the barnyard to see the goats climb their mountain of stone. Plus, their barnyard, playground, and farm kitchen are great activities for young kids to enjoy.
Do you know of another local farm that offers blueberry picking? Let us know via email!
Thanks again to Parlee Farms for supporting Macaroni KID Lowell!
Blueberries are a great crop for the entire family to pick. Today, Parlee Farms has over 10 acres of pick your own blueberries. They offer 10 different varieties of blueberries at Parlee Farms in Tyngsboro. By growing so many varieties, their blueberry season lasts from early July to mid-August. Here are when some of their most popular blueberry varieties are available:
Early Season:
- Patriot and Bluetta – medium size and good flavor
Mid-season:
- Toro – outstanding berry
- Blueray: very popular variety. Very good flavor and large size
Late season:
- Chandler: the perfect blueberry. Very large (quarter) size and good flavor.
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