Pick your own Strawberries in the Harrisburg & Mechanicsburg area

One of my favorite things to do with my kids every spring is picking fresh strawberries. It's always a good time and fun finding the biggest, juiciest berries in the fields. The little ones tend to eat more than they pick and I've learned not to sweat it.  In fact, there's something about a sun-warmed strawberry fresh off the vine that tastes just like childhood.  I hope when they grow that taste brings them right back to these summer afternoons.  

Here are some of our favorite tips & tricks for picking great berries & having fun:

• Many farms & orchards give you a bucket to pick berries into - we usually bring cheap beach buckets with handles for each kid & combine into the big container at the end so kids don't have to pick right on top of each other & can spread out a bit
• Wear old clothes & shoes, the berries are all still attached to the plants in a dirt field so it could be a tad muddy, or they could fall walking over the rows of plants
• Pull the berries from the stem, pulling on just the berry could rip the entire plant out of the ground or rip the berry
• Once home, do not rinse your berries until you're ready to use them - then use cool water to get the dirt & any leaves off
• Store berries in a shallow container in the fridge, 9x13 pans work great if you have a big haul
• Strawberries will not ripen more once picked so stay away from berries that aren't fully ripe
• Don't forget sunscreen & water for everyone in your group
• Go early - the later in the day you are the more likely it is that other pickers have already picked the biggest & best strawberries available for the day
• All of the locations listed here have a farm stand that offers baked goods, fresh produce & more. Stop on by for a cookie, ice cream or sweet treat as a reward for all of your hard work :)
• Have fun!