Nowadays there’s almost no fruit or vegetable that you can’t find at your local supermarket. Although getting everything you need all in one place is very convenient, there’s nothing like fresh produce that you choose and pick yourself.
Luckily, if you live in or around Madison, Wisconsin, there are plenty of great farms where you can do exactly that. So gather your family, and head down to one of these farms. You’ll find people with a strong passion for farming, and you’ll discover the truth in the old saying, there’s no tastier produce than what you pick yourself.
Blue Skies Farm
Opened by Paul and Louise Maki back in 1991, the Blue Skies Farm has been a wonderful place to pick your fruit and vegetables ever since. Their main crop is fall raspberries, and the season where you can visit them and pick your own fruit lasts from min-August to late-September.
They don’t only grow raspberries, as they have a wide variety of tomatoes, tropical ginger, and turmeric. Although they are only open to the public for a short time every year, it’s well worth the wait. During the rest of the year, their produce can be found at local farmers markets.
Creek Bed Country Farmacy
About 30 minutes North of Madison, you’ll find this lovely farm that’s been open to the public since 2012. Their first available produce was 20 acres of corn mazes and a huge pumpkin patch, but they have grown a lot since then. Three acres of strawberries were added in 2014, with sugar snap peas and sunflowers completing a wonderful crop.
Their plans for expansion for the immediate future include adding peach and cherry orchards, so odds are this farm will become more and more popular in the years to come.
The Berry Farmer
A little more than 2 miles West of Baraboo, you’ll find this family business that started 20 years ago. Their main crop is strawberries, and there are 10 acres of them to pick, along with some pre-picked ones for those in a hurry. The farm also has blueberries available for picking, as well as more than an acre of peas.
They do a great job of keeping their crops as chemical free as possible by picking fruit varieties that are naturally resistant to pests and diseases. They constantly monitor their fields to make sure their crops are kept healthy with as little chemical assistance as possible.
Apple Holler
If a good apple is what you’re after, then this is definitely the place for you. Apple Holler is not only a farm, but also a restaurant, gift shop, bakery, and orchard, so you have all the ingredients for a fun day with your family.
Along with more than 30 different types of apples, you can also pick and enjoy a delicious variety of peaches, pears, and pumpkins.
No matter what your favorite fruits and vegetables are, there are plenty of places in and around Madison where you can pick them yourself and make a fun day out of it.
“Fresh berries on a wooden table” via Flickr by Ajithpoison. Used with permission via CC BY 2.0 / cropped from original
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