Pick your own berries

For many in Portland, however, the season hasn’t officially begun until they’ve taken a trip out to one of our local u-pick farms for luscious, sweet and juicy strawberries. Luckily, Friday is opening day.

The area surrounding this city is blessed with an abundance of u-pick farms, and from now until October you can find some of the world’s best berries, flowers, vegetables and herbs to gather in the fields yourself or purchase directly from local farmers at their farms.

U-picks offer inexpensive produce at great prices. Berries, especially, can be outrageously expensive at grocery stores. Pick them yourself, and you’ll pay about half the price and get a fresher berry that’s never seen the inside of a cooler. You’ll taste the difference.

Sure, gas is expensive too, but you’re also getting a temporary vacation for the money you do spend. If you can manage a trip to a farm during the week, the fields are often deserted and your only company will be the birds and perhaps some nearby livestock. Nothing compares to the taste of a strawberry, warmed by the sun, eaten in the middle of the field.

It helps to be prepared–your hands will be stained with berry juice and your feet will be dusty or muddy, so wear your grubby clothes. And don’t forget the sunscreen and plenty of water.

Call first and find out what’s ready–one farm may have plenty of what you’re looking for and another could be picked clean. Also ask about containers. Most places encourage using your own or charge for cardboard reusable flats.

Vegetables are available at many farms too, but berries are what our locale is known best for. Picking your own corn is especially fun, parting the rows of stalks and yanking out the mature ears.

Carefully plan how much you need to buy. It is easy to get stuck in a groove and before you know it, you’ve picked too much. Be sure, too, to pick some extra for munching in the car!

Find a map and a full listing of u-pick farms in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties at www.tricountyfarms.org.

If you go…

Columbia FarmsThis farm is worth the drive beyond the closer “farmers markets” on Sauvie Island. Diane Kunkel runs this family farm, and she greets all of her customers like friends. She’ll tell you where to pick and what’s best. The Hood and Puget strawberries here are usually the best around–not always huge but generously sweet and flavorful.

21024 N.W. Gillihan Rd.Sauvie Island, OR 97231503-621-3909Opens Friday, June 1.

Directions: 4.8 miles under Sauvie Island Bridge on Gillihan Road. Look for the large white barn.Summer: Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,Fall: Friday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Koch Family FarmThis farm grows a few different varieties of strawberries available this weekend. The owner, Kay Koch, said that raspberries are looking very good for picking in July.

11350 S.W. Tualatin-Sherwood Rd.Tualatin, OR 97062503-692-5749Opens Friday June 1.

Located on Tualatin-Sherwood Road near Avery Road. Look for signs.Open every day, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Groveland AcresOpen May 31, this farm is opening one day earlier than everyone else!

N.W. Badertscher Rd.Hillsboro, OR 97124503-647-2158 or 503-647-5641

Take Helvetia Road exit from Sunset Highway, north 2 1/2 miles to Badertscher Road (first right past Helvetia Tavern), watch for u-pick signs.

Open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Closed Sunday, depending on availability.

West Union farms7775 N.W. Cornelius Pass Rd.Hillsboro, OR 97124503-645-1592

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Sunday. After Labor Day, Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Not open until late June, with raspberries and tayberries.