Your Monthly Guide to What’s Great in the Great Outdoors
Summer has no shortage of things to do outside, but, arguably one of the more rewarding activities is going to u-pick farms. You get something tangible for your effort, and it typically costs a lot less than going to a store, where someone else has done the work for you. Plus, everything is hyper-fresh and local, which can’t be beat.
I caught the u-pick bug as a kid and carried it through into adulthood. And now that I’m also somewhat fanatical about making homemade preserves and fermented beverages, procuring my own fruit just makes sense. I decided for this month’s Get Out to share my favorite places to go throughout the season.
Strawberries are the first to crop up, usually in early June, depending on what the spring weather brings us. Krupp Farms in Comstock Park is my usual go-to, but Ed Dunneback & Girls in Alpine Township is a runner up. Krupp is a no-nonsense experience, while Dunneback has a little more robust offering, if you want to stick around and grab some food or a treat at the farm market. kruppfarms.com | dunnebackgirls.com
Raspberry and strawberry seasons sometimes overlap in late June/early July, and that’s a rare opportunity for me to make blended jam. When the planets align like this, I will rearrange my schedule to make something happen. Krupp is once again my choice, but I also like Blok Orchard in Ada, which has summer and fall crops. And, my absolute fave, but only a late-season spot—usually about mid-August through early October—is Trapp’s Berry Farm. They not only have coveted golden raspberries, but Brian, the proprietor, is one of the nicest people to chat with. blokorchard.com | trappsberryfarm.com
July also brings sweet and tart cherries, and I often use the 4th as a holiday to my advantage. I used to pick both varieties, but there really can be too much of a good thing, so now I focus on tarts. Once picked, they require some urgency—especially if you’ve had them pitted. Which is what brings me to Rasch Cherry & Apple Market in Conklin. Because they have a turn-of-last-century pitting machine! There’s also Robinette’s, which is much closer to home for me, so I’ll hit them in a pinch. One year they had u-pick apricots and I nearly died of excitement. raschcherryapplemarket.com | robinettes.com
Blueberries—everyone’s favorite super fruit—start in about mid-July and usually run through mid-August. I like Grange Fruit Farm in Rockford for u-pick blueberries, but there’s also Bird Berry Farm in Belding. I almost always miss blueberry season, so I don’t have much else to say about it! Find them both on Facebook.
Something I didn’t discover until recently is that u-pick flowers are a thing. Flowers are one of the biggest gifts from Mother Nature, in my opinion. Cut flowers start in about mid-July and most times run well into September. Bremer Produce in Hudsonville and Deep Roots Produce are tied for my top spots, and I go to each of them at least a couple times a summer because it’s a budget-friendly way to always have a fresh vaseful to brighten up the house. Both farms have huge zinnia and sunflower fields, plus a variety of other showy blooms. bremerproduce.com | deeprootsproduce.farm
Peaches are up next, and I mostly only see them in August. Crane Orchards in Fennville is a great spot for picking, plus just down the road is Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant & Winery so you make a whole afternoon out of it. Farmhaus Farms off Kenowa Ave SW (formerly Moelker Orchards) is another sweet spot for u-pick peaches. And, they’re in the same family as Farmhaus Cider which makes me love them just a little more. craneorchards.com | farmhausfarms.com
Just like that, summer’s almost over and apples hit the scene. The earliest varieties are ready in late August and some go all the way into October and November. There are a lot of different types of apples, so you need to pay attention to the ones you like so you go at the right time. Many of the places I’ve already mentioned have u-pick apples, including Dunneback, Blok, Rasch, Robinette’s, Farmhaus, and Crane. I’m sure I’ve missed a lot, but these are the ones I like the most, and they all have their own draws.
