As summer arrives, one of the best parts is biting into a juicy, vine-ripened tomato. The flavor can’t be beat when the tomato is picked at peak ripeness, still warm from the sun. If you want the freshest, tastiest tomatoes around, the solution is simple – pick your own!
Picking your own tomatoes is a fun outdoor activity and a great way to get high quality produce. When you pick tomatoes yourself, you get to choose only the ripest, most perfect ones. You also get to try heirloom and specialty varieties that may not be found at the grocery store. Plus, picking your own is usually cheaper than buying pre-picked tomatoes. It’s a win-win situation for your wallet and your taste buds!
How and Where to Pick Your Own Tomatoes
Pick your own tomato farms (also called u-pick or you-pick) are located throughout the country Chances are there’s at least one within easy driving distance from your home Here’s what you need to know to have an enjoyable pick your own tomato adventure
What to Look For in a Tomato U-Pick Farm
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A variety of tomato types – slicers, romas, cherry, heirloom etc. This gives you options to find your favorites.
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Clean, well maintained fields. Look for robust tomato plants with minimal signs of disease or pests.
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Clear pricing by the pound or container. Some farms charge entrance fees.
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Weekend and extended hours catering to families and working folks Many have weekdays too,
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Easy walking conditions in the tomato rows with ample parking nearby.
Best Practices for Picking Ripe, Ready Tomatoes
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Look for tomatoes that are fully colored and slightly soft to the touch. Avoid hard, pale tomatoes.
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Pick tomatoes by grasping the vine carefully and twisting gently. Don’t yank.
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Use scissors/pruners to cut tomatoes from crowded vines. Don’t pull and risk damage.
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Handle tomatoes gently to avoid bruising. Use baskets, not plastic bags.
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Keep freshly picked tomatoes shaded. Don’t leave them sitting in hot sun.
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Expect to get some green tomatoes. They’ll ripen eventually indoors.
Ways to Find Pick Your Own Tomato Farms Near You
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Search for “pick your own tomatoes near me” or “u-pick tomatoes near me”.
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Check state or regional pick your own farm directories online.
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Look for signs, ads and listings for nearby farms.
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Ask neighbors and friends for recommendations.
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Check for Facebook pages of local farms that show their crop status.
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Call farms ahead to ask if tomatoes are ready and confirm hours.
The Many Benefits of Picking Your Own Tomatoes
In addition to unbeatable freshness and flavor, there are many other reasons to take part in the pick your own tomato experience:
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Spend time outdoors together. Picking tomatoes makes for a fun group activity for families, friends, clubs, church groups, etc. Kids especially love it!
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Learn where food comes from. Getting out on the farm builds agricultural awareness and connects you to the source.
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Get high quality tomatoes. Carefully handpicked tomatoes are less likely to get damaged compared to commercial harvesting.
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Discover heirloom and specialty varieties. Unique tomatoes you won’t find in stores let you explore new colors, shapes and tastes.
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Eat better. Studies show people who participate in pick your own eat more fruits and veggies.
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Reduce waste. You select only the perfectly ripe tomatoes you need, instead of some going bad.
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Save money. Cut out the middlemen and high transportation costs of retail grocers.
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Support local farms. Your patronage helps small farmers in your community succeed.
Enjoy Your Tomato Bounty at Home
Once you’ve returned from the farm with your haul of fresh picked tomatoes, here are some ideas for enjoying them:
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Make caprese salad with tomato slices, mozzarella, and basil. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic.
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Grill thick tomato slices on the barbecue. Top with parmesan and fresh herbs.
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For a cool treat, blend up gazpacho or tomato smoothies. Add veggies and seasonings of choice.
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Cook up a batch of classic spaghetti sauce to freeze or can for later use.
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Dress up sandwiches and burgers with sliced tomatoes, onion, lettuce, and mayo.
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Make bruschetta with diced tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, basil, onion, salt and pepper over toasted bread.
Pick the Perfect Tomatoes This Season
Partaking in the age-old tradition of picking your own tomatoes is an enjoyable way to gather farm-fresh produce. The flavor of a sun-warmed, vine ripened tomato cannot be matched. With so many excellent farms offering pick your own tomatoes, it’s easier than ever to find ones near you. Get out and pick some juicy red beauties before summer’s bounty is gone!
Find a pick-your-own farm near you! Then learn to can and freeze! Since 2002! We update continuously; Beware the copycat websites!
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for tomatoes that we know of in this area.
Not all areas of a state have tomatoes farms that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!
Remember to always check with the farms own website or Facebook page before you go – or call or email them if they dont have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there – check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DONT GO!
PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the “Report Corrections” form below.
New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather. See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.
New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com – As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas
Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok. 
During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.
In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water. But you can use any type you can get hold of. You may just have to cook them down longer to boil off excess water. See our Master list of tomato varieties
You’re Picking Tomatoes WRONG: NEVER Vine Ripen A Tomato Again!
FAQ
What month do you pick tomatoes?
August is prime time throughout most of the country for harvesting tomatoes.
What is the best time to go fruit picking?
Fruit is ripe at different times, depending on the variety. You get early, mid and late varieties. Discovery is one of the earliest apple varieties, usually picked in mid to late August, and Beth, an early pear, is usually ready in late August.
How do you pick tomatoes at farmers market?
- ➊ Sight → Be mindful of the color — make sure it’s deeply colored whether it’s yellow, green, orange, or red.
- ➋ Smell → You’ll know it when you smell it because it smells like sweet tomatoes!
- ➌ Touch → Give it a squeeze — You want it to feel firm but not too hard.