Pick Your Own Strawberries in Maine

“The morning air is still cool in the shade, but the sun is beating down with intensity.  We grab four empty quart containers from the farm stand at Alewive’s Brook Farm in Cape Elizabeth and wander back towards the fields. Just past the chicken coops lie the strawberries—low-lying plants, aptly sprouting up amongst rows of yellowed straw. Ruby gems of fruit punctuate the scene, dangling gently from the small, green plants.

We plop our daughter, just seven months old, down between two rows of plants. She might be new to this whole strawberry picking thing, but she picks it up quickly—she grabs a berry and puts it right in her mouth. While one parent hovers to manage the intensely juicy crime scene unfolding on our daughter’s onesie, the other sets to work filling the quart containers. Less than an hour later, the four quarts overflowing with berries, we carry them back to the farmstand.  Seeing the red-stained cheeks and clothing, the woman behind the counter asks, “Do I need to weigh you to see how many berries you’ve eaten, missy?” We all laugh.”

— Cam Held, co-editor of Maine the Way, whose work documents the people, places and details that define life in Maine.

When Is Strawberry Season in Maine?

Few summer rituals capture the season quite like picking strawberries in Maine. The harvest is fleeting, but for those who arrive at just the right moment, the reward is unforgettable: sun-warmed berries, bursting with sweetness, gathered straight from the field.

Each June, U-pick farms across the state welcome visitors to fill baskets with ripe strawberries, while many also offer freshly picked pints and boxes to take home. If you’d rather skip the picking, you’ll find fresh Maine strawberries at farm stands and farmers markets across the state throughout the short harvest season, making it easy to enjoy just-picked berries wherever your travels take you. 

The season typically runs from mid-June into early July, though timing varies each year. Popular fields can be picked clean quickly, making it worth calling ahead or checking the farm’s social media accounts beforehand.

Where to Pick Strawberries in Maine

You’ll find more than 4,200 small farms in Maine, most of which are family-owned. Support local farmers and enjoy the freshest fruits of the season when you visit one of the pick-your-own strawberry farms across the state. Here are a few options to start:

Alewive’s Brook Farm, Cape Elizabeth

Spiller Farm, Wells

Ives Berry Farm, Saco

Lavigne’s Strawberry Farm, Sanford

Snell Family Farm, Buxton

Bradbury Mountain Berry Farm, Pownal

 Fairwinds Farm, Bowdoinham

Daisychain Farm (MOFGA certified organic), Belfast 

Pineland Farms, New Gloucester

Underwood Farm, Auburn

Adam’s Strawberry Acres, East Corinth

Treworgy Family Orchards, Levant

Goughan’s Berry Farm, Caribou

McElwain’s Strawberry Farm, Caribou