Your Guide to Strawberry Picking in Ottawa

We love going strawberry picking with our kids. Somehow, even though it’s messier, sweatier, and takes longer, it always feels worth it in the end! It’s such a fun way to spend time outdoors and teach our kids about where food actually comes from.

And we’re lucky here in Ottawa to have a bunch of options available for strawberry picking. The season normally starts mid to late June so it’s time to get out there!

Please remember that farmers work incredibly hard year round to have these crops available for us locally! Mother nature has been unpredictable in the past few years and so some crops have been damaged or smaller/later than normal. Please appreciate their hard work by being as respectful of their fields as you would be of your own home and garden.

Here are all the spots we found to go strawberry picking in Ottawa.

@lifeoolongtheway out strawberry picking in Ottawa!

WEST END

Richmond Nursery
Address: 5740 Old Richmond Road
Hours of Operation: Pick-your-own berries open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (pre-picked strawberries available 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
Cost: $9 for 2L of strawberries or $16 for 4L. Everyone over the age of 12 is expected to pick and pay for 2L of strawberries- so a family of 2 adults and 2 children would need to buy 4L of strawberries, minimum.
Notes: Richmond Nursery accepts cash, debit, and credit for payment. Richmond Nursery has been growing strawberries since 1959. They strive to minimize the number of fertilizers and pesticides used and attempt to recycle and reuse as many plastic bins as possible- so visit twice and bring your old bins back!

Beckwith Berries
Address: 9961 Cavanagh Road, Carleton Place ON, Canada, Ontario, K7C 0N5
Hours of Operation: Open during the week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekends.
Cost: Beckwith charges by the pound so you can pick as much or as little as you like. The cost is $2.50 per pound, with a $1 charge for the basket- so a 4L basket typically costs about $13.
Notes: Cash only!

Foster Family Farm
Address: 3390 Borrisokane Road, Nepean
Hours of Operation:
Cost: A variety of sizes are available: 1L costs $6, 2L costs $11, 4L costs $21, and 6L costs $28.
Notes: Cash is preferred and there is a farm stand where additional fruits and veggies are available as they come into season. In the fall there will be pick your own pumpkins available at the field. Foster Farm also has a Community Supported Agriculture program available- this is a great way to get local, delicious fruits and veggies weekly throughout the summer and into the fall!

CENTRAL

Shouldice Berry Farm & Market
Address and Hours of Operation: Shouldice has 4 locations!
BELLS CORNERS – 3451 Richmond Road – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
BARRHAVEN – 2901 Woodroffe Avenue – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
NEPEAN – 2110 Merivale Road – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
RICHMOND VILLAGE: 6494 Franktown Road – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cost: $10 for 2L, $20 for 4L, or $25 for 6L.
Notes: Each location also has a farm shop with additional homemade products available, like jams, pies, and salsa, as well as different fruits and veggies later in the season!

EAST END

Ferme Proulx et Érablière
Address:  1865 Chemin O’Toole, Cumberland
Hours of Operation:
Cost: Cash and debit accepted. Credit is accepted with an additional 3% charge. Proulx Farms has a variety of sizes available. It costs $4.50 for 1L, up to $18.00 for 4L (plus the cost of a basket which ranges from $.75 to $1.75). Everyone over the age of 3 must pick at least 1L of strawberries.
Notes: During the picking season, there are 10+ varieties of strawberries, ranging in colour from pinkish red to bright red! They also have pick your own raspberries and blueberries later in the season.

Fraisière Duquette Strawberries
Address: 2236 rue Champlain Road, Clarence Creek
Hours of Operation: Always call ahead as hours vary, based on how many strawberries are available! Call 613-488-3284 or email via their website.
Cost: $2.90 per pound so 4L is usually around $15
Notes: Payment available by cash, debit or e-transfers. In the fall you can pick you own pumpkins from their fields, and they also sell honey made by the bees who live on the farm. There is parking close to the fields, an outhouse, and picnic tables, so you can plan to stay for a while and picnic outside.

SOUTH END

Millers’ Farm & Market
Address: 6158 Rideau Valley Drive
Hours of Operation: Open everyday including Holidays – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $8 for 1L, $13.50 for 2L, $22 for 4L. Credit, debit, and cash are all accepted.
Notes: Millers has a variety of produce that can be picked at different times of the year, starting with strawberries, and later in the year raspberries, currants, and gooseberries. There’s a market centre where you can purchase other produce and goods like jams and honey. For the kids, there are play structures, and wagon rides to the picking patch (for an additional fee). There are picnic tables and outhouses on site for those who want to stay longer. There are also chickens and bunnies!

Avonmore Berry Farm
Address: 16365 Fourth Rd, Avonmore
Hours of Operation: Open daily from mid-June to October 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. You are encouraged to call ahead for picking conditions and to confirm hours at (613) 346-2336.
Cost: $10 for 2L or $17 for 4L, debit and cash accepted.
Notes: Avonmore has 20 acres of berry patches! Raspberries start ripening later in the season and are typically available in July. There is a children’s play area (sandboxes, tires, swings and slides) as well as a store to buy other goods, including jam and freezing supplies. In the fall there is apple and pumpkin picking, as well as wagon rides.

Rideau Pines Farm
Address: 5714 Fourth Line Rd, North Gower
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You’re encouraged to call ahead for picking conditions (613-489-3601) or check updates on their Instagram page (as they may need to close if they’re all picked until more strawberries ripen).
Cost: $4.25 per pound so 4L would be just over $21.00
Notes: Wheelchair and stroller accessible. The farm market on site also sells other fruits and vegetables that are in season. Haskaps are available to be picked as well.

Rochon Gardens
Address: 2245 York’s Corners Road, Edwards, ON
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Cost: $15 for 4L. Empty baskets need to be purchased for $1. Cash, credit and debit accepted.
Notes: This farm also has a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, so you can sign up to get fresh fruit and veggies every week!

Photo courtesy of @rochongarden!