Summer is a revolving door of berries you can pick yourself at a family-owned farm that can trace its local agricultural roots back to 1948. Strawberry season means the farm drives its "Jolly Trolly" in the Marysville Strawberry Festival parade, then come July the harvest turns to raspberries, tayberries, black raspberries, blackberries, and finally blueberries. Shortcake biscuits are available for purchase, too.

Baking pros might recognize the farm as the former Bryant Blueberry Farm, which boasts a blueberry-centric cookbook, but others know the Arlington location for its family-friendly atmosphere, picnic tables, and extensive nursery. Burned out on blueberries? Make your way to the farm’s lesser-known picks: currants, boysenberries, Aronia berries, and a rotating selection of veggies and farm fresh eggs. 

Owners Doug and Clarissa Metzler Cross are a duo of many talents, as evidenced by their U-pick farm, which doubles as a saddlebred horse stable. The farm has historic roots, literally, dating back to 1947, when the original owners first planted the blueberry crops that the Metzler Cross family now cares for. Check the website for updates before heading to Auburn—the five acre farm closely monitors picking to protect the heirloom berries. 

Created for a school assignment in 2009, Seattle's volunteer-run native food rehabilitation project boasts a diverse range of berry bushes that draw neighborhood fruit fanatics every summer. Good for more than a traditional once-a-summer farm visit, it’s a destination for year-round options and community-centric attitude. Bring your own basket to carry out your haul and make a donation if you’re able.  

The Remlingers started out with a little roadside fruit stand in 1965, and it’s since become an annual summer destination for Seattle families, complete with a range of activities that stretch the definition of what a farm can be. Seasonal U-pick fields, a farm store with a well-stocked supply of canning tools, a bakery, a restaurant, and an amusement park make up the Carnation institution—check Facebook or the farm’s website daily for updates on availability.  In 2024 they debuted an outdoor concert series.

The tranquil Ball Creek sets the stage for these blueberry fields. Owned by Amy and Agustin Moreno, the certified organic farm offers U-pick berries from bushes that are over 70 years old. Pay by the pound, and be sure to wear pants that can handle the brushy conditions.

You might want to pull the rain boots out for this one: planted in a spring-fed bog, these historic blueberry fields were saved from demolition because of their natural surroundings. Pay $15 for any amount up to five pounds of blueberries, or $3 per pound for a larger haul. 

Sequim is the poster child for Washington summers with its Olympic views, inescapable lavender scent, and impressively large berry bushes. Picking raspberries, loganberries, and lavender at Graysmarsh can easily become a day-long event, but for those with a little less time on their hands, pre-picked half flats are available to purchase alongside the farm’s honey, essential oils, and surprising jam blends.

Keith and Janet Stocker’s 20-acre farm offers seven varieties of heirloom blueberries (including the Collins, a special variety with a distinct blueberry-grape flavor), sunflower fields, and the priceless know-how of these fourth-generation Snohomish farmers. Take a break from your picking extravaganza by soaking in the farm’s views of the Snohomish River Valley and (if the weather is clear) Mount Baker.  A sunflower festival follows the berry season in August.

While the U-pick activities start in early summer with strawberries, they go through fall with pumpkin and apple collection. An annual Baby Animals and Berries Festivals celebrates all things sweet and tasty (you know which is which). As with most U-pick farms, pets are not allowed.