It’s no secret that Maine is famous for its wild blueberries, and if you’re looking to pick the freshest blueberries to munch on during your visit to the Pine Tree State, you’re in luck! This post is all about the best places for blueberry picking in Maine to help you plan the perfect summer day.
Did you know that Maine produces 99% of the country’s blueberries? That’s why it’s such a fun and unique thing to do during your visit. Tasting wild Maine blueberries right from the bush is one of the sweetest experiences you can have, so I definitely recommend adding this activity to your summer itinerary.
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When Is Blueberry Harvesting Season In Maine?
Wild blueberries in Maine are typically harvested from mid-late July through early September, with August being prime season. This, of course, can vary year to year, but generally speaking, most farms that offer U-pick will be open for blueberry picking at this time.
Why Are Wild Maine Blueberries Special?
It’s because of the weather and the soil! The wild blueberry bushes thrive in Maine’s cold winters and hot summers, and are also particularly fond of the acidic soil.
But Maine’s wild blueberries likely came to be over 10,000 years ago when the glaciers melted across the state, and created barrens where the wild blueberries began to grow. And these blueberry bushes are very true to their name – they’re completely wild in that they’re not planted by anyone but Mother Nature. They grow where the earth takes them, and they’ve also never been genetically modified.
Because of all this, you’re left with a blueberry that’s incredibly rich in antioxidants, nutrients, and flavor. You may be surprised to know that wild Maine blueberries are smaller than those you’ll often see in grocery stores, and that’s because they’re not filled with any additional water to plump them up. The small little Maine berries will have the best nutrients and flavor than any others!
Best Places For Blueberry Picking In Maine
Okay, so now on to where you can spend the day picking your own wild Maine blueberries! Here’s a list of some awesome farms that offer U-pick blueberries throughout the harvesting season. These are also not listed in any particular order, so be sure to scroll down to the end to make sure you visit the right blueberry farm for you!
It’s also good to keep in mind that most U-pick blueberry farms in Maine feature planted tall-bush blueberries, not the wild Maine blueberries. But even then, these berries are still extra special, and taste absolutely incredible.
1. Libby & Son U Picks
Location: Limerick
Libby & Son U Picks Quick Guide:
- Priced by the container, and each person entering the fields must purchase at least 1 container (no containers from home permitted)
- Cash, credit cards and Apple/Samsung Pay accepted
- Food available most weekends on-site
- Picnic tables available, and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic
- No pets allowed
- Free and ample parking
- Live music (check website for updates)
- Bathrooms available
For a fun experience that has all the bells and whistles you could possibly want for your blueberry picking excursion, you’ll want to head to Libby & Son U-Pick! Between all the amenities like live music, restrooms, shuttles, picnic tables, a farm stand, and donuts and smoothies in the fall season, you can really make a day of it.
Libby & Son also offers all kinds of fruit picking throughout the season, includes peaches, raspberries and strawberries, so be sure to check out their website to see what’s in season to help you plan your visit.
Pro Tip: This farm is located close to a few other nature activities, like the trailhead to hike up Sawyer Mountain, as well as Lake Arrowhead.
2. Orchard Ridge Farm
Location: Gorham
Orchard Ridge Farm Quick Guide:
- Pay by the pound
- Cash, cards, Venmo and checks accepted
- Containers provided, and you can also bring your own
- Awesome farm stand with yummy food, coffee and baked goods available
- Nature trails open to explore
Orchard Ridge Farm is an awesome blueberry picking destination in Maine, and perfect for making a day out of your visit. Not only do they have wonderful rows of high-bush blueberries to pick from, they also have an amazing farm store that serves up really amazing pizzas and other food items, local coffee and baked goods.
During your visit, they also keep their nature trails opens to visitors, so be sure to allow some time to explore those, and visit with the farm animals, too.
Pro Tip: Orchard Ridge Farm is only about 30 minutes or so outside of downtown Portland, and just 15 minutes from Sebago Lake.
3. Steep Hill Farm
Location: Fayette
Steep Hill Farm Quick Guide:
- Pay by the quart
- Pre-picked blueberries available
- Containers available to purchase, or you can bring your own
- Usually have other products like t-shirts, local honey and maple syrup for sale
- Cash or check only
- No pets
A wonderful blueberry farm in central Maine is Steep Hill, and they’re known for their delicious high-bush blueberries that customers go back for year after year. They also do an amazing job keeping their farm well-maintained and easy to navigate for an enjoyable experience.
Steep Hill also does a great job updating the picking conditions and last-minute closures due to weather. Before your visit, be sure to click here to check updates on their blog.
4. Crabtree’s Blueberries
Location: Sebago
Crabtree’s Blueberries Quick Guide:
- Pay by the pound
- Pre-picked blueberries available
- Free picking buckets available to use, then berries are transferred to a free plastic bag to bring them home
- Quart containers can also be purchased
- Farm stand with fun things for sale including blueberry jams, maple syrup, apparel, mugs, drinks and more.
- Water tap available, so bring a reusable water bottle!
A unique blueberry picking experience can be found at Crabtree’s, which just so happens to also be a fun out-of-print book shop! This farm has over 1,500 high-bush blueberries to pick from that are more than 40 years old. They have have picnic tables on their property, and encourage visitors to bring a picnic and stay a while to enjoy the atmosphere of the farm.
They also have a variety of blueberry types on their property, so you’ll be able to decide which is your favorite after picking!
Pro Tip: Crabtree’s Blueberries is only about 20 minutes or so from Sebago Lake State Park, making it easy to visit both in the same day.
5. Blueberry Hill Farm
Location: Acton
Blueberry Hill Farm Quick Guide:
- Pay by the pound
- Cash, personal checks and credit cards accepted
- Pre-picked blueberries by advanced request via upickbhf@gmail.com
- Bring your own containers, or containers can be purchased for a fee
- Bathrooms available
- Pets not allowed in the picking area
With over 7,500 blueberry high-bushes across 10 acres to pick from, as well as gorgeous country landscapes to enjoy, Blueberry Hill Farm is a great one to visit! It’s so scenic, in fact, they also host weddings and events on their property (but don’t worry, if there’s an event going on, they’re still open for blueberry picking).
With welcoming and friendly service, the kind owners will also offer you rides from the picking fields if you end up with a big haul (which hopefully, you do!).
6. Goss Berry Farm
Location: Mechanic Falls
Goss Berry Farm Quick Guide:
- Containers provided at no charge, or you can bring your own from home
- Portable bathroom
- Cash is preferred, but credit cards are also accepted
- No pets allowed
- Lots of U-pick, including fruits and flowers (dahlias, zinnias, sunflowers, and more)
Goss Berry Farm is great little family-run farm that also offers strawberries, raspberries and U-pick flowers in addition to blueberry picking. If you time your visit just right in August, you’ll be able to pick some beautiful flower bouquets like dahlias, zinnias and sunflowers, as well as dig your own potatoes, pick strawberries and of course … pick some delicious blueberries!
Pro Tip: Goss Berry Farm is just 15 minutes or so from Oxford, which has an awesome beer garden at Oxbow Brewing. It’s also only about 10 minutes from Range Pond State Park, which is perfect for swimming in the summer.
7. Spiller Farm
Location: Wells
Spiller Farm Quick Guide:
- Cash only
- Pay by the pound
- Containers available to purchase, or you may bring your own
- Portable bathrooms available
- No pets allowed
Spiller Farm has been around since 1894, and they continue to spread happiness with their summer U-picks, which include blueberries (of course!), strawberries, raspberries, veggies, and tomatoes, and they continue into fall with apples and pumpkins. If you time your visit just right, you may be able to pick blueberries, raspberries, veggies and tomatoes on the same day in the summer.
Spiller Farm also has a wonderful farm store that serves sandwiches and pizzas. Grab a picnic table and enjoy your food with views of farm animals, and a lovely pond.
Before heading to the farm for picking, it’s a good idea to check their website for current picking conditions, parking information, and to ensure they’re open on the day you wish to visit.
Pro Tip: Spiller Farm is a great location in southern Maine, and is within 20 minutes of Ogunquit and Kennebunkport, two of the best beach towns in the state.
8. Joan & Brad’s Berry Farm
Location: Hollis
Joan & Brad’s Berry Farm Quick Guide:
- Pay by the pound
- Cash or local checks, only
- Pre-picked blueberries also available
- Picking containers provided
If you’re looking for a quiet and lovely spot for blueberry picking, you’ll want to head to Joan & Brad’s Berry Farm! Visitors love the manicured grounds that make it easy to walk around and enjoy the scenery, and while it’s a popular place for local’s to visit, it won’t ever feel crowded.
If you’re looking for a unique place to stay in the area, they also have Tentrr campsites on their property!
Pro Tip: Joan & Brad’s Berry Farm is just 15 minutes from Lake Arrowhead, and 30 minutes from Old Orchard Beach.
9. Dragonfly Meadow Blueberry Farm
Location: Arundel
Dragonfly Meadow Blueberry Farm Quick Guide:
- Honor system, self-serve most days
- Cash, Venmo, Apple Pay and PalPal accepted
- Containers provided at the self-serve booth
A great little family farm for blueberry picking in Maine is Dragonfly Meadow in Arundel. Most days, this farm allows visitors to pick and pay via the honor system, and they do a great job of updating current conditions and hours on their Facebook page here.
When you arrive, grab a picking bucket with string (to wear around your neck), and look for the pink flags in the field that indicate which bushes are ready for picking. Once you’re done, head back to the booth and transfer your berries to a container from the cooler, and pay – it’s as easy as that!
Pro Tip: Dragon Meadow Farm is just 10 minutes or so from the heart of Kennebunkport to extend your summer day of fun in Maine!
10. Sites Farm
Location: Athens
Sites Farm Quick Guide:
- Cash and checks accepted
- Containers are provided, or they welcome you to bring your own
- Bathrooms available
- Pets not allowed
- Call 207-654-2063 before visiting for updated information on picking
For a tranquil and picturesque day of blueberry picking in Maine, Sites Farm is a great option. With over 1,000 high bush blueberry plants to pick from, as well as a recently-expanded strawberry field, it’s possible you may be able to pick both on the same day (but usually, strawberries are picked through June, and blueberries begin at the end of July).
The grounds at Sites Farm are so beautiful, they even host weddings!
11. Bessey Ridge Farms
Location: Albion
Bessey Ridge Farms Quick Guide:
- Pay by the quart
- Cash and cards accepted
- Containers and wooden carriers available to use to make picking easier
A wonderful destination for blueberry picking is Bessey Ridge Farms! Not only do they offers really nice U-pick blueberries, but you’ll also find their own peaches here. If you’re lucky, blueberry season will overlap with their peach season in late July, and you can take home fresh peaches, too.
They also do a great job of updating customers on picking conditions and hours on their Facebook page.
12. Winslow Farm
Location: Falmouth
Winslow Farm Quick Guide:
- Pay by the pint
- Pre-picked blueberries often available
- Flower shop also available
Winslow Farm is a great option for those who don’t want to drive too far outside of the Portland area for blueberry picking, as they’re only about 20 minutes or so outside of downtown Portland. They have over an acre of high-bush blueberry plants to pick from, and also have a beautiful garden center/flower shop, where they sell fresh bouquets, and lots more.
13. Beddington Ridge Farm
Location: Beddington
Beddington Ridge Farm Quick Guide:
- Cash, checks and credit cards accepted
- Containers available for a fee, but visitors are encouraged to bring their own
- Cute farm stand with awesome jams and spreads for sale
- Wild, low-bush picking with rakes provided
For a more traditional blueberry picking experience that you likely picture in your head, Beddington Ridge Farm is a wonderful option! Here, they provide blueberry rakes and have wild, low-bush blueberry plants for an authentic experience.
Beddington Ridge also specializes in making jams and spreads, and their Wild Maine Blueberry Jam is truly delicious and worth the trip just for that! They sometimes will also have fresh-cut bouquets of their own flowers available for the perfect summertime haul.
Before visiting, be sure to give them a call to make sure blueberry picking is available the day you plan to visit.
14. Fairwinds Farm
Location: Bowdoinham
Fairwinds Farm Quick Guide:
- Pay by the quart
- Cash, cards, checks and Venmo accepted
- Containers provided
- Farm stand with their own produce also available
Fairwinds is an awesome farm to visit, and specializes in lots of fresh produce, in addition to their U-pick blueberries. With beautiful high-bush blueberries out in their fields, picking season often overlaps with their fresh, sweet corn and tomatoes. Be sure to swing by their farm stand before or after blueberry picking to see what goodies you can find.
They also do a great job providing updates on U-pick conditions and hours on their Facebook page.
Pro Tip: Fairwinds is in an awesome location, and can easily be combined with a few other areas in Maine. They’re only about 15 minutes from Freeport, 30 minutes from Harpswell, and 45 minutes from Boothbay Harbor.
Tips For Blueberry Picking In Maine
Never picked Maine blueberries before? I’ve got you covered! Here are some things to know before your first blueberry picking adventure:
- Despite Maine being famous for the blueberry rakes you see in photos, you’ll likely be picking them by hand at the farms. The rakes are more often used on large-scale or commercial farms for big harvests on low-bush plants.
- Most farms offer high bushes, meaning you’ll be able to pick while standing (the exception from this list is Beddington Ridge Farm).
- The best approach is to walk around a bit at first, and pick a section that seems to have a lot of berries left. Pick all the berries from that bush before moving on to the next.
- When in doubt on where to start, ask! The owners and farmers know their crop the best and will be happy to guide you to where the berries are plentiful, and ready for picking.
- Most blueberry bushes are in full, direct sun, so it’s a good idea to apply sunscreen, and bring a hat with you to keep your face out of direct sunlight. Bring a water bottle, too.
- Have fun! Picking your own, fresh Maine blueberries is such a treat, so be sure to enjoy the experience and snap some photos along the way.
More Fun Wild Maine Blueberry Facts
- Blueberries are the official Maine state dessert!
- The Native Americans called blueberries “star berries” because of the shape of the blooms on the top of the berry.
- Not much else grows in the barrens along with the blueberries. In fact, the wild blueberry bushes are one of the only plants that found a way to thrive in an otherwise nutrient-deficient soil. To survive, the bushes developed a mutually beneficial relationship with a fungus, wherein the fungus siphons any nutrients it can to the bushes, and the bushes produce a sugar that it shares with the fungus.
- Many experts agree that wild Maine blueberries contain double the amount of antioxidants and nutrients than other blueberries.
- You can use the color from the berries in watercolor painting!
You may also find these posts helpful:
- The Perfect Maine Lighthouse Road Trip Itinerary
- Best Breweries In Portland, Maine To Visit
- Incredible Stops To Make Driving Portland, Maine To Acadia National Park
- The Best Whoopie Pies In Maine
- The Ultimate Guide To Summer In New England
- Amazing Places For Fall Foliage In Maine
That’s A Wrap On Blueberry Picking In Maine
Now you’re ready to plan the perfect summer day of blueberry picking in Maine! Hopefully you now fully understand why wild Maine blueberries are so special, and why picking them is such a time-honored tradition. Whether you want to pick them for yourself, or you’re hoping to swing by a farm and grab a pint of freshly-harvest blueberries, one thing’s for sure – it’s absolutely worth the effort!
