During summers in college, I lived on the coast of Maine and raked blueberries for $.18 a pound… And for the experience of it (although I swear my back will never be the same). I was never serious about picking berries in Vermont until this summer. Now I’m the proud owner of a deep freezer, loaded with 50 pounds of blueberries reserved for smoothies, blueberry crisp and the occasional pie, and ten jars of the sweetest homemade raspberry jam. Mmm.

Go on, grab them!

Douglas Orchards, PYO Raspberries, Strawberries and Apples

Set on top of a hill with views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains, Douglas Orchards is a fourth-generation farm and a picker’s paradise, with strawberries, raspberries and 15 varieties of pick-your-own apples. The Douglas family has four acres of strawberries planted 30 years ago (!) and half an acre of raspberries planted 10 years ago. You can tell from the sweetness of the fruit and the proliferation of berries that they’re mature, rugged plants that have been well cared for over the years.

To me, picking raspberries is more enjoyable than blueberry picking, or apples for that matter. Yes, the plant itself is prickly as hell (watch out if you’re picking with kids!), but quickly you can fill a quart, as well as your belly. Instant gratification. Picking at Douglas Orchards really is peaceful. It relaxed me always immediately. There was a strong breeze coming off of the lake, making the raspberry bushes sway in the wind, and the only sounds I heard were the omnipresent buzzing of bumble bees working to pollinate the fruit and my stomach rumbling…

For $5 for a quart of raspberries, you can easily turn a morning or afternoon into a budget-friendly family outing or delicious, low-key adventure. Picking raspberries with a view and the wind in your hair… sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

Be sure to scroll down for pictures of Douglas Orchards and my local’s tips for making the most of your next POY outing. You’ll also find directions, hours and contact information, should you decide to make the trip.

Don’t you want to reach through the screen and grab them?

The picking is good through the first frost at Douglas Orchards

Raspberry picking in Shoreham, Vermont, at Douglas Orchards.

In early fall, there are still more berries to come.

I promise they’re as delicious as they look.

Berries galore.

Six quarts of berries makes 10 pints of jam, if you’re interested!

Tips for Visiting Douglas Orchards like a Local:

• Call ahead (802.897.5043). Douglas Orchards’ is a bit of a drive from everywhere (although very scenic), and you’ll want to check to see if the picking conditions are worth the trip.
• When you arrive at the Orchard, drive around to the right side of the main blue building, where you can go inside and pick up quart containers or bags for apples. Then drive up the hill to the right to find fields of raspberries, strawberries and apple orchards. Bring more quarts with you than you expect… they fill up quickly.
• Consider picking on a rainy day. There will be fewer pickers, and there’s something relaxing about picking in the rain in the heat of the summer.
• Don’t have time to pick? There are most often pre-picked apples and berries, along with local honey and cider donuts, in the farmstand. It’s definitely worth a stop if you’re driving by.

Douglas Orchards
Open 8am-5pm during picking season (June through frost)
802.897.5043

Directions
Take Route 22A to Route 74 in Shoreham and travel one and a half miles west. You’ll find the farm on the right just before the ferry to Fort Ticonderoga.