Fresh fruit, picked by you, just outside Bismarck.
We grow haskap, juneberries, currants, raspberries, sour cherries, apples and more. Every one of them is tough enough to love a North Dakota winter.
What's picking right now?
Fruit ripens on its own schedule, and North Dakota weather keeps us guessing. When fruit is ready, we post what's available, picking times and prices on our Facebook page first. Joining the group is the best way to stay on top of what's going on at the farm.
Meet the fruit patch
Everything here was chosen because it thrives in our short summers and cold winters. Some you already know. A few might be brand new to you. Tap any fruit to learn more and grab a recipe or two.
Never tried a haskap?
Haskap, also called honeyberry, is a Canadian favorite that's just catching on in the Dakotas. It's usually the first fruit of the summer, and most first-timers are hooked after one handful.
- The tasteLike a blueberry with hints of raspberry and black currant. Sweet, tangy and juicy.
- When it's readyLate June into early July, a couple weeks before most other fruit.
- Built for hereHaskap bushes shrug off our winters, which is why NDSU suggests them for gardeners who can't grow blueberries.
- How to enjoyEat them fresh, bake them into pie, cook up jam, or freeze a bag for winter smoothies.
When each fruit is ready
Here's the typical picking season for each fruit near Bismarck. A warm spring can move things up, and a cool one can push them back.
Swipe sideways to see the whole season →
Seasons are typical ranges for central North Dakota and change with the weather. The What's Picking board is always the latest word.
How a U-pick visit works
Check the board
Follow our Facebook page. We post what's ripe, picking times and prices there when fruit is ready.
Drive on out
We're a short, pretty drive from Bismarck. Look for the big yellow U-PICK sign.
Pick your own
We'll point you to the best rows. Take your time, taste as you go, and fill your containers.
Weigh and take home
We weigh your fruit and you pay by the pound. Then enjoy it fresh or freeze some for winter.
What to bring
- Water bottles for everyone
- A hat and sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Closed-toe shoes
- Shallow containers or ice cream pails
- A cooler with ice for the ride home
- Hand wipes for sticky fingers
- Your camera, because the sunsets are unreal
Picker's tips
- Come in the morning. It's cooler, and berries are firmer before the afternoon heat.
- Go gentle with haskap. Ripe ones are dark purple all the way through. Hold a container under the branch and give it a light shake.
- Pick one side clean. Finish your side of a bush before moving on, so nothing ripe gets missed.
- Use shallow containers. Soft berries like raspberries crush when piled deep.
- Don't wash until you eat. Chill your fruit right away and rinse it just before eating or freezing.
“Fantastic experience! My daughter and I spent a few hours picking Haskap. The location was only a few minutes drive but so worth the peaceful escape from the city! I had never tasted honeyberries before. We loved them for fresh eating and froze some for winter eating too. Lots of other amazing fruit options coming too! So glad we have something like this in the area!”
Erica M., recommended us on Facebook
A little farm with a lot of fruit
Fruitful Dakota started with a simple idea: folks around Bismarck should be able to pick great fruit close to home. So we planted rows of the hardiest, tastiest varieties we could find. We picked haskap, juneberries, currants and bush cherries that laugh at forty below. Next came apples, apricots, pears and grapes bred for the northern plains.
Some of our plants are still young, so new fruit joins the lineup every year. Come pick with us, bring the kids, and make a tradition of it.
on sign duty
Frequently asked
When are you open?
Our picking days follow the fruit, so we open when something is ripe. That's usually late June through early fall. Picking days and times are posted on our Facebook page as soon as fruit is ready, so join the group to hear first.
How much does it cost?
You pay by the pound for what you pick. Prices vary by fruit and are posted on our Facebook page each season, and at the farm.
What is a haskap or honeyberry?
They're two names for the same berry. It's an oblong, dark-purple berry that tastes like a blueberry with a little raspberry and black currant mixed in. It ripens in late June and early July. It's great fresh, frozen, in jam or in pie. Read more about haskap.
What's a juneberry?
Juneberries, also called saskatoons, are a prairie native. They look a bit like blueberries and taste sweet and nutty, with a hint of almond from the tiny seeds. Juneberry pie is a Dakota classic. Get our juneberry pie recipe.
Is it good for kids?
Absolutely. We're a family-friendly farm, and kids make great berry pickers. Many of our bushes are right at kid height. Please keep little ones with you in the rows.
What happens if it rains?
We may close during storms or heavy rain, or when the rows are too muddy. If the weather looks iffy, check our Facebook page before you drive out.
Do I need containers?
Bringing your own shallow containers is a great idea. Ice cream pails and flat plastic tubs work well. A cooler with ice in the car will keep your fruit fresh on the way home.
Find the farm
We're a quick drive from Bismarck–Mandan, out where the city gives way to open prairie. Follow your map app to the address, then watch for the big yellow U-PICK sign by the road.
Before you come, check our Facebook page for what's picking, times and prices.