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Parlee Farms

Strawberries

Pick Your Own Strawberries at Parlee Farms

At Parlee Farms in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, just a short drive from Boston, strawberry season is one of our favorite times of the year. Growing strawberries has been a passion of Farmer Mark’s since he was just 12 years old, and decades of experience help us bring the sweetest berries from our fields to your family.

Our strawberry season begins with the classic New England “June Bearer” varieties. From mid-June through early July, guests can enjoy both pick-your-own strawberries and freshly picked berries available in our Farmstand. A visit to the strawberry patch is part of the fun, and every strawberry picker receives a complimentary hayride to the fields with the purchase of a picking container.

As summer continues, our fields offer another delicious surprise. From mid-August through late September, we harvest our late-season strawberries—known for their exceptional sweetness and juicy flavor. These berries are available freshly picked in our Farmstand and provide a wonderful way to enjoy the taste of summer well into the season.

Whether you’re making family memories in the strawberry fields or bringing home a basket of farm-fresh berries, Parlee Farms is proud to share the harvest with you throughout most of the summer.

During the strawberry season, details on pick-your-own hours and prices can be found at TODAY’S FARM NEWS.  

 

 

 

Strawberry Picking Tips

  • We encourage families to pick together as it is a wonderful way to create memories.  Young children will need assistance with picking.  Strawberry picking requires some skill as the berries have to be ‘pinched’ with the thumb and index finger to remove them from the plant.  Each berry should be looked at carefully before picking as they do not fully ripen at the same time.  A red berry is the best berry!
  • There are a few logistical issues when picking strawberries.  Due to the narrow width of the aisles in the strawberry patch, strollers and wagons are too wide to take inside the patch. At our farm, you can take a stroller or wagon to the edge of the field.  Also, as strawberries lay on the ground, care must be taken not to step on the berries.
  • So, although more care and attention is needed when picking strawberries (for both adults and children), there is nothing like the taste of fresh picked strawberries or the joy of picking as a family!

Strawberry Caring & Freezing Tips

Caring Tips for Fresh Eating:

  • Do not rinse berries until you are ready to use them.
  • Keep the stems on the strawberries until you are ready to use them to keep the juice in the berries.
  • Store in a refrigerator.
  • Best when used within 2-3 days after picking.

Tips for Freezing Strawberries:

  • Wash berries and drain in colander.
  • Remove stems and slice (or crush) berries as you stem them.
  • If additional sweetness is desired, add 3/4 cup of sugar to 4 cups of sliced berries. Stir and let stand until the sugar dissolves (just a few minutes).
  • Place in freezer containers leaving 1/2 inch head space for expansion and put immediately into freezer.