Wright-Locke Farm

  • ✉
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • About Us
    • Mission
    • History
    • Sustainability
      • Agricultural Practices
      • Composting
      • Solar Power and Energy Efficiency
    • Supporters
      • General Supporters
      • Donate
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff & Employment
    • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
    • Visit the Farm
      • Animals
      • Directions & Parking
      • Photography Policy
    • Volunteer
    • Connect with Us
      • Newsletter Sign Up
        • General Newsletter
        • Volunteer Newsletter
        • Farm to Go Newsletter
      • Farm Blog
      • News & Media
    • Upcoming at the Farm
  • What We Sell
    • Farm to Go: Online Farm Stand
      • Login to my Farm-to-Go Account
    • Farmers Market
    • Organic CSA Sign Up
    • Organic Seedling Sale 2023
    • Flowers
      • U-Pick Flowers
    • U-Pick Raspberries
    • SNAP / EBT
    • Shared Harvest Winter CSA
  • Education
    • Youth Education Programs
    • Forest Friends
      • Mission and Principles
      • Program Details
      • Forest Friends Staff
      • Fund Future Forest Friends!
      • FAQ
    • Adult Education Workshops
    • Speaker Series
  • Kitchen
    • Kitchen Education
    • Farm Suppers
    • Recipes from the Farm
  • Events
    • Private Events
    • Our Spaces
      • The 1827 Barn
      • All Seasons Barn
    • Rental Policies
    • Family Farm Nights
  • Donate
    • Donate
    • Planned Giving

U-Pick Raspberries

U-Pick Latest News:

** OCTOBER 9, 2022: The U-pick Fields are closed for the 2022 Season. Thank you to everyone who joined us this year! **

Interested in volunteering during raspberry season? Sign up Here

Watch our "How To Pick Raspberries" Video

Every season, we open up our fields for U-Pick Raspberries. Our fruit is an organic late bearing crop that starts to ripen in late August/early September.

We have a limited number of rows of raspberries open to the public. Raspberry picking is a nostalgic holdover from before Wright-Locke became the community-centric farm that it is now. Many who grew up in the area remember crisp Autumn days of delicious berry picking – we strive to continue this tradition, while at the same time making room for other important farm operations that support our annual vegetable production, volunteer efforts, education programs, biodiversity, and diversification of revenue sources.

Raspberries are very weather dependent — if we have to close the field, we will post information here first!

  • Hours & Info
  • Before You Come
  • How It Works
  • Pricing
  • Volunteer During Raspberry Season!
  • FAQs

Hours & Info

General Hours

UPDATE: the Raspberry Fields are CLOSED for 2022!

(Subject to change depending on weather and field conditions)

2022 U-Pick Hours:

Tuesday 9am – 1pm
Wednesday 2pm – 6pm
Saturday 9am – 1pm

Sign-up For U-Pick

Important Info
  • Please sign-up for a time slot in advance for raspberry picking.
  • You may have up to 6 people in your group (4 children max per 1 adult).
  • Please read through the “Before You Come” and “How It Works” sections of this page so you know what to expect when you come to pick raspberries!
Sign-Up to Pick Raspberries!

Before You Come

We kindly ask you to respect these rules when you come to pick raspberries:

  1. Please sign-up in advance for a picking time-slot. Arrive on time!
  2. Know where to park before you arrive
  3. Wash your hands before picking
  4. No dogs in the fields, please! (for organic standards)
  5. Please do not throw the fruit
  6. Please do not change diapers in the fields
  7. Remember this is a working farm: please be actively aware of your surroundings
  8. Children must stay with their adults at all times.

Thank you and Enjoy!

Watch our "How To Pick Raspberries" Video

How It Works

Watch this Short Video about Picking Raspberries at Wright-Locke Farm!

Picking Raspberries at Wright-Locke Farm

  1. Wash your hands at our bathooms or outdoor sinks.
  2. Check-in at the Walk-up Window at the Farm Stand – you will pre-pay for berry containers here, then will be directed to our “field coordinator”
  3. Say “Hi” to our volunteer field coordinator at the front of the fields – they will direct you and answer your questions about raspberry picking.
  4. Start Picking! Please no snacking until after you’ve left the fields: we want to limit hand/mouth/mask contact due to COVID.
  5. Head to the Farm Stand to get covers for your berry containers.
  6. Enjoy your berries!

Pricing

Raspberry Pricing

  • Half Pint: $6
  • Pint: $10

Organic raspberries are a rare thing to see in this area, and for good reason: they are difficult to maintain, they are very dependent on the unpredictable weather, and there are many pests that LOVE eating berries as much as we do. We carry on the tradition of offering U-Pick raspberries because we love that our community can come out to the Farm to enjoy our organic fruit. We appreciate your understanding of the labor, love, and hard work that goes into providing this opportunity.

Volunteer During Raspberry Season!

Volunteering during Raspberry season is a fun way to get involved at the farm during a beautiful time of year. Spend time outside, meet and make new friends from the surrounding community, and help continue the long standing tradition of raspberry picking at Wright-Locke Farm! Here are a couple of different ways to volunteer. Please read each volunteer description and then send us an email at Farmstand@wlfarm.org to let us know that you’d like to help!

Walk-up Window

Description: We need volunteers to help direct customers to the raspberry rows, and help answer questions about picking. 

  • You will greet customers when they check-in at the Farm Stand.┬á
  • You will collect fees and handout picking containers
  • You will answer questions!

Training: Sign up for a training session here

Volunteers should: Come prepared and dressed to be outdoors for their 1.5  hour shift. Volunteers will be stationed in the field and should be comfortable talking with customers, standing for over an hour, and reminding visitors to keep their masks on and wash their hands. 

Time Commitment: We love having volunteers who can work 4-6 shifts or more! throughout the raspberry season. This helps us make sure that our time training volunteers is spent well.

Age Requirements: 15+ (some exceptions apply)

Time Slots (Typically) Available:

Tuesday:

  • 8:30 – 10:00
  • 10:00 – 11:30
  • 11:30 – 1:00

Wednesday:

  • 2:30 – 4:00
  • 4:00 – 5:30
  • 5:30-6:30

Saturdays:

  • 8:30 – 10:00
  • 10:00 – 11:30
  • 11:30 – 1:00

Field Coordinator

Description: We need volunteers to help direct customers to the raspberry rows, and help answer questions about picking. 

  • You will greet customers after they have checked-in at the Farm Stand.┬á
  • You will monitor the handwash station in the field┬á

Training: Sign up for a training session here

August 28th, 10:30 -11:30am

Volunteers should: Come prepared and dressed to be outdoors for their 1.5 – 2 hour shift. Volunteers will be stationed in the field and should be comfortable talking with customers, standing for 2 hours, and reminding visitors to keep their masks on and wash their hands.┬á

Time Commitment: We love having volunteers who can work 4-6 shifts or more! throughout the raspberry season. This helps us make sure that our time training volunteers is spent well.

Age Requirements: 15+ (some exceptions apply)

Time Slots (Typically) Available:

Tuesday:

  • 8:30 – 10:00
  • 10:00 – 11:30
  • 11:30 – 1:00

Wednesday:

  • 2:30 – 4:00
  • 4:00 – 5:30
  • 5:30 – 6:30

Saturdays:

  • 8:30 – 10:00
  • 10:00 – 11:30
  • 11:30 – 1:00

Raspberry Picker

Description: We need help cleaning out our raspberry fields of extra and overripe fruit to keep the fields healthy and producing more berries. Come help us pick raspberries under the direction of our Farmer.

Volunteers Should: 

  • have taken our general volunteer orientation┬á
  • come dressed and prepared for the weather that day
  • wear sleeves to protect from prickers
  • Wear their masks at all times if unvaccinated and if working indoors (this goes for everyone!) and wash their hands before coming into the fields

Time Commitment: We love it when volunteers are able to make the commitment to work 4-6 shifts during raspberry picking season (September – October). This is not a hard and fast rule, but this helps us make sure our time training volunteers is used effectively.

Signing up: Current volunteers can log into Track it Forward and sign up for volunteer slots. New volunteers should start off by filling in our Volunteer Intake Form.

Age Requirements: 14+ (some exceptions apply)

Time Slots Available: TBD

If interested in volunteering, click here. If you have questions, reach out to us at volunteers@wlfarm.org.

FAQs

What are the Rules for U-Pick?

We kindly ask you to respect these rules when you come to pick raspberries:

  • Wash your hands before picking
  • Please do not pick any other produce or flowers – Raspberries are the only U-Pick item.
  • Dogs are never allowed in the growing fields due to our Organic Certification
  • Please do not change diapers in the fields – this violates Organic standards
  • Do not throw raspberries – this can spread pests, disease, and is a sad waste of fruit!
  • We are a busy working farm with moving vehicles, live animals, electric fences, and plenty of distractions – please be actively aware of your surroundings and members of your party at ALL times

What is SWD?

The Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), is an Asian species of fruit fly recently introduced in the United States. It was first found on the west coast in 2008, but has rapidly colonized many fruit-producing regions of the country. Most fruit flies are annoying but harmless, propagating in overripe fruit. Instead, the SWD lays its eggs in fruit just nearing its peak. A few years ago, SWD arrived unexpectedly in New England, forcing Wright-Locke Farm and most other raspberry growers in the region to close down early. Learn More about this pest here.

Are your Raspberries Organic?

Yes, they are! All of our produce and flowers are certified organic. Which is very rare in this area as it is hard to deal with the many pests that LOVE to eat raspberries in an organic manner.

Can I Bring My Stroller?

Yes! The farm terrain is best for bigger wheels: think gravel, dirt, and grass. Our raspberry rows are wide enough for strollers. There is NO changing diapers in the raspberry field. You may change diapers in the restrooms.

Can I Bring My Own Containers?

Definitely! Bring your containers up to the farm stand to be tared. Once we have their base weight, you can pick directly into them. Then we will weigh your berries and charge a per pound price at the end.

Do you have Public Restrooms?

We do have 2 individual bathrooms off the back of the Farm House. Just ask our staff / volunteers where to go!

Where can I Park?

Check out our current parking instructions here. If our main lot at 82 Ridge street is full, here are your alternative parking recommendations.

  • Tuesday & Wednesday pickers should plan to park at Mullen Field, entrance on Lockeland Road, across from the Fire Station
  • Saturday pickers should plan to park at St. Eulalia’s, 50 Ridge Street (Sandlot Soccer uses ALL of Mullen Field on Saturdays in the fall)

*PLEASE DO NOT PARK at the Community Garden next to the fire station. These spaces are reserved for Community Garden members; please be respectful.

  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
Inclusion Policy

Wright-Locke Farm Conservancy Is Dedicated To Providing An Inclusive And Welcoming Environment To All, Regardless Of And Not Limited To Race, Religion, Color, Age, National Origin, Military Service, Physical Appearance, Gender Identity Or Gender Expression, Sex Or Sexual Orientation, Or Physical Or Mental Ability Or Disability. We Do Not Tolerate Harassment In Any Form. Please Join Us In Respecting Everyone.