u-pick Archives - West Coast Food

Farms October 4, 2021

Surrey’s Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes

by Catherine Dunwoody When it comes to outdoor activities geared to get you into the spirit of the changing seasons, it doesn’t get much more autumnal than this. Fall is most definitely here, and getting lost in a zigzagging corn maze or choosing which big orange beauty to take with you from a pumpkin patch is part of the fun when it comes to living in or visiting BC – and especially in Surrey. The city boasts 3 different mazes and patches, each unique and fun for the entire family. The Hazelmere Pumpkin Patch 18507 20th Ave, Surrey The Hazelmere Pumpkin Patch (aka Gabriel Farms) is open throughout October and offers all the autumn fun you can handle. On weekdays from 1pm to 5pm, and weekends 10am to 5pm, you can partake in a petting zoo, a mini corn maze, face painting, and a concession. U-pick pumpkins in many…

Farms August 14, 2017

Late Season U-Pick Berries Near Vancouver, Canada

By Kristi Alexandra Is there anything sweeter than the fruits of your own labour? U-pick berry farms in the Lower Mainland would attest there isn’t. While abundant rain at the end of a long winter had many farms opening their picking seasons a little late this year, the results are still oh-so-sweet. With a shortened growing season, farmers are seeing strawberries and blueberries as a bounty of fresh-picked treats. We visited a few farms to find out where you can gather a basket of your own before the season’s over. Please note that availability of berries is subject to weather and crops may end early, or be extended. It’s best to contact the individual farms to determine availability of your favourite berries. Krause Berry Farms 6179-248th Street, Langley U-pick, a winery, fresh-made waffles, and a kids’ farm – is there anything this farm doesn’t have? Set on 200 acres of…

Farms July 7, 2016

Blueberries: Summer’s Top Pick at Weller’s Blueberry Farm in Langley

By Kathy Mak Nothing says summertime more than fresh berries, and blueberries are literally the star berry of the season! There’s no better place to enjoy fresh blueberries than in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley. It may be surprising to some, but blueberries are Canada’s largest fruit crop by acreage. According to the British Columbia Blueberry Council, Canada is the world’s third largest national producer of highbush blueberries with the majority grown by 800 blueberry growers in British Columbia. The bulk of the B.C. blueberry farms can be found right here in the fertile Fraser Valley! Indigenous to North America, wild blueberries were highly regarded by the Aboriginal people who picked them for food and medicine. They were referred to as “star berries” because of the five-pointed star on the blossom side of the berry. Cultivated blueberries, known as the highbush variety, started in the early 1900s. Today, 90% of the…