U-Pick Tips — How to Pick Fruit Like a Pro
Whether it's your first time at a u-pick farm or your twentieth, these tips will help you pick better fruit, protect the trees, and get the most from your visit.
What to Bring
- ▸Sun protection. Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Orchards are open and sunny — there's not a lot of shade.
- ▸Comfortable shoes. Closed-toe shoes you don't mind getting dirty. Orchards have uneven ground, and the grass may be wet in the morning.
- ▸Water. Especially on warm days. Picking is more physical than people expect.
- ▸Containers. Bring bags, boxes, or baskets for your fruit. Some farms provide containers; others expect you to bring your own.
How to Pick Without Damaging the Tree
This is the most important skill for u-pick visitors. Fruit trees form their next year's buds right at the base of where this year's fruit grows. Tearing fruit off the branch can damage those buds and reduce next year's harvest.
Apples
Cup the apple in your hand from below. Lift gently and twist. A ripe apple will separate cleanly with a short stem attached. If you have to tug, it's probably not ready. Never pull straight down — this tears the fruiting spur off the branch.
Peaches
Peaches should come off with almost no effort when ripe. Cup the fruit gently (peaches bruise very easily) and twist slightly. If the fruit doesn't release easily, leave it for a day or two. Ripe peaches will have full color — no green patches — and will smell sweet.
Pears
Pears are unique — they're picked before they're ripe and ripened off the tree. A pear is ready to pick when it lifts easily with a twist. If the stem snaps cleanly from the branch, it's time. Bartlett pears will still be green at picking time. They ripen to yellow on your kitchen counter over 4–7 days.
How to Spot Ripe Fruit
Different fruits show ripeness differently:
- Apples: Full color development (background color changes from green to yellow), seeds are brown when you cut one open, and the apple tastes sweet and crisp — not starchy.
- Peaches: No green on the skin, gives slightly when pressed near the stem, strong peachy aroma. Color alone isn't enough — the red blush is genetic, not a ripeness indicator.
- Pears: Stem separates easily when tilted. Don't wait for pears to soften on the tree — they become mealy inside. Pick firm and ripen at room temperature.
Orchard Etiquette
- ▸Stay in designated picking areas. Not all rows may be available.
- ▸Don't climb trees or pull branches down to reach high fruit. Ask for a picking pole if available.
- ▸Place fruit — don't drop it — into your container. A 3-foot drop onto other apples causes invisible bruising.
- ▸Keep children close and supervised. Orchards have equipment, uneven terrain, and irrigation lines.
- ▸Take only what you'll use. It's better to come back than to let fruit go to waste.
Planning Ahead
Nadeau Farms isn't open for u-pick yet — we're still growing our orchard. When we do open, we'll have detailed information about what's available, picking guidelines, and everything you'll need for a great visit. This page will be updated with specifics closer to our opening.