There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than fresh, sweet, and juicy locally grown berries — and no berries are fresher, sweeter, and juicier than those grown at McLean Berry Farm and Buckhorn Berry Farm near Buckhorn.
Strawberry season is now in full swing, and whether you want to pick your own or enjoy a basket of pre-picked berries, you’d better hurry because berry season does not last long!
Founded in 1991 by Sam and Jane McLean, McLean Berry Farm not only offers healthy farm-fresh produce to the region, but experiences that help guests reconnect to the food they consume and better appreciate where it comes from. With the increasing involvement of their children Ben and Erin, who continue to maintain daily operation of the farm, the McLeans also purchased Buckhorn Berry Farm in 2010.
Today, on a combined 286 acres of land — 220 of which is used for the production of fruit, vegetables, and maple syrup — McLean and Buckhorn Berry Farms are the places for making memories, from the first tap of maple trees in the spring through berry season and the rest of summer until Pumpkinfest in the fall.
McLean Berry Farm is located on 2191 16th Line, just off County Road 23, around 25 kilometres north of Peterborough and five kilometres south of Buckhorn, with Buckhorn Berry Farm located at 3055 Berrie Road just one concession north of McLean Berry Farm.
Both farms are now open for pick-your-own strawberries, with more and more berries ripening and ready for picking every day. Heading out into the fields and taking a bite of a freshly picked strawberry while the sun beats down on you and the juice drips down your chin is a not-to-be-missed summer experience for the whole family.
This year, McLean and Buckhorn Berry Farms have some extra juicy and sweet strawberries for the picking — but don’t delay as strawberry season only last a couple of weeks, especially with the recent heat wave we’re having, and the sooner you get out to pick your own, the better the picking conditions will be! Raspberries will also soon be ready for picking, beginning in early July.
Picking your own berries is available at both farms, across three fields, including one at Buckhorn Berry Farm that requires a family-friendly tractor ride to access. McLean Berry Farm is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week, while Buckhorn Berry Farm is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
If you prefer the sweet without the sweat, pre-picked berries are also available to purchase at both the farms. When berry season is done, don’t forget to stop in at the farm stores for more locally grown produce over the course of the summer, including sweet corn, tomatoes, peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers, squash, pumpkins, and gourds.
If you can’t make the trip to the farms to get your berries, both McLean and Buckhorn Berry Farms are vendors at local farmers’ markets, including the Haliburton Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays, the Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays, the Lakefield Farmers’ Market on Thursdays, the Fenelon Falls Farmers’ Markets on Fridays, and the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market and Minden Farmers’ Market on Saturdays. You can also find produce from McLean and Buckhorn Berry Farms at more than 30 local grocery stores.
For more information, visit mcleanberryfarm.com. Before heading out to either farm to pick your own berries, check for the most recent updates by following McLean Berry Farm on Facebook and Instagram.
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