Summer Berries in Washtenaw County: July 2026 Update
Strawberries are ending, while raspberries and blueberries are beginning.
By July 9, local strawberries were ending, while raspberries and blueberries were beginning. Farm hours can change after a field is picked, so confirm directly before leaving home.
Berry seasons overlap, but they are not interchangeable. Michigan State University Extension gives these general Michigan ripening periods:
- Strawberries: mid-June into July
- Summer raspberries: July
- Blueberries: mid-July into mid-September
- Blackberries: August into mid-September
- Fall raspberries: late August into October
Those are planning ranges. Weather and variety move the actual dates.
What is happening now
Tantré Farm's HoneyBee U-Pick page says its 2026 strawberries are finished and its small blueberry patch is beginning. The farm also says its raspberries normally produce an early flush in July and a larger fall crop from late August through September. It posts changing U-pick dates on that page and through its mailing list.
Dexter Blueberry Farm says its season generally begins sometime in July and lasts four to six weeks. It offers U-pick berries rather than pre-picked fruit. Check the farm's current notice before driving because the field may not be open every day during that range.
For a market rather than a field, the City of Ann Arbor Farmers Market runs Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. from May through December. Individual farm attendance and berry supply still vary.
The broader Washtenaw County market finder covers Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Dexter, Chelsea, Saline, Pittsfield Township, Manchester, and other local markets.
Handling berries
MSU Extension's produce storage guide recommends refrigerating strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Wait to wash them until shortly before use.
U-pick farms may close early when ripe fruit is gone. Bring the container and payment method the farm requests, supervise children, and follow the farm's picking rules. MSU Extension's U-pick food-safety guidance also recommends handwashing and avoiding food and drink while picking.
This guide will age by the week. The linked farm and market pages are the source for same-day decisions.