upick

U-pick, often written as U-pick or you-pick (and sometimes seen as upick), refers to a farming practice in which customers harvest their own fruit or vegetables directly from fields, orchards, or vineyards. The term is widely used in North America and is a common feature of agritourism, especially in fruit-growing regions.

How it works: Visitors select ripe produce and pay by weight or by bag size. Farms typically provide picking containers and may offer basic harvest instructions, trimming, and washing stations. Some locations require reservations or limit visitors by time to manage crowds and crop thinning. The experience is seasonal, with berries often picked in late spring and early summer, apples in autumn, and pumpkins in fall.

Common crops include strawberries, blueberries, apples, raspberries, peaches, and pumpkins, though offerings vary by region. The model can reduce labor costs and create marketing opportunities by offering a hands-on, family-friendly experience that encourages longer visits and higher sales of related products like jams, baked goods, and farm-market items.

Safety and sustainability considerations are important: customers should follow farm rules, use provided tools, and respect crop boundaries to prevent damage and injuries. U-pick operations are a recognizable form of direct-to-consumer agritourism and can be combined with seasonal festivals and tours.