Orange County has three solid places to pick your own strawberries: Tanaka Farms in Irvine, South Coast Farms in San Juan Capistrano, and the Ecology Center, also in San Juan Capistrano. The main season runs spring into early summer, and the sweet spot is April through June. Plan on $27 to $29 per person for a Tanaka tour, or a few dollars per pound if you’re picking at a walk-in field. I’ve put together what each farm is like, what it costs, and how to pick the right one for your crew.
TL;DR
- Best months: April, May and June, when California’s coastal berry districts are all producing at once. Some farms start picking as early as late January.
- Easiest first-timer pick: Tanaka Farms in Irvine. It’s a guided tractor tour, and you take home a pound. Book ahead.
- Most laid-back pick: South Coast Farms in San Juan Capistrano has charged $5 per car plus $5 per pound, with walk-ins welcome.
- Best for kids who like to learn: The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano pairs picking with a short talk about how the berries are grown.
- Always check first: Hours, prices and reservations change by year and by weather, so confirm on the farm’s own page before you drive.
Table of Contents
- Where to pick strawberries in Orange County
- Tanaka Farms in Irvine: the classic first trip
- South Coast Farms in San Juan Capistrano: the walk-in field
- The Ecology Center: picking with a purpose
- When is strawberry season in Orange County?
- What strawberry picking really costs
- How to plan your visit
- What to do with all those berries
- Making it a family day
- Want your farm or event featured?
- FAQ
- Sources
Where to pick strawberries in Orange County
Strawberries have deep roots here. Commercial strawberry farming in Orange County first gained momentum in the 1910s and 1920s, and the county is still one of five strawberry-growing regions in California, alongside San Diego, Oxnard, Santa Maria and Watsonville/Salinas.
The tricky part is that a lot of the old fields are now neighborhoods. So the list of true pick-your-own spots is short. These are the three I’d start with.
| Farm | City | Style | Reported cost | Reservations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanaka Farms | Irvine | Guided tractor tour, pick 1 lb | $27 weekdays, $29 weekends and holidays | Strongly recommended |
| South Coast Farms | San Juan Capistrano | Open field, pick at your own pace | $5 per car, $5 per pound (2022 report) | Walk-ins welcome |
| The Ecology Center | San Juan Capistrano | Organic farm event with a short talk | Check the farm’s page | Check the farm’s page |
That table is a starting point, not a promise. Farms adjust prices and hours from year to year, so treat the numbers as what to expect and confirm before you go.
Tanaka Farms in Irvine: the classic first trip
If you’ve never picked strawberries before, this is the one I’d send you to. Tanaka Farms is a working farm in Irvine that’s open to the public year-round, with tours built around what’s in season. The strawberry tours run from March through June, and the farm has been known to kick things off earlier. NBC Los Angeles reported that its strawberry tours usually start in late January.
How it works: You sign up for a tractor tour. You ride out to the fields, learn a little about the farm, and get to pick a pound of strawberries to take home. NBC’s 2026 preview listed admission at $27 on weekdays and $29 on weekends and holidays.
What I like: Everything is organized for you. You don’t have to figure out which rows to hit or how much to pick. It’s great for kids, grandparents and anyone who wants a no-stress outing.
What to know: Tours fill up. NBC’s write-up strongly recommended booking ahead and noted that walking up on the day may not get you a spot. Book a weekday if you can, since it’s less crowded and a couple of dollars cheaper.
South Coast Farms in San Juan Capistrano: the walk-in field
On the Orange County subreddit, this is the farm locals keep naming when someone asks where to go. Its U-Pick fields sit near Tree of Life Nursery at 33201 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675.
When the farm opened its U-Pick season in 2022, it reported being open Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., charging $5 per car at the entrance and $5 per pound for berries, with walk-ins welcome and no reservations needed. Hours and prices may have shifted since then, so check the farm before you go.
What I like: It feels like picking, not a tour. You wander the rows, choose your own berries and pay by weight. If you only want a pound or two, it’s the cheapest way to do it. If you want a flat for jam, it’s still easy on the wallet.
What to know: This is the one with the most bending. Strawberries grow low to the ground, and locals often mention how much your back will notice it. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a hat.
Since you’re already in San Juan Capistrano, you can pair the trip with the Mission and the shops downtown. If you like that kind of low-key day, my roundup of Orange County spots under $20 has more ideas that fit the same mood.
The Ecology Center: picking with a purpose
The Ecology Center is a 28-acre regenerative organic farm in San Juan Capistrano, and its strawberry events are a little different. According to the Daily Pilot, U-Pick Strawberry events begin at the grandstand, where the team explains how the berries are grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The same report said the farm was producing more than 30,000 pounds of strawberries of different varieties in 2026.
The events are meant to be fun and family friendly, with an educational element built in. If your kids ask a million questions, or you’re curious why the berries taste the way they do, this is a great fit.
When is strawberry season in Orange County?
The short answer: spring. The longer answer is that California’s coastal season is long. According to UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, the California strawberry season extends from January through November along the coast, peaking in April, May and June, when all five growing districts produce berries at the same time.
For picking, here’s how I’d think about it:
- Late January to March: The early start. Some farms open tours, but crowds are smaller and berries can be hit or miss depending on the winter weather.
- April to June: The sweet spot. Plenty of fruit, long days and the best odds that the field you picked will be loaded.
- July onward: Farms shift gears. Tanaka Farms, for example, moves to melon and corn tours in July and August, a pumpkin patch in September and October, and a holiday tour in December.
It’s early November as I write this, which is the quiet stretch for pick-your-own strawberries here. Use the fall to plan your spring trip, and watch each farm’s page for the new season’s opening announcement.
What strawberry picking really costs
The price depends on the style of farm, not just the size of the haul.
- Tour-style (Tanaka Farms): You pay admission per person, which, per NBC Los Angeles, was $27 on weekdays and $29 on weekends and holidays in 2026. That covers the tour and a pound of berries to take home.
- Field-style (South Coast Farms): You pay a per-car entry fee and then by the pound. At the 2022 rate of $5 a car and $5 a pound, a family of four with a car and three pounds of berries would pay about $20. That’s my own math from the reported rates, so check current prices before you plan around it.
So which is the better deal? If you want a full experience with a guide, the tour wins. If you’re berry-hungry and want a big haul for jam, pies or freezing, the pay-by-the-pound field is hard to beat.
How to plan your visit
A little prep makes the morning smoother. Here’s my checklist.
- Go early. Cooler temperatures, softer light and the best berries. Mornings also mean fewer crowds and less sun on your neck.
- Book or confirm first. Tanaka Farms tours can sell out, while South Coast Farms has welcomed walk-ins. Either way, look at the farm’s own page for the current schedule.
- Dress for dirt. Closed-toe shoes you don’t mind staining, a hat, sunscreen and clothes that let you crouch.
- Bring a cooler or a bag. Berries are delicate. Keep them out of a hot car trunk.
- Bring cash and a card. Small farms and stands can be picky about payment.
- Pick the red ones. Look for berries that are fully red with a bright green cap. They won’t ripen much after they come off the plant.
- Plan the next stop. A farm morning pairs nicely with lunch nearby.
Most of these trips take 1 to 2 hours, so you’ll have the afternoon free. If you’re building a whole day, our offbeat Orange County guide has plenty of ideas, and the food hall guide is handy for a post-pick lunch.
What to do with all those berries
Strawberries are best within a couple of days. Don’t wash them until you’re ready to eat. Keep them cold, and if you picked a lot, slice and freeze the extras on a tray before bagging them.
Some easy ideas:
- Slice them over yogurt or oatmeal.
- Make a quick jam with sugar and lemon juice.
- Blend a few into a smoothie.
- Dip them in chocolate for a date night (the date ideas in Orange County list has more where that came from).
And if you like the idea of eating with the calendar, here’s a good read on the benefits of seasonal produce and why spring fruit tastes so good.
Making it a family day
Strawberry picking works for most ages, but some tips help. Toddlers will eat as many as they pick, so set expectations early. Older kids like having their own container and a goal. If anyone in your group has trouble bending or kneeling, the tour format at Tanaka Farms or the guided events at the Ecology Center may be easier than a long open field.
For more kid-friendly outings, see our list of fun family activities around the region.
Our take on picking your own
We started SoCal Sights because the best days out in Southern California are rarely the ones on the first page of every guide. Strawberry picking is a perfect example. It’s simple and it’s local, and it’s best when someone who knows the area tells you which farm fits your group.
Our approach is to point you toward places with real character, like a family-run farm that’s been part of the county’s story for decades, and to keep the details practical: what it costs, when to go and what to bring. We also lean on locals. If you’ve found a field or stand we should know about, we want to hear it.
Our advice: pick one farm, go early, and make a morning of it. You’ll remember the warm berry you ate in the row long after the ones from the store.
Joshua
Want your farm or event featured?
If you run a farm stand, a seasonal event or a local business in Southern California, we’d love to help visitors and locals find you. SoCal Sights offers advertising, featured placements and memberships for businesses that want to reach people planning their next outing. Pricing isn’t published, so the best next step is to head to our advertising page and get in touch.
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FAQ
What is the best month to go strawberry picking in Orange County?
April, May and June are the safest bets. UC Agriculture and Natural Resources says the California strawberry season peaks in those months, when all five growing districts are producing at once. Some Orange County tours start as early as late winter, so check each farm’s page.
Do strawberries grow in California?
Yes, in a big way. California grows approximately 83 percent of the nation’s strawberries, about 1.4 billion pounds a year on more than 25,000 acres. Orange County is one of the five growing regions.
Do I need a reservation to pick strawberries?
It depends on the farm. Tanaka Farms tours can fill up, and NBC Los Angeles strongly recommended booking ahead. South Coast Farms has welcomed walk-ins without reservations, but confirm the current policy before you go.
How much does it cost to pick your own strawberries?
At a tour-style farm like Tanaka, admission has been $27 on weekdays and $29 on weekends and holidays, including a pound of berries. At a field-style farm like South Coast Farms, the reported rate was $5 per car plus $5 per pound in 2022. Prices change, so check before you head out.
Sources
- Live Local, Orange County Farm Bureau
- Local Ecology Center turns strawberry season into teaching moment, Daily Pilot
- South Coast Farms Opens Strawberry U-Pick Season, Picket Fence Media
- Super-sweet Strawberry Picking Tours are flowering at Tanaka Farms, NBC Los Angeles
- Strawberries: Safe Methods to Store, Preserve, and Enjoy, UC ANR
- Benefits of Seasonal Produce: Your 2026 Nutrition Guide