McElwain's Strawberry Farm
Caribou, ME
At a glance
- Address
- 711 Sweden Street, Caribou, Maine, 04736
- Activities
- 🍇 Berries🍓 Strawberries
- Typical season
- May to Aug (berries, varies by farm)
- Listing updated
- Feb 2024
- County
- Aroostook County, ME
- Hardiness zone
- USDA zone 4b
- Source
- USDA Local Food Directories
Picking weather
National Weather ServiceLoading the forecast…
Weather only. It does not tell you whether the farm is open, so check hours with the farm.
Make a day of it
- Playground 2.7 mi
- Gas station Gulf 2.4 mi
- 10 places to eat within 5 mi Jade Palace Restaurant, Sizzle & Slice Restaurant / Bar, Houston Fams Dairy
Farmers markets nearby
- Presque Isle Farmers' Market Presque Isle · 13.2 mi
- Presque Isle Riverside Public Market Presque Isle · 14.5 mi
Open in Apple Maps · Google Maps directions
Nearby places from OpenStreetMap (straight-line distance). Markets and CSAs from the USDA Local Food Directories.
Weather here in a typical year
Nov here: highs around 40°F, lows around 26°F, about 3.4 in of rain, 9.2 hours of daylight.
- 🌱 Last spring frostMay 7
- 🍂 First fall frostOct 1
- ☀️ Frost-free season143 days
- 🧭 Hardiness zone4b
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Caribou Muni Ap, ME station (1.8 mi); USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University PRISM). Averages, not a forecast. Crops ripen earlier after warm springs.
What you can pick here
- BerriesMay to Aug
- StrawberriesApr to Jun
Typical US ranges from extension service crop calendars, not this farm's own dates. Seasons shift by region and weather, so check with the farm.
Before you go
- Check that it is open. Search for the farm's current hours: hours and crops change with the weather.
- Bring cash and a card. Some farms take only one.
- Water, sun protection and closed-toe shoes.
- Containers only if the farm allows them (some weigh yours first)
- Sunscreen and a hat
- A cooler for the drive home
- Shallow containers only if the farm allows them
- Knee pads or an old towel, rows are low
- Ask about pets before you bring a dog.
More tips: your first u-pick visit.
How to pick like a pro
- Is it ripe?
Strawberries are ready when fully red to the stem. Blueberries should be deep blue with no red at the stem end; ripe ones roll off into your palm. Blackberries are ripe when dull black, not shiny.
- How to pick
Pinch strawberries off with a bit of stem so they keep longer. Cup blueberry clusters and roll with your thumb. Pick into shallow containers so the bottom layer is not crushed.
- Best time to go
Early morning, before the heat softens fruit and picked-over rows fill up.
- Keep it fresh
Do not wash until you eat them. Refrigerate in a single layer; most berries keep 2 to 5 days.
Farm country: Aroostook County
Aroostook County had 720 farms in the latest USDA Census of Agriculture (2022). Of those, 110 sold food straight to the public and 8 earned money from agritourism like u-pick and tours.
- 9 acres of blueberries
- 44 acres of strawberries #4 of 11 counties in ME
- 7 acres of raspberries #10 of 13 counties in ME
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2022 Census of Agriculture. Some county numbers are withheld to protect individual farms.
Check hours before you go. Listings come from public directories and many were last updated in 2024.
Farms nearby
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Plan your trip
Questions about McElwain's Strawberry Farm
Is McElwain's Strawberry Farm open today?
We do not track live hours. Check with the farm before you go. Our listing comes from public directories and was last updated Feb 2024.
When is the season at McElwain's Strawberry Farm?
Berries typically run May to Aug in much of the US. Exact dates depend on the farm, the region and the weather, so confirm with the farm.
Where is McElwain's Strawberry Farm?
The listing gives the address as 711 Sweden Street, Caribou, Maine, 04736. Use the Directions button for turn-by-turn directions.
Can I bring my dog to McElwain's Strawberry Farm?
Pet rules vary by farm and by field. Many u-pick farms do not allow dogs in picking areas for food safety. Ask the farm before you go.
Is this listing wrong?
Farms can fix or claim a listing for free on our add or claim your farm page.