Berry season is just around the corner, and your apartment in Tacoma is within minutes of two of the best pick your own farms in the state! Pichas Berry Farm and These farms are a fun way to get fresh produce, and some fresh air, all at the same time.
Pichas has been a fixture of the Tacoma agricultural community for over 100 years. Founded in 1904 by Mathias Picha, the farm has been in the family for 3 generations with no plans on changing. They have two locations: one on 74th and Tyler in Tacoma, and another near River Road in Puyallup. While you pick tours are only available for their Strawberries, Pichas is also well known for their variety of raspberries and blackberries sold at fruit stands daily.
Terrys Berries is another incredible resource for local produce! This certified organic farm was founded on the owners personal philosophy regarding the importance of knowing where your food comes. Modern society has become largely disconnected from our food supply. With the prevalence of fast food and drive through windows, people rarely put much thought into what it takes to get the food to that point. The folks at Terrys seek to bridge that gap through their pick-your-own (seasonal), and CSA programs.
CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, is a system in which a portion of the community shares the potential risks, and benefits, of food production. Members pay a subscription, usually near the beginning of the growing season. In return, they receive regularly scheduled shares of the yield once harvesting begins. Terrys was one of the first farms in the area to start such a co-op, and they were recently voted one of the best CSAs by Weekly Volcano readers.
Both Pichas and Terrys are great places to go for fresh produce, and theyre only a short drive from Nantucket Gate. You can get delicious, fresh produce for less than you might pay at a store by cutting out the middleman (Middleperson? I dont want to limit anyones ability to act as an intermediary), and picking it yourself.
