Fun Fruit-Picking Date Ideas

As the beautiful days and warm evenings of summer roll in, we’re ditching ‘dinner and a movie’ date nights in favor of something fresh, juicy, and ripe with romantic potential. This summer, it’s all about fruit-picking dates—and it’s as cute as it sounds. This Bumble guide will tell you our tips on how to find a pick-your-own farm, make the most of fruit picking season, and turn your spoils into something delicious. 

We love the idea of picking your own fruit on a date. Getting out into nature, enjoying the sunshine (with SPF, of course), and walking through the fields can be a romantic way to chat, relax, and get to know your partner. It’s a little less pressure than making intense eye contact over dinner, and searching for ripe fruit will give you something to chat about if you’re still getting to know each other. 

It’s a cool experience to see how things grow, understand the picking process, and enjoy something you put work into choosing. We guarantee your fruit will taste better, not just because it’s going straight from the plant to your plate. And, let’s be honest, it’s an opportunity to get cute soft-launch photos for the ‘gram. So, pack sunscreen, grab your baskets, and let's dive into the world of pick-your-own farms.

Ready to start your fruitful adventure? A pick-your-own farm is your destination. These farms, also known as U-pick farms, let visitors explore the fields and crops to choose their own produce, usually charged by the pound or container. 

Prices vary depending on the type of fruit, location, and season, but you can expect to pay an average of $2 to $4 per pound, making it perfect for a cheap date idea. Fruit picking season starts around early May in warmer places and can go all the way to October—depending on the month, you could find strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, apples, and much more. 

Even if you live in a city, there may be a local pick-your-own farm, so don’t discount this idea based on your location. We found several online resources listing farms nationwide, with maps of U-pick places across all regions. You can even narrow down your options by choosing what you want to pick—anything from apples, to persimmons, to watermelons. 

Watch for roadside billboards or signs when traveling, as many fruit-picking farms rely on passing business or local knowledge. 

Fruit-picking dates are a seasonal treasure hunt, offering new and exciting choices each month. We’ll cover the main crops here, but your mileage may vary depending on your location and weather. 

In May, you can expect to find strawberries, rhubarb, possibly blueberries, and some citrus crops like lemons, oranges, and limes.  

June and July are when the trees and bushes start to fill out with all kinds of fruit. Berry lovers, this is your time: you can look for raspberries, cherries, blueberries, and other berry varieties, plus figs, pineapples, and most types of melon. 

The stone fruits come by August, so you could add peaches, plums, apricots, and nectarines to your basket. Then as we start to move towards fall, you can expect to see more apples and pears, plus (of course) pumpkins and other gourds. 

This is a date idea you could repeat throughout summer and fall, seeing and picking new fruits every time. 

When you’re out in the field picking your own fruit, choosing your spoils is up to you. So it’s good to know how to tell the sour, unripe fruit from the stuff at its sweetest, juiciest peak. However, sometimes it’s not obvious—check our personal tips for helping you choose the best of popular PYO fruits, and make sure to do your own research on ripeness(impressing your date with your fruity know-how). 

For a truly scrumptious apple, look for firm, smooth skin and a rich, even color. Give it a gentle squeeze—if it yields slightly, you’ve found a winner. Toss aside any apples with wrinkled skin or soft spots and ignore those already on the ground, as they could harbor sneaky bacteria. 

If you’re hunting for a fabulous strawberry, look for a vibrant red hue that goes to the leafy cap. Check for a plump shape and that sweet strawberry aroma. Steer clear of dull or greenish berries, as they’re still on their way to ripening and won’t be as tasty.

For blueberries, blackberries, and others in the berry family, you’re also looking for deep, even color with a plump (but firm) feel. Avoid green berries, as they're still busy ripening and won't be the best sweet treat.

Patience is key when picking pears, as they often ripen off the tree. This means you can pick pears that aren’t quite ripe yet, and they’ll keep getting sweeter in your fruit bowl. Ripe pears will have a slightly soft area near the stem, while the rest is firm.

Peaches are one of our favorite PYO choices, as you simply can’t compare a store-bought peach to the scent and flavor of a freshly picked one.

A ripe peach should have velvety, unblemished skin, a warm, golden hue, and a pink blush. The fruit should yield slightly to gentle pressure, and its sweet, fragrant aroma should be utterly peachy keen. Take a bite as soon as you’ve paid up. You’ll be glad you did. 

We’ve got a few ideas for extending your date after you’ve filled your basket with delicious treats, snapped some cute photos, and paid for your produce. 

Cool off together after your picking session by making delicious ice pops. Grab your fruit in any combination that sounds good, chop it up, and blend or mash it with some water or juice.

Pour the mixture into popsicle molds or even small cups, pop in a stick, and let them freeze for a few hours. The result? Refreshing, homemade popsicles packed with fruity goodness. 

The simplest form of agua fresca is just fresh fruit, water, and a splash of sweetener. Perfect for sipping out in the sun together after a hard morning’s work. The best part? You can use pretty much any fruit you've picked, like strawberries, watermelon, pineapple, or even those fabulous peaches. 

To make it, just blend your fruit with water, strain out the pulp, and sweeten as you like (you could use sugar, agave, or honey). Pour it over ice, drop in a mint leaf or a citrus slice, and you've got a refreshing treat. Cheers!