Provo, UT

If you don’t have the time, space, talent, or desire to grow your own vegetables there’s a great alternative: pick your own at a local produce farm. It’s also an great way to show your kids how produce gets from the dirt to the dinner table, and remind them that food doesn’t just come from the store.

We recently went to Day Farms in Layton to pick asparagus for just $1 per pound ($2 for spears shorter than six inches…still a bargain!). It’s quick, easy and fun. You don’t need to spend a lot of time there but I do recommend going early. We went around noon, and were one of the last customers. They only allow so much to be picked per day.

“U-pick” is based on the honor system: Day Farms provides the baskets, knives, bags, and scales. After you walk through the fields and cut your asparagus, you return the baskets and knives, weigh your produce, and leave your money in a lock box. No one will be there to make change, so bring small bills and coins. We rounded up (got to support local farmers!).

Crops are usually available from April through October. Strawberries are ripe for picking in June, and in the coming months there will be tomatoes, peppers, green beans, corn, onions, watermelon, cantaloupe, and peaches (you’ll be able to pick some crops yourself, others will already be picked). In the fall, Day Farms offers pumpkin picking, hay rides and a corn field maze.

The highlight was eating our asparagus the same day we picked it. We rinsed it clean as soon as we got home, then soaked it in cold water until we were ready to grill it. A little olive oil, salt, pepper, and voila…straight from the farm to our plate! This was an enjoyable experience, and one we’ll do again each growing season.

Day Farms is located at 2500 W Gentile, Layton, UT
801-546-4316