Trying to fit a truckload of things to do into a trip to Ontario is no easy task. The more you do, the more there is to do. The list of things to see, eat and experience seems never-ending.
And don’t even get me started on all the walking involved.
Oh God, the walking!
After spending our Canada trip ticking off some considerably more adrenaline-filled experiences, taking a trip to a fruit-picking farm seemed like the perfect way to slow things down a little. Sure, it was a timid experience compared to the CN Tower EdgeWalk, but it was a refreshing way to spend an afternoon, get some sunshine, bond with nature (sans the bugs) and have a bit of family time.
Plus, a beautiful tea-picking walk in Assam was already on my bucket list, so this felt like a pretty good substitute.
Fruit Picking Near Toronto at Downey’s Farm
One of the things I loved about travelling through Ontario was discovering experiences that weren’t necessarily on the standard tourist itinerary.
Fruit picking was one of them.
Across Ontario, farms open their fields and orchards to visitors at different times of the year, depending on what’s in season. Strawberries, raspberries, apples, pumpkins and other fruits and vegetables can all become part of the experience, although what’s available varies from farm to farm and season to season.
For us, the choice was raspberries.
We spent the afternoon amidst rows and rows of plants picking luscious red raspberries at Downey’s Farm, Caledon, just north of Brampton. And the farm’s pick-your-own operation is run separately as Downey’s Strawberry & Apple Farm. The setting was exactly what I had imagined when I thought of a fruit-picking farm: no buildings in sight, just rows of plants, an enormous sky and an old barn-like place where we went to pay and collect our little containers.
There was something wonderfully simple about it. No sightseeing checklist. No rushing from one attraction to another. No staring at a map trying to figure out where we needed to be next.
Just raspberries.
What Is Raspberry Picking Actually Like?
It sounds ridiculously easy. You walk along a row, find a raspberry, pick it and put it in your basket. How hard could it be?
As it turns out, filling one tiny container takes considerably longer than you would imagine.
We separated branches and hunted through the foliage for the raspberries hiding underneath. The really ripe ones practically begged to fall off the stem, while others were tucked away where you had to move half the plant to get to them.
It took us almost two hours to fill our little containers. Of course, it goes without saying that quite a lot of those berries never actually made it into the basket.
Courtesy: stomach.
And honestly, isn’t that half the point? There is something very satisfying about eating fruit straight from the plant, particularly when you’ve spent the previous few hours searching for it yourself.
Is Fruit Picking Worth Doing Near Toronto?
If you’re looking for something a little different to do outside Toronto, I would absolutely consider it.
It isn’t a dramatic attraction. Nobody is going to strap you into a harness and send you walking around the outside of a skyscraper. There isn’t a famous monument to photograph or a landmark to tick off your list.
And that’s precisely why I enjoyed it. After all the sightseeing, walking and adrenaline of a Canada trip, spending an afternoon picking raspberries felt like a welcome change of pace. It was quiet, uncomplicated and slightly ridiculous in the best possible way. I also loved that it gave us an excuse to get out of the city and experience a little bit of the countryside around the Greater Toronto Area.
When Is Raspberry Picking Season in Ontario?
Fruit-picking seasons depend heavily on the weather, the crop and the individual farm, so don’t assume that because a farm offered raspberries in one week of one year, they’ll necessarily be available when you visit.
Downey’s current information says strawberry season generally begins around mid-to-late June, depending on weather, while its pick-your-own strawberry and raspberry operation directs visitors to its dedicated PYO website for current crop conditions and availability.
If raspberry picking is the whole reason you’re making the trip, check the farm’s current picking conditions before setting out. That’s particularly important because fruit can ripen quickly and farms may close fields temporarily when they’re picked out or when conditions aren’t suitable.
Downey’s Farm: What to Know Before You Go
A lot has changed since my visit. Downey’s Farm is now located at 13682 Heart Lake Road, Caledon, Ontario, and the farm’s main attraction is its large Play Area with more than 40 activities, wagon rides, farm animals and seasonal experiences.
The pick-your-own strawberries and raspberries are handled by Downey’s Strawberry & Apple Farm, which is a separate business from Downey’s Farm, although both are part of the same family operation. The farm specifically directs visitors to its PYO site for current fruit-picking information.
So if you’re visiting specifically to pick raspberries, check the PYO information rather than assuming a regular Downey’s Farm admission ticket includes fruit picking. That’s an important distinction that wasn’t relevant when I visited but definitely matters now.
What Else Can You Do at Downey’s Farm?
If you’re travelling with children, or simply haven’t outgrown the pleasure of running around a farm, Downey’s has evolved into much more than a place to pick fruit. The current farm has more than 40 activities, including wagon rides, farm animals, jumping pillows, play areas and seasonal attractions. Its calendar changes throughout the year, with summer activities followed by Pumpkinfest and the corn maze in autumn.
The farm’s 2026 summer season runs from May 22 to September 18, with daily hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Farm Market also operates beyond the summer season. If you’re interested in the farm itself rather than just fruit picking, allow a couple of hours at minimum. Downey’s currently recommends around 2–3 hours for the Play Area, although families can easily spend longer there.
A Few Things to Know Before Fruit Picking
Check the crop before you go. Fruit availability depends on weather and picking conditions. Don’t make the drive based solely on an a social media photograph or Google reviews.
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You’re walking through fields rather than strolling through a shopping centre, and farms can get muddy after rain. Downey’s specifically recommends appropriate clothing such as rain boots or a raincoat when conditions are wet.
Check whether you need a separate ticket. Downey’s says its Play Area admission is separate from strawberry and raspberry picking, so don’t assume one ticket covers everything.
Go early if you can. Apart from being more pleasant in the cooler part of the day, you’re likely to have a better choice of ripe fruit.
Bring patience. Picking fruit yourself is considerably slower than buying a punnet from a supermarket. That’s kind of the point.
From Farmville to Farm
At the end of the day, our raspberries were left in the trunk of the car. sigh.
Sometimes, after chasing waterfalls, walking around cities and doing things that make your family ask, “Are you sure you want to do this?”, it’s nice to spend an afternoon doing something completely ordinary.
You get some sun, breathe some fresh air, reconnect with nature and, if you’re lucky, come home with something delicious.
A little bit of non-digital Farmville (who remembers Farmville!?). And I’d do it again.
Looking for More Things to Do in Canada?
If you’re putting together a Canada itinerary, you can also read about my CN Tower EdgeWalk in Toronto, where I traded raspberry picking for walking around the outside of one of the world’s tallest towers.
And of course, there’s Niagara Falls, which is an entirely different kind of spectacular. I’ve experienced the Falls in summer as well as in winter, when the landscape takes on a completely different character. In fact, here’s a bunch of things to do in Toronto in the winter.
If you’re travelling through Ontario, you might also enjoy my posts on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, ByWard Market and the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa. Spend some time wandering around Kensington Market and spot graffiti in cool alleyways and streets, too! I love street art!
Because Canada has a rather annoying habit of making the list of things you want to see considerably longer than the amount of time you actually have. I can’t wait to go back and explore another part of the country!
Cya next time!