2026: Late July Pop-Up & August U-Pick Preview
Summer in Central Wisconsin is in full swing, and our five acres of demonstration fields are bursting with color and produce! Following our pea and potato harvests, we are thrilled to welcome our community back out to the fields for another round of field-to-fork fun. Whether you're coming to pick crisp green beans, cool cucumbers, or delicious fresh potatoes, there is no better way to connect with local agriculture than by gathering your own food right where it grows.
Upcoming U-Pick Harvest Days
We have two exciting, free U-Pick events lined up over the next two weeks. Mark your calendars and bring the whole family down to experience the magic of harvest season! Please note: our U-Pick Harvest Days are not rain or shine and may be canceled due to inclement weather.
Pop-Up Green Bean U-Pick | Tuesday, July 28
Need fresh veggies to round out your weeknight meals? We are hosting a special early-season Pop-Up Green Bean U-Pick on Tuesday, July 28th. Swing by the fields to harvest sweet, crisp green beans straight from the vine! This event is all about the harvest so we will not have concessions, bounce house or other fun activities.
August Community U-Pick Harvest Day | Tuesday, August 4
Our next major harvest evening takes place on Tuesday, August 4th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Join us for a full evening of outdoor agricultural fun featuring fresh picking, family activities, and great food.
Incredible Family Fun: Kids can burn off energy in our on-site bounce house throughout the event.
Concessions & Picnic Dinner: Skip cooking at home and grab dinner right by the fields! Enjoy delicious seasonal food concessions and local beverages while taking in the summer view.
Field-Side STEM Learning: Our education team will be stationed right in the rows with interactive activities showcasing crop science, plant health, and local soil management.
Exclusive Early Access for Food + Farm Members
As a token of our appreciation for our dedicated members, we offer exclusive, early-access picking hours before our public events! Members are invited to skip the crowds and enjoy a relaxed evening in the rows.
Member’s Only Green Bean Harvest: Monday, July 27 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Member’s Only August Harvest: Monday, August 3 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Please note: Member evenings are dedicated strictly to harvesting crops and family fun; food concessions and educational programming are setup for Tuesday public events.
Field-to-Fork: Crop Storage & Kitchen Handling
Proper care after you leave the field makes all the difference in keeping your fresh-picked produce sweet, crisp, and nutrient-rich. Use these field-tested storage guidelines to get the most out of your harvest:
Green Beans
Don’t wash or trim until ready to enjoy
Place in container or bag
Store in the fridge in a crisper drawer and use within a week for optimal flavor and texture
Option: Wash, trim, dry then freeze for long term storage
Cucumbers
Don’t wash until ready to enjoy
Place in container or bag
Store in the fridge in a crisper drawer and use within a week for optimal flavor and texture
Option: Try wrapping individually in paper towel to extend shelf life
Potatoes
When handled properly, fresh-dug potatoes can easily last for months!
Do not wash with water prior to storing, simply brush off dirt
Do not store in the fridge
Store in a well-ventilated container (open box or basket) to prevent moisture buildup that would cause spoilage
Store in a dark area to prevent sprouting and greening
Best storage conditions are between 45 and 55 degrees (like a cool, dry basement)
Store away from onions (moisture from onions shortens shelf life)
In the Kitchen: Featured Summer Recipes
Turn your fresh harvest into a memorable summer meal with these delicious, crowd-pleasing recipes:
For Your Green Beans: Elevate your fresh green beans with this savory, crisp Wisconsin Cheese Caesar Green Bean Salad.
For Your Potatoes: Drizzle your fresh harvest with a bright, herbaceous dressing using this classic Vinaigrette Potato Salad Recipe from Little Potato Company.
For Your Cucumbers: Keep cool on hot afternoon days with this light and refreshing Classic Cucumber Salad from The Kitchn.
Grateful for our Sponsors
It takes a true community effort to keep five acres of demonstration fields thriving and open to the public. We extend our deepest gratitude to our sponsors, whose ongoing commitment to agricultural literacy keeps our U-Pick harvest events free and accessible for all:
WOW – WE CARE CHARITY, INC. (Seeder Sponsor)
Marshfield Clinic (Event Sponsor)
Festival Foods (Bounce House Sponsor)
Findorff (Bounce House Sponsor)
Plan Your Visit: Preregister Today
Preregistration for our public harvest events is completely optional, but it helps our team immensely! Letting us know you're coming ensures we have plenty of harvest supplies ready and allows us to send important weather or crop updates (plus exclusive recipes) straight to your inbox.
Weather Note: These outdoor harvest events are dependent on weather and field conditions. In the event of severe weather or unsafe conditions, cancellation updates will be emailed to preregistered guests and posted across our official social media channels.
Help Us Grow: Take Our Brief Survey
Have you attended one of our harvest days this summer? Because we don't require tickets at the gate, your direct feedback is the best tool we have to improve our field experiences, concessions, and activities. Please take 2 minutes to Complete Our U-Pick Community Survey and let us know how we did!