Few things taste more like the Okanagan than a basket of fresh strawberries picked close to home. At Don-O-Ray Farms in Kelowna, strawberry season is one of the most anticipated times of year — and for good reason. Our berries are bright, fragrant, naturally sweet, and grown fresh in BC at the peak of the season.
If you’ve been searching for fresh strawberries in Kelowna, sweet strawberries in the Okanagan, or simply the best place to buy strawberries near you, Don-O-Ray Farms is worth the trip.
Why Don-O-Ray strawberries taste different
The secret is simple: fresh fruit, handled with care. Our BC-grown strawberries travel from field to farm market shelf in a fraction of the time it takes grocery store berries to cross the country. That means they ripen naturally, develop full flavour, and reach you at their best.
Fresh strawberries have a softer texture, a stronger aroma, and a sweetness that long-distance shipping can’t replicate. Once you’ve had genuinely local berries, the grocery store version is hard to go back to. We restock our shelves several times a day so what you’re picking up is always fresh — not sitting around.
Where to buy fresh strawberries in Kelowna
Don-O-Ray Farms is located at 3443 Benvoulin Road in Kelowna’s Lower Mission, open throughout the growing season. Our Kelowna farm market gives locals and visitors a direct connection to BC strawberries and other seasonal produce.
Strawberries are a delicate fruit. The best flavour comes from berries that are handled with care and sold close to where they’re grown — not packed into a shipping container for a week. Stopping by a local farm market makes a real difference you can taste.
What to do with fresh strawberries
Our regulars come back for strawberries all season long, and here’s what they do with them:
- Eat them fresh. At peak ripeness, they need nothing else.
- Make freezer jam. Don-O-Ray strawberries are perfect for a bright, flavour-packed jam you can enjoy all winter.
- Strawberry shortcake. Slice the berries with a little sugar to bring out the juice, pile onto tender biscuits, and finish with whipped cream.
- Freeze for smoothies. Hull, lay flat on a baking sheet, freeze solid, then transfer to bags.
- Bake with them. Pies, crisps, cakes, sauces — fresh local berries elevate everything.
Tips for your strawberry-shopping trip to Don-O-Ray Farms
- Bring a cooler. Kelowna summers are warm, and a small cooler keeps your berries in better shape on the way home.
- Buy more than you think you need. Fresh strawberries disappear fast once they hit the kitchen.
- Look for bright colour and strong aroma. Good berries smell sweet and feel delicate — not hard or underripe.
- Check out Nature’s Kitchen. Our in-house line of strawberry freezer jam, sauces, and baked goods is a great way to take the flavour home year-round.
- Make it a family outing. We have a petting zoo on the property, so strawberry season doubles as a fun Kelowna farm experience for kids.
A Local Farm Market Worth Visiting
Don-O-Ray Farms isn’t just a place to buy fruit — it’s a Kelowna institution. Shopping here means supporting a local family farm, getting produce at its freshest, and staying connected to where your food comes from.
Whether you’re a longtime local or visiting the Okanagan for the first time, there’s nothing quite like fresh strawberries in the Okanagan summer — and Don-O-Ray Farms is the place to get them.
Strawberries season is just around the corner — follow us on social media to be the first to know when they hit our shelves, or stop by our farm market at 3443 Benvoulin Road, Kelowna, BC and see what’s fresh today. Once the season kicks off, we restock several times a day so there’s always something fresh waiting for you
Frequently Asked Questions
When is strawberry season in Kelowna? Strawberry season typically runs from June through July for the first crop, then again from August through to the end of September for the second. At Don-O-Ray Farms we restock daily throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh waiting for you.
Where can I buy fresh local strawberries in Kelowna? Don-O-Ray Farms at 3443 Benvoulin Road in Kelowna’s Lower Mission is one of the best spots for fresh BC-grown strawberries. We’re open 9am to 7pm, seven days a week throughout the growing season.
How do I keep fresh strawberries from going bad? Store them unwashed in the fridge and only rinse right before eating. Fresh local strawberries are best enjoyed within 2–3 days of purchase — though they rarely last that long!
Do you sell strawberries by the flat? Yes, we sell strawberries by the basket and by the flat — perfect if you’re planning to make jam, freeze a batch, or just stock up for the week. Quantities vary by availability, so it’s worth coming in early in the day.
Can I freeze Don-O-Ray strawberries? Absolutely. Hull them, lay them flat on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to bags. Frozen local strawberries are great for smoothies, baking, and sauces all winter long.
