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U-Pick Farm Safety

U-pick brings families into fields and orchards for hours at a time. The hazards are ordinary ones, uneven ground, heat and traffic, but they affect people who do not know the farm.

What are the main hazards at a U-pick farm?

Most problems come from simple things: tripping on rows, falling from ladders, heat, insect stings and cars moving in parking areas. Children can wander quickly, and visitors may wear sandals or carry small children while walking uneven ground.

Walk the picking areas and the route from the parking lot to the rows before opening. Fix what you can and mark what you cannot.

Conditions change across the season. Rain makes rows slick, drought cracks the ground and a heavy crop can hide holes. Walk the area again after bad weather.

• Uneven ground, holes and irrigation lines
• Ladders in orchards
• Parking and traffic
• Heat and lack of shade
• Bees, wasps and ticks
• Check the picking area again after rain or wind
• Walk the parking route as a visitor would

How do you manage parking and traffic?

Separate cars from walking paths and keep drivers moving slowly. Use staff or volunteers in busy periods, and mark clear spots for drop-offs and for people with limited mobility.

Check your county or town about parking and road access rules, since they vary by location.

Think about visitors with strollers, wagons or limited mobility. A firm, clear path to the first pick area makes the day safer and more welcoming.

• Mark parking lanes and walking paths
• Assign someone to direct cars at busy times
• Keep a drop-off area for people with limited mobility
• Check local rules on parking and road access

How do you reduce ladder and orchard risks?

If visitors use ladders, provide ones in good condition and follow the manufacturer's directions for use and placement. Give a brief instruction on how to climb and to never overreach.

Consider whether ladder use is wise for your visitors at all. Some farms use pick-from-ground methods or staff-only ladders to lower risk.

Teach visitors to keep three points of contact and to move the ladder instead of stretching. Keep ladders on firm ground and away from the edge of the row.

How do you protect children and families?

Ask parents to keep children within reach and talk about staying in the row. Offer a clear meeting spot in case someone gets separated, and train staff on what to do when a child is missing.

Keep machinery, tools and chemicals locked up and away from the picking areas.

Remind adults that children are quiet when they are in trouble. A simple habit of counting heads at each stop prevents most scares.

• Set a clear meeting spot
• Use staff vests or hats so people can be found
• Train staff on a missing child plan
• Post the farm address at the entrance

What about hygiene, food and water?

Offer hand washing near the field and the restrooms. Ask your state health department or extension office what guidance applies to selling produce and handling food at your farm, since rules differ by place.

Keep pets out of picking areas unless your local rules say otherwise, and manage animals so manure does not reach the crop or the paths.

What about heat, insects and chemical timing?

Provide shade and water on hot days and remind visitors to take breaks. Encourage hats, sunscreen and closed shoes, and give a first aid kit for stings.

Follow the label for any pesticide you use, including waiting periods before pickers enter or harvest. Ask your state agriculture department or extension office about worker and visitor protection rules.

Keep an eye on stings. Some visitors have serious allergic reactions without knowing it, so staff should know the emergency number and where help can be reached. Call 911 if someone has trouble breathing.

• Offer shade and water
• Suggest hats and closed shoes
• Keep a first aid kit for stings
• Follow label waiting periods before visitors enter fields

How should you prepare for emergencies?

Keep first aid supplies on site, post the farm address at the entrance and share it with staff. Know where the nearest hospital is and make sure staff can call for help from the fields.

In a serious emergency, call 911. After any incident, write down what happened and review whether anything should change.

Tell visitors where the nearest restroom and first aid kit are, and train staff on how to use them.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.