Shopping for fruit and veg in the supermarket can be an underwhelming experience. So, instead of buying those sad-looking apples, pears and berries in your local store, why not take the family out for a day of autumnal fruit picking? Fruit from pick-your-own (PYO) farms is fresher, tastier and more eco-friendly than supermarket produce, as it hasn’t been subjected to packaging, transport and air-conditioning. And PYO farms offer hundreds of varieties of fruit — many local. You’d be hard-pressed to find Worcester berries, tayberries (perfect for jam) and jostaberries in the local supermarket, but many PYO farms grow them in September.

Picking is made easy; most farms grow their fruit at “table-top” height, which is not too high for children and easily reached by those in wheelchairs. And many farms offer other entertainment for kids: hay rides, tractor rides and petting zoos. There are 1,000 PYO farms in England, so finding one near you should be easy.

PYO fruit isn’t usually organic but chemicals are used sparingly, says Rita Exner, of the National Farmers’ Retail & Markets Association. Because the farms are small, many use alternatives to pesticides such as scarecrows or predatory insects. The season for fruit picking is June to October; raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, pears, plums, apples and a variety of vegetables are in their prime throughout September. Prices are similar to those in supermarkets. Call to check which crops are available.

CLIVES FRUIT FARM, Worcestershire

Opened in 1911, Clives is a family-run farm spread over 40 acres (16 hectares) of open farmland. The season begins with strawberries and raspberries and really takes off with apples and pears throughout August and September. The plum harvest ends in September.

The apple harvest includes local varieties such as Worcester as well as Red Windsor, Gala, Vistabella, Bramley, Russet, Scrumptious and Cox. The second week in September is best for Cox, Bramley and Gala. Clives sells perry (an alcoholic pear drink) and cider. Its Conference Pear Juice won the 2005 Waitrose Small Producer of the Year Award. And while you’re browsing through the shop, the kids can play in the adventure playground.

Willingsworth Farmhouse, Upper Hook Road, Upton-upon-Severn (01684 592664; www.clivesfruitfarm.co.uk)

ESSINGTON FRUIT FARM, Staffordshire

Autumnal PYO here includes plums, raspberries, damsons, gooseberries, purple Marion berries, damsons and rhubarb. But Essington also has a wonderful selection of vegetables to pick in September, including runner beans, sweet corn, broccoli, lettuce and cabbage. The shop is open all-year round and sells the farm’s own or local meat as well as cakes, soups, pies and ready meals all cooked on the farm.

Bognop Road, Essington, Wolverhampton (01902 735724; www.essingtonfarm.co.uk)

EDDISBURY FRUIT FARM, Cheshire

This family-run business, established in 1936, sits on the edge of the Delamere Forest, Cheshire’s largest woodland. The farm offers an impressive harvest of local apples and their by-products, including Cheshire Apple Juice, Cheshire Cider and Cheshire Fruit Wine.

Soft fruits for picking include gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries, tayberries, loganberries, redcurrants and whitecurrants. There are plums, too. The farm hosts the excellent Vale Royal farmers’ market every third Saturday of the month, from 10am to 2pm, so it might be worth visiting on one of those days.

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