Photos: Harvest time at Pyrah's U-pick farm

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From left, Sullivan Cohen, Judy Gette and Quinn Larson peruse brassicas at Pyrah's Pioneer Peak Farm on August 17, 2012. Pyrah's operates Alaska's largest U-pick farm.

The Alaska Grown program's slogan may be "fresher by far," but even that can't compare to the fresh vegetables you get when you pick them yourself. Alaska's largest "U-pick" farm is Pyrah's Pioneer Peak Farm, located in Butte, where as of late August most everything is ready to be picked.

Good weather but cold summer temperatures mean many of the vegetables are just now ready for harvest. This past weekend there were potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, garlic, cabbage and kohlrabi. In the coming weeks expect to find cucumbers, zucchini, strawberries and raspberries.

By the time Pyrah's hosts its fall festival, scheduled for Sept. 15 and 22nd, expect everything to be available. The only downside to waiting is that not only might the best produce be picked, but the cold temperatures may threaten to freeze the crops.

The fall harvest festival, now in its third year, has grown exponentially, with last year's festival attracting an estimated 6,000 people. For more information, check out Pyrah's Facebook page. And while you're out at the farm, keep an eye out for migrating geese and cranes.