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U-pick farms in Florida: It’s blueberry season

By: Author Deborah Hartz-Seeley

Posted on Last updated:

You may not think of Florida as blueberry country, but the state is now eighth in the nation in blueberry production. (Twenty years ago, there was no blueberry production, but University of Florida developed the ‘Southern Highbush’ varieties that requires very few hours of chill for growth.)

Many of Florida’s farm crops are commercially harvested, processed and sold nationally and even internationally. But some select crops on special farms are left on the bushes and trees so you can pick them yourself.

From berries, to oranges, to flowers, to vegetables, to chestnuts, u-pick is a popular alternative to prepicked.

And, almost year-round, u-picks farms in Florida are a cornucopia of options.

U-pick farms in Florida: Picking blueberries gets your family outdoors doing something fun as well as providing a sweet yet healthful treat. Photo courtesy of Tom West Blueberries, Ocoee.
U-pick farms in Florida: Picking blueberries gets your family outdoors doing something fun as well as providing a sweet yet healthful treat. Photo courtesy of Tom West Blueberries, Ocoee.

Of course, there are more benefits to visiting a Florida u-pick farm than just collecting buckets of fruits and veggies. By harvesting fresh items yourself and eating them soon after, you can enjoy produce at its most nutritious and delicious.

There’s also much more to do on many of these farms than just pick the crops.

From farm tours and petting zoos to renting historic cabins or relaxing in a rocking chair on a front porch, these farms are a nice break from routine.

Rambler tips for U-picking

Important caveat: The availability of any crop is seasonal and what you can pick and when are weather dependent. Availability can change daily. Don’t be disappointed if you have to alter your plans when it rains or a crop doesn’t produce as expected. And when the trees and bushes are stripped of their bounty, the crop is done. The farmer can’t send out for more.

Where to begin: Consult this general listing of when crops ripen to get an idea when u-pick farms in Florida will open for picking. Decide which crops you wish to pick and then use our listing to see what’s available at a farm near you.

Before you go: Before visiting the farm, check the farm’s website or Facebook page to confirm exactly what crops are available for picking and when. If you can’t find info online, call or email the farmer before planning your trip. (Keep in mind: These family farms often do not have the staff to list or answer phone inquiries.)

There are many u-pick farms in Florida and this listing is just a tasty sampling. These Florida u-pick farms are organized alphabetically by region. The Florida Department of Agriculture also maintains a voluntary listing of u-pick farms throughout the state that you can access here.

North Florida U-pick farms

Green Meadows Farm, Monticello

This farm has been designated a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. It is home to turtles, fox, coyotes, deer, bluebirds, purple martins, swallowtail kites, woodpeckers and more. Look for them during your visit.

High Springs Orchard, High Springs

This 28-acre farm opened in 1996 with a few persimmon trees. After more than two decades, the hobby farm now produces certified organic satsuma, persimmon, papaya, mulberry, moringa, loquat, kumquat, fig, chestnut, and Asian pear plants. You’ll find also an outdoor events area that hosts 35 people. This facility includes restrooms, catering supplies and a professional kitchen.

u-pick farms in florida Jubilee Website Cabins Header Image U-pick farms in Florida: It's blueberry season
U-pick farms in Florida: Historic cottages are ready to rent at Jubilee Orchards, a Tallahassee u-pick farm. Photo courtesy of Jubilee Orchards.

Jubilee Orchards, Tallahassee

This farm was founded by the former U.S. Senator and Governor of Florida “Walking Lawton’ Chiles. To campaign in 1970, he walked over 1,000 miles around the state during which time he discovered this property. Over the years, he instilled his love for this land in his two sons who have continued his environmental efforts. Today, besides u-pick, two historic cabins on the property are for rent.

Sunflowers are an important crop at Rooney’s Front Porch, a Florida u-pick farm in Live Oak. Photo courtesy of Rooney’s Front Porch.
U-pick farms in Florida: Sunflowers are an important crop at Rooney’s Front Porch in Live Oak. Photo courtesy of Rooney’s Front Porch.

Rooney’s Front Porch, Live Oak

From attracting pollinators, to pest and water management, this farm is very ecofriendly. They even grow trap crops like sunflowers and triticale to which the leaf-footed stink bugs are attracted and kept away from the blueberries. This reduces the need for pesticides. Bird boxes around the farm attract insect-eating birds. For more info on the farm’s natural practices, visit here.  

Shadrick’s U-Pick, Pinetta

Besides blueberries in the spring, this farm offers pre-picked satsumas in October and November. They are sold by the honor system where you leave your payment in a box. Another homey touch: After picking berries, you are welcome to enjoy rocking in a chair on “The Porch to Nowhere.” It’s a small porch built on the side of a barn, according to owner Sharon Shadrick.

Shockley Springs Nursery, Baker

Since 1979, the Shockley goal has been to produce environmentally friendly produce. And, they say, the resulting combination of soil and climate is what produces their sweet fruit.

Berries waiting to ripen so you can pick them at Sweet Berry Farms, a Florida u-pick farm in Williston. Photo courtesy Sweet Berry Farms.
U-pick farms in Florida: Berries waiting to ripen so you can pick them at Sweet Berry Farms in Williston. Photo courtesy Sweet Berry Farms.

Sweet Berry Farms, Williston

The couple who owns this farm wanted to return to this area where they’d met in high school over 40 years ago. And their dream to create a u-pick farm came true when they bought the land in 2020.

Amber Brooke Farms, Williston

This 100-acre agritourism destination offers special seasonal events and kids’ farm activities with the purchase of a farm fun pass for $10 per person. Weekends include live music and lunch options. This is a cashless venue.

Sweetfields Farm, Brooksville

This small organic farm was started in 2008 when it was a bare plot of land with some oak trees and hay for horses. Today you can pick a wide variety of unusual crops.

u-pick farms in florida boy with blueberry U-pick farms in Florida: It's blueberry season
U-pick farms in Florida: It’s easy to find the perfect blueberry at Wet Hammock Farm in Citra. Photo courtesy Wet Hammock Farm.

Wet Hammock Farm, Citra

This family farm became a u-pick enterprise in 2013. The multi-generations of family running the farm use their combined skills and knowledge to grow many different crops including some hydroponically. 

Central Florida U-pick farms

Bekemeyer Family Farm, Winter Garden

Great-grandpa and great-grandma Bekemeyer converted 20 acres of pine trees and palmettos into a citrus grove and truck farm using their mule and plow. The farm now sees the fourth generation coming of age on the land.

Bette’s Blues Blueberry Farm, Citrus Springs

Bette and Willis Howell are very protective of all the wildlife on their farm including the Florida gopher tortoises that you may see burrowing on the land.

Bob’s Blueberry Farm & U-Pick, Hudson

This is the place to go in April when their blueberries are ripe for the picking.

Ever After Farms, Mims

The owners of Ever After Farms have a u-pick operation in Mims but they also let you pick eight varieties of grapes at their vineyard (372 Sisco Rd, Pomona Park). The vineyard is just one of the farm’s wedding venues.

Far Reach Ranch, Tavares

Enjoy a Happy Hour Hayride on Thursdays.  For more information, contact the farm.

  • Where: 1255 S. Dora Blvd. Tavares
  • U-Pick Crops: Blueberries, strawberries, sunflowers
  • More Info: https://www.farreachranch.com/ [email protected]

Amber Brooke Farms, Eustis

This is the work of two families who merged their farms. Amber Brooke Farms in Eustis started in 2012 when the Atwood family purchased an old, worn-out citrus grove. The trees, as it turned out, were too far gone so they planted blueberries, based on Ryan Atwoods’ experience with the industry as an agriculture extension agent. The Atwoods and Hills merged their family farm in 2020 to create the Amber Brooke Farms agritourism experience, which offers children’s activities (with the purchase of a $10 pass) plus music, craft beer, food and baked goods.

Florida Best Blueberries, Inverness

Bring home a bunch of flowers with your berries. Fresh-cut blooms are available on most days.

Ready-to-pick peaches at Graham’s Farm in Umtilla. Photo courtesy Graham’s Farm.
U-pick farms in Florida: Ready-to-pick peaches at Graham’s Farm in Umtilla. Photo courtesy Graham’s Farm.

Graham’s Farm, Umatilla and Altoona

This farm has two locations with each offering different crops for picking.

Harris Establishment Farm, Palm Bay

Greg and Becca Harris with their children Anna and Connor started their farm journey in 2019. That’s when their 7-year-old daughter wanted to volunteer at a farm but she was too young. Instead, her mom helped her make candy to sell at the local farmers market so she could meet local farmers. As her love of farming grew, her parents started looking for land and, in 2020, they found a plot in Palm Bay. It was a tract that had been vacant for decades but now has been turned into this family’s u-pick adventure.

Heather Oaks Farm, Lady Lake

Besides their u-pick crops, this farm also grows Louisiana Irises with over 250 color varieties available.  It is the only farm in Florida to do so. Although these irises are similar to the more common Bearded Iris, they can handle Florida temperatures and continue to bloom year after year.

  • Where:  4240 Christmas Lane, Lady Lake. About 50 miles from Orlando.
  • U-Pick Crops: Blueberries; Muscadine grapes
  • More Info: 352-753-1184; Heather Oaks Farm
u-pick farms in florida strawberries U-pick farms in Florida: It's blueberry season
U-pick farms in Florida: Hunsader Farms has strawberry fields, but also a variety of other crops, plus lots of animals. Photo courtesy Hunsader Farms

Hunsader Farms, Bradenton

Come for the u-pick but stay for the petting zoo where your children can pet and feed goats, sheep, mini-donkeys and ponies, zebu cattle, pigs, deer and kangaroos. Plus, they can view lemurs, monkeys, porcupines, cockatoos, macaws, rabbits, chickens, peacocks, ducks, alpacas, iguanas, a sulcata tortoise, cockatiels, geese, emus and parakeets.

  • Where: 5500 C.R. 675, Bradenton
  • U-Pick Crops: Black-eyed peas, eggplant, green beans, okra, purple hull peas, rhubarb, strawberries, tomatoes, zipper peas
  • More Info: 941-331-1212; Hunsaderfarms

JG Ranch, Brooksville

Come to pick the berries from thousands of berry bushes on this second-generation-owned Florida u-pick farm. There’s also honey to purchase as well as cows and chickens to feed and enjoy.

Lake Catherine Blueberries, Groveland

As part of their fall festivities, this farm, which hosts events year-round, features ice skating. Yes, outdoor skating in Florida. Of course, they employ a synthetic ice rink but, even so, it sounds like fun.

Late Bloom Blueberry Farm, Haines City

“The Blueberry Lady” Susan Dye Cliett Crews founded this farm in 2012. She took pride in producing blueberries without spraying them so that her grandchildren could enjoy a healthful treat. She passed away but her family continues the tradition.

Lyna Berry Farms, Lithia

This farm is run by two women who left the corporate world for farm life. They got their idea for the farm in 2004 while speaking to a blueberry farmer in line at a home improvement store. They started with a small field at their house and then expanded to an additional 20 acres a few miles away.

U-pickers come in all sizes and ages at Margo’s Blueberry Farm, a Florida u-pick farm in Brooksville. Photo courtesy Margo’s Blueberry Farm.
U-pick farms in Florida: U-pickers come in all sizes and ages at Margo’s Blueberry Farm in Brooksville. Photo courtesy Margo’s Blueberry Farm.

Margo’s Blueberry Farm, Brooksville

This farm started as a small operation 20 years ago. Today, it covers seven acres providing two varieties of high bush berries. High bush berries are part of the heather family of plants along with azaleas, mountain laurels and rhododendrons, none of which taste nearly as good as the berries.

Visit Oponay Farms to discover it doesn’t get prettier than this spot along Lake Hancock in Lakeland. Photo Courtesy Oponay Farms.
U-pick farms in Florida: Visit Oponay Farms to discover it doesn’t get prettier than this spot along Lake Hancock in Lakeland. Photo Courtesy Oponay Farms.

Oponay Farms, Lakeland

It doesn’t get more scenic than this farm nestled on the edge of Lake Hancock only 40 minutes east of downtown Tampa Bay. And, yes, the lake does have alligators.

Premium Peach, St. Cloud

When the peaches sell out at this family-owned orchard, you may be able to purchase jars of jam made from those peaches. Try it on homemade bread that also is available at the farm

S & S Micro Farm, Bartow

Besides this u-pick in Bartow, the owners of S & S Micro Farm have a sustainable urban farm near Lake Elbert in Winter Haven. There they started growing vegetables in a few pots that grew to include a half-acre for animals and over 60 varieties of edible plants and trees. Today the land is a licensed nursery with a focus on nutrient-dense edible plants that grow well in Florida.

Showcase of Citrus, Clermont

There’s more to do at this 2,500-acre citrus orchard and cattle ranch than u-pick oranges. You also can take a monster truck ride, do some gem mining and visit with the animals that include chickens, goats, pigs, a miniature horse, donkey and other friendly critters. There also are zebras cohabitating in a paddock with bison. A country store features locally made items.

Fields of U-pick zinnias add color to Southern Hills Farm in Clermont. Photo courtesy of Southern Hills Farm.
U-pick farms in Florida: Fields of U-pick zinnias add color to Southern Hills Farm in Clermont. Photo courtesy of Southern Hills Farm.

Southern Hills Farm, Clermont

Over the years, this family has moved their farm from the eastern shore of Virginia to a spot near Lake Apopka to where they are today. It’s the third and fourth generations of this family that continues to work the land.

  • Where: 16651 Schofield Road, Clermont. Near Orlando.
  • U-Pick Crops: Blueberries (Arcadia, Emerald and Jewel varieties), peaches, sunflowers, zinnias, strawberries
  • More Info: 407-986-5806; southernhillfarms.com/

Spring Garden Vineyard, Deleon Springs

Muscadine grapes are native to the southeastern United States including central Florida. Feel free to enjoy your harvest out of hand. Any leftover can be used to make jellies and jams or dried or even fermented into wine.

Kids have fun and parents like that the berries are organic at Strawberry Passion, a Florida u-pick farm in Thonotosassa. Photo courtesy of Strawberry Passion.
U-pick farms in Florida: Kids have fun and parents like that the berries are organic at Strawberry Passion in Thonotosassa. Photo courtesy of Strawberry Passion.

Strawberry Passion/ Passion Organics Farms, Thonotosassa

On this small family u-pick farm, you can pick certified organic crops. There’s often a farm market with vendors on Saturdays. Try one of their milkshakes when available.

  • Where: 11780 Tom Folsom Road, Thonotosassa. Near Tampa.
  • U-Pick Crops: Strawberries, blueberries, flowers, black-eyed peas and whatever else they decide to plant. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates.
  • More Information: 813-735-6706; Strawberry Passion/ Passion Organics Farms, LLC | Facebook

West Blueberries, Ocoee

The fourth generation on this farm took what was a successful citrus grove and, when the viability of this iconic Florida crop came into question, they turned to blueberries instead.

Whitehead’s Blueberry Farm, Winter Haven

With over 30,000 blueberry plants across 15 acres, this is a great place to stop when you visit nearby Legoland.

Williams Blueberry Farm, Mims

Ever wonder how much fruit can pack in a gallon bucket? At Williams Blueberry Farm, they measured over 8 pounds of berries. Besides picking blueberries, you can purchase blueberry leaf and moringa leaf teas that are grown and produced on the farm.

Honeybells are usually ready for u-picking around Christmas time. And in Florida. you won’t have to brave the snow to go get them. Photo courtesy of Dooley Groves.
U-pick farms in Florida: Honeybells are usually ready for u-picking around Christmas time. And in Florida. you won’t have to brave the snow to go get them. Photo courtesy of Dooley Groves.

Dooley Groves, Ruskin

Visit the farm’s website to enjoy the story of how the third and fourth generation of growers on this land replanted it and made it what it is today.

A sign at Valle View Vineyards in Howey-in-the-Hills lets you know what’s ripe and ready to pick. Photo courtesy of Valle View Vineyards.
U-pick farms in Florida: A sign at Valley View Vineyards in Howey-in-the-Hills lets you know what’s ripe and ready to pick. Photo courtesy of Valle View Vineyards.

Valley View Vineyards, Howey-in-the-Hills

While many places provide one crop for picking, this vineyard offers a number of of them you won’t see elsewhere. Pick your own, then head home to roast the chestnuts, enjoy the figs with a good blue cheese, poach the pears and whip up a homey peach cobbler.

South Florida U-Pick Farms

Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market, Boynton Beach

Three generations of Bedners have worked this farm beginning in 1960. What started out as a spring garden for family and friends has turned into the u-pick part of the operation you see today.

  • Where: 10066 Lee Road, Boynton Beach. Located in western Palm Beach County.
  • U-Pick Crops: Pumpkins, sunflowers, tomatoes and grape tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, red and green peppers
  • More Info: 561-501-5177; Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market – Boynton Beach

Knaus Berry Farm, Homestead

In 1956, this farm was started by brothers Ray and Russell Knaus who raised strawberries and sold them from a roadside stand. Ray’s wife, Barbara, used some of the berries to make cookies that she sold at the farm. Today, baked goods (think cinnamon buns) are a big draw to this local operation. See this Florida Rambler story on Knaus Berry Farm.

  • Where: 15980 SW 248th St, Homestead. Near Miami.
  • U-Pick Crops: Blueberries, tomatoes, strawberries
  • More Info: 305-247-0668; Knaus Berry Farm

More tips for u-pick success

Pick like a pro: Don’t be tempted to pack all the fruit you can into your container. What’s at the bottom may get bruised and be useless. Be gentle.

Dress appropriately: Comfortable closed-toe shoes are a must. A hat can protect you from the sun. And you may want to wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt to protect your arms and legs from the bushes, the sun and bugs. 

Bring with you: Sunscreen, bug spray and water. A pair of gardening gloves can protect your hands from the sun and other hazards. If the farm doesn’t supply picking containers and/or clippers, you may need to bring your own. Check before you go. You also may want to bring cash in case credit cards aren’t accepted.

Children: Youngsters will enjoy a day on the farm but must be accompanied and overseen at all times by an adult.

Pets/smoking: Often both pets and smoking — whether cigarettes or vaping — are prohibited.

Be respectful: Stay on the paths and out of the plants. If you destroy the plants, you destroy the farmer’s livelihood as well as the picking fun for those who come after you and even yourself if you chose to return for more. And be kind to pollinators who make the crops possible. Also, be sure to check for each farm’s specific rules and abide by them for everyone’s benefit.

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Stu

Friday 25th of November 2022

No U-Pick's in Southern Florida....booooo. Ha, Ha. Here's a favorite of ours in Bonita Springs: https://www.farmermikesupick.com/

Bonnie Gross

Friday 25th of November 2022

Sadly, it’s just the way it is in South Florida. But we do have Bedners in Palm Beach County and Knaus Berry in South Dade. Thank you for your addition to the list!

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