Travel Our Favorite U-Pick Farms To Visit By Southern Living Editors Updated on March 17, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: anela/Getty Images Remember the warm summer days spent at a U-Pick blueberry or strawberry farm with the family? Let's relive those days with a fresh batch of farms. Each of these Southern spots are ripe for the picking. U-pick farms are a beloved summer and fall destination and offer the fun opportunity to harvest your own produce and make memories while doing it. Go beyond the usual offerings at these farms, from an ethereal Florida orange grove to a sixth-generation peach orchard. Each of these spots are doing notable things on their land, from employing responsible agricultural practices to cultivating less-common fruits. 01 of 15 Amber Brooke Farms wholden/Getty Images Eustis, Florida Check the calendar at Amber Brook Farms and note when the upcoming U-Pick events are so that you don't miss the opportunity to take home fresh berries. In addition to strawberry picking events, there are also days when you can also pick your own blooming sunflowers. Last year also included blueberry picking days (followed by U-Dig blueberry plants events, which allowed visitors to take their favorite blueberry plants home). Plan Your Visit: 36111 N CR 44A, Eustis, FL 02 of 15 Benjamin Vineyards Benjamin Vineyards Graham, North Carolina Benjamin Vineyards has the unique distinction of being the first licensed winery in Alamance County, North Carolina, since Prohibition. Though no longer producing wine, the vineyard is still a U-Pick operation, allowing guests to wander the thousands of grapevines that span more than eight acres of land. There are 14 varieties of muscadine grapes, which are grown without pesticides and using sustainable farming practices. Plan Your Visit: 6516 Whitney Road, Graham, NC 03 of 15 Bennett Orchards Bennett Orchards Frankford, Delaware Bennett Orchards is a sixth-generation family farm reputed throughout the region for its blueberries and peaches — as well as the muffins made from the fruit by owner Carrie Bennett. Started in 1867, the farmstead previously produced grain and poultry, with today's family concentrating on fruit. Plan Your Visit: 31442 Peach Tree Lane, Frankford, DE 04 of 15 Chattooga Belle Farm Chattooga Belle Farm Long Creek, South Carolina Chattooga Belle Farm, at one time owned by comedian and actor Groucho Marx, is located in Long Creek, South Carolina. In the 1960s, the area had the distinction of the largest apple producing region east of the Mississippi. The farm grows over 20 different fruits, including Asian pears, figs, persimmons, and paw paws among the peaches, blackberries, and scuppernongs. Come harvest your own as you admire the Blue Ridge Mountains off in the distance. Plan Your Visit: 454 Damascus Church Road, Long Creek, SC 05 of 15 Hatfield's Orchard LCBallard/Getty Images Crystal River, Florida This spot is a U-Pick nursery for blueberries, peaches, grapefruits, oranges, and nectarines. From citrus and stone fruits to berries, you can find many varieties of fresh produce in the fields at Hatfield's Orchard. In past years, they have also had muscadine grapes for picking. (Be sure to check their Facebook page for availability and appointments.) Plan Your Visit: 2659 N. Virginia Rd. Crystal River Fl., Crystal River, FL 06 of 15 Hillcrest Farm Hillcrest Farm Elberta, Alabama The Hixson family has owned and operated Hillcrest Farm for over 40 years. Here, you'll find U-Pick blackberries and blueberries as well as muscadine and scuppernong grapes. Additionally, figs, persimmons, pears, satsumas, lemons, and kumquats are available in their farm store. Don't forget a jar of jam or jelly, plus honey from their beehives. Plan Your Visit: 30497 Hixson Rd, Elberta, AL 07 of 15 Lavender Ridge Farms Lavender Ridge Farms Gainesville, Texas What was, in the 1900s, a strawberry and melon farm, is today a lavender-growing operation. Lavender Ridge Farms is now home to perennial gardens, a collection of bearded irises, rescued farm animals, and a lavender café with a menu inspired by the plant. Come pick your own bunch of lavender and then stay to explore the rest of the property. Plan Your Visit: 2391 CR 178, Gainesville, TX 08 of 15 Many Rivers Farm Many Rivers Farm Bahama, North Carolina At Many Rivers Farm, you'll find 47 varieties of apples for the picking, along with peaches, thornless blackberries, and Asian pears. Small-batch cider and jams are available in the farm store. This farm is conscious of its carbon footprint, and makes the effort to employ agricultural practices that respect the land. This includes the use of cover crops, molasses as pest control, and wildflowers to attract pollinators. The farm offers CSA-style u-pick plans by the bushel and peck, which covers multiple entries to the orchard during the season until you've picked your allotted amount. Make sure to reserve in advance — the CSA program sells out quickly. Plan Your Visit: 502 John Jones Road, Bahama, NC 09 of 15 Mercier Orchards Courtesy of Mercier Orchards Blue Ridge, Georgia Started in 1943 by Bill and Adele Mercier, these orchards offer U-Pick experiences alongside tractor tours of the beautiful North Georgia property and its rolling hills. Past u-pick produce at Mercier Orchards has included strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and apples. Plan Your Visit: 8660 Blue Ridge Dr., Blue Ridge, GA 10 of 15 Mulberry Orchard Mulberry Orchard Shelbyville, Kentucky Mulberry Orchard is owned by the husband-and-wife team Amanda and Matt Gajdzik. Together, they farm plums, pears, tomatoes, vegetables, and melons in addition to their own honey and finished beef. Sunflowers, apples, and pumpkins are available for picking, and you can find an array of products and other produce in their farm store. If you want to make a day of it, grab a bite at Mulberry Kitchen, sit in a rocking chair, and enjoy the scenery while the kids run around the play area. (Be sure to check for seasonal opening dates.) Plan Your Visit: 1330 Mulberry Pike, Shelbyville, KY 11 of 15 Pecan Hill Farms Pecan Hill Farms Raymond, Mississippi The original trees at Pecan Hill Farms were planted just after the Civil War. Today, the Draughn family, who has owned the property since 2002, commercially harvests the pecans for wholesale and the public. Visitors are welcome to pick their own blackberries, flowers (zinnias and sunflowers), and blueberries (of which there are over 2,000 bushes). Buckets are provided and the blackberry bushes are thornless, so feel free to bring the kids! Plan Your Visit: 19470 Highway 18, Raymond, MS 12 of 15 Smith Perry Berries Smith Perry Berries Ooltewah, Tennessee The owners of Smith Perry Berries started their farm with the goal of bringing people back to the land and connecting them with their food. What started as one acre of strawberries has now bloomed to 12, and visitors can, in addition to picking fruit and flowers, enjoy activities such as hayrides, cow coasters, pumpkin cannons, and more. Plan Your Visit: 9626 Ooltewah Georgetown Rd, Ooltewah, TN 13 of 15 Southern Belle Farm Hank Sun (HankSun88)/Getty Images McDonough, Georgia This farm has picking experiences aplenty. In spring, you can pick strawberries in their 15-acre patch, and in summer they have blackberries, blueberries, and peaches. If you visit in season, don't leave without trying a bite of their peach ice cream. Plan Your Visit: 1658 Turner Church Road, McDonough, Georgia 14 of 15 Sugar Hill U-Pick Farms anela/Getty Images Verbena, Alabama A visit to Sugar Hill Farms during berry season brings the opportunity to pick your own in the farm's sunny strawberry patch. Depending on the season, there are other varieties of produce available too, including peaches, plums, broccoli, kale, collards, and sweet potatoes. Plan Your Visit: 812 County Road 445, Verbena, Alabama 15 of 15 Wonderfield Farm & Grove Wonderfield Farm Floral City, Florida Wonderfield Farm becomes a wonderland on 66 acres of orange groves, cypress swamps, and pastureland. The Hubbard Family has rehabilitated the forgotten land, where the orange trees have managed to thrive in the understory of the oak, maple, and magnolia trees. They now offer tangerines, amber sweet, navel, Valencia, and honey bell oranges for u-pick with plans to offer avocados, mangoes, peaches, guavas, mulberries, and more. After you're done harvesting, wander down a waterfront trail, feed the cows, or have a picnic on the grounds. You can further step into old-world Florida with an overnight stay on one of the properties, including a farmhouse and a cottage. Plan Your Visit: 10777 E Gobbler Dr, Floral City, FL Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit