ORLANDO, Fla. – Spring is springing and in Florida, that means the blueberry bushes will soon have fruit for the picking.
Florida is actually home to two types of blueberry varieties, the highbush and the rabbiteye. The University of Florida has also worked with farmers to enhance crops to produce gorgeous, big tasty berries.
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Blueberry picking season generally runs between March and May. While many farms are looking at opening their fields for public picking later this month, a few Central Florida farms are opening for U-Pick this weekend.
Check out the list of farms below to find one near you. Also, sign up for the Central Florida Happenings newsletter to learn about blueberry festivals, which will be popping up in the next couple of months too.
Opening March 9
Tom West Blueberries — Ocoee
Tom West supplies sweet blueberries to the Florida market each year and offers visitors the chance to pick their own during a visit to their farm on White Road in Ocoee. A spokesperson said the farm plans to be open for the season on Saturday. Tom West offers many varieties of blueberries to pick for $5 a pound. You can also buy containers of blueberries and other locally-made blueberry products. There are also activities for the kids
Click here for directions and contact information.
Southern Hill Farms — Clermont
Southern Hill Farms is known for several varieties of blueberries for picking, but they’ve expanded crops in recent years, and this weekend will also have U-Pick strawberries, vegetables and sunflowers available as well. The farm also hosts food trucks, has activities for kids, and sells popular treats like their blueberry doughnuts. The U-Pick price for blueberries is $5 a pound, and U-Pick for strawberries is $4 a pound. Keep in mind, Southern Hill Farms is a cashless venue.
Click here for directions and contact information. Check their Facebook page for updated information as well.
Opening March 20
Far Reach Ranch — Tavares
This Lake County farm on the shores of Lake Dora plans to have blueberry picking for the public starting March 20. Far Reach Ranch produces 200,000 pounds of blueberries every year.
News 6 Insider Crystal Moyer visited the ranch last year. Take a look at her story (join News 6 Insider to read it!).
Click here for directions and contact information.
Opening March 23
Amber Brooke Farms — Eustis
Amber Brooke Farms in Eustis is a family farm with crops for picking, as well as festivals year-round. In addition to blueberries, strawberries and vegetables will also be available for picking. March 23 is also the weekend of the farm’s annual Easter Festival. Some 6,000 Easter eggs will be around for kids to find all weekend.
Click here for directions and contact information.
Chapman’s Double C Bar Ranch — Kenansville
This farm in southern Osceola County offers blueberries for sale, but they are best known for beef. You can pick blueberries and also see their herd of purebred Brahman cattle.
Click here for directions and contact information.
Opening late March
Beck Brothers Blueberries — Windermere
The folks at Beck Brothers in Windermere tell News 6 they plan to be open for U-pick blueberries sometime in late March. More information will be posted on the farm’s Facebook page as they get closer to an opening date.
Click here for directions and contact information.
Is there a favorite blueberry farm we missed? Tell us in the comments below.
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