2024 Far Western North Carolina Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Far Western North Carolina in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for blackberries that we know of in this area.

Not all areas of a state have blackberries orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

New! As inflation remains high, see this page for reliable (tested) brands of generic canning lids at lower costs, and cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
 If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather.  See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Buncombe County

• Hickory Nut Gap Farm - CERTIFIED ORGANIC blackberries, blueberries, pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (Spring, black), Turkeys, Fresh eggs, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, trike track, pony rides, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, group reservations
  57 Sugar Hollow Rd, Fairview, NC 28730. Phone: 828-628-1027. Email: office@hickorynutgapfarm.com. Open: Summer to Fall during store hours - please call for availability. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Hickory Nut Gap Farm Facebook page. Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesBlueberries: Mid June-Late July Black Raspberries: Late June-July Blackberries: July-Mid September Red Raspberries: August-Mid September. We are certified organic for some cropsNotes: Activities vary by season. Please call for current offerings & U-pick availability. Admission fee for activities during September and October.
• Long Branch Environmental Education Center - apples, blackberries, blueberries, chestnuts, other berries, pears, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), walnuts, Other fruit or veg, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, school tours
  278 Boyd Cove Road, Leicester, NC 28738. Phone: (828)-683-3662. Email: paul@longbrancheec.org. Open: Monday to Sunday, from 8 am to 7 pm; Please call or email to make appointments for picking. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Long Branch Environmental Education Center Facebook page. Also wineberries.

Graham County

• Stoney Hollow Farm - Uses natural growing practices, apples, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, corn (sweet), flowers, grapes, melons, other berries, pears, peaches, peppers, persimmons, plums, pumpkins, raspberries, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, prepicked produce, farm market, gift shop, restrooms
  941 Ollies Creek Road, Robbinsville, NC 28771. Phone: 828-735-2983. Email: stoneyhollowfarm@outlook.com. Open: 5 days a week, 8 am to 6 pm; Closed Wednesdays and Saturdays. Directions: From the center of Robbinsville \(Hwy. 129Hwy. 143\) go North on highway 129 3 miles. Just before the Ted Jordan Bridge, turn right on E. Buffalo Circle. Go 1 mile and turn right on E. Buffalo Road Go .3 mile and turn left on Ollies Creek Road Go .9 mile and you will see the farm on the left. Parking, farm map, and picking buckets are available in the barn at the top of the hill. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Stoney Hollow Farm Facebook page. From the center of Robbinsville (Hwy. 129/Hwy. 143) go North on highway 129 3 miles. Just before the Ted Jordan Bridge, turn right on E. Buffalo Circle. Go 1 mile and turn right on E. Buffalo Road Go .3 mile and turn left on Ollies Creek Road Go .9 mile and you will see the farm on the left. Parking, farm map, and picking buckets are available in the barn at the top of the hillCrops are usually available in April through NovemberJams and baked goods featuring products from the farm are available. Be sure to visit our website and sign up to receive a free e-letter with updates during the peak season. We use natural practices, but are not certified Organic. (UPDATED: July 25, 2023, JBS)

Haywood County

• Graveyard Fields Trail - free blueberries and blackberries
  Blue Ridge Parkway, near Canton, NC . Phone: . Directions: . Click here for a map and directions.

Henderson County

• Just Us Orchard - blackberries, apples and pumpkins, bakery, restrooms, snacks and refreshment stand, picnic area, picnic area
  187 Garren Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Phone: 828-974-1232. Email: Apples@JustusOrchard.com. Open: 7 days a week from Mid August through Early to Mid November, daily, from 8:30 am to 6 pm; Apples - mid August thru early November; peaches - August thru early September; blackberries - early July thru September. Directions: Take Interstate 26 to Exit 49A \(old exit 18A\) to 64 East. From 64 East, turn left at North Henderson High School \(Fruitland Road\). Proceed to stop sign at the end of Fruitland Road. Turn right onto Mills Gap Road. Go up the large hill and turn left onto Garren Road. Look for our signs with the red and yellow apples all along the route. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard . We have many . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard .
  Just Us Orchard Facebook page. They close November 8 in 2010Take Interstate 26 to Exit 49A (old exit 18A) to 64 East. From 64 East, turn left at North Henderson High School (Fruitland Road). Proceed to stop sign at the end of Fruitland Road. Turn right onto Mills Gap Road. Go up the large hill and turn left onto Garren Road. Look for our signs with the red and yellow apples all along the routeWe have many Apple Varieties to choose from including Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, September Wonder, Red Delicious, Candy Crisp, Ambrosia, Mutsu, Cameo, Jonagold, Stayman Winesap, Rome, Hampshire Mac, Ruby Jon, Fuji, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Gold Rush, Arkansas Black. Check our apple ripening schedule to see what will be available when you plan your outing. Justus Orchard Facebook page. Blackberries from July thru AugustApples from Mid August thru Early November. (UPDATED: August 16, 2020 JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on November 02, 2010: "Loved it! Went today for the first time. They have apple cider donuts which are out of this world, hot apple cider, and apple slushes that are awesome. Also, two friendly dogs. Their brochure also states apple pies and cobblers; jam, jelly and preserves; local honey; boiled peanuts, pumpkins, mountain cabbage and sweet potatoes; and tractor rides and more. Church groups welcome."
• Lively Farm Outlet - apples, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries
  5691 Howard Gap Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731. Phone: 828-698-5551. Click here for a map and directions.
• Obermiller's - strawberries, blueberries and blackberries
  621 Allstar Lane, Hendersonville, NC 28739. Phone: 828-891-8841. Open: see their Facebook page. Directions: We are located .5 mile towards Hendersonville on Hwy 64 West on Allstar Lane. We have 1.5 acres of Chandler strawberries on raised beds. strawberry, The farm usually . Click here for a map and directions. opens seasonally for berry picking from the first week of May for strawberries until the season ends, usually around the first week of June. Blueberries and blackberries usually start around the 4th of July and pick to about Labor Day.

Macon County

• Carruthers, aka, River Road Farm - blackberries, blueberries,
  3738 River Road, Franklin, NC 28734. Phone: (770) 330-3280. Email: carringerfarms@yahoo.com. Open: Monday to Sunday, from 6 am to 9 pm. Directions: In Franklin, NC, take 64 east and go 5 miles. Turn right on Peaceful Cove Road past the Exxon station on the right. You will quickly come to a stop sign. Take a left on River Road. Go about a mile and you will see a red barn on the left, which says River Road Farms. You are there. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. (UPDATED: July 09, 2020) (ADDED: August 02, 2015)
• Sharp's Berry Farm - blackberries, blueberries,
  83 Berry Farm Road, Franklin, NC 28734. Phone: (828) 342-4250. Email: Mackbranch1952@yahoo.com. Open: Monday through Sunday, 9 am ; - 8 pm. Directions: From Franklin travel three miles south on highway 441, turn right at a traffic light onto Addington Bridge Road, continue south one mile to Berry Farm Road which will be on the right. You will be easily be able to see the berry bushes from Addington Bridge Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: (828) 371-0190 We are always open to pick blueberries by July 4th but some years we open in late June; Blackberries are generally ripe by the middle of July;We have over 200 blue berry bushes with several different cultivars in order to extend the season, and over 1000 feet of thornless blackberries. (UPDATED: July 08, 2021) (ADDED: July 16, 2015)

Madison County

• The Berry Farm - blackberries
  2260 Revere Rd, Marshall, NC 28753. Phone: (828) 206-2056. Email: pam@theberryfarmllc.com. Open: UPDATE for 2022: They are closed until the 2023 season; "The Berry Farm, LLC will not open for pick your own for the 2022 season. Directions: Located in the beautiful western North Carolina mountains of Madison County. Click here for a map and directions.
  The Berry Farm Facebook page. There are several situations that are pulling us in different directions that need to take priority this year"; typically beginning mid-June. They were closed in 2022, but in 2019, the Pick your own were $2.50 per poundFacebook page. . Picking season starts in June with Black Raspberries; then the and Blueberries begin in July and Red Raspberries are ready in August. Call or e-mail for directions and availability. Formerly called Zimmerman's Berry Farm

Polk County

• Trickle Creek Farm - blackberries, blueberries,
  3620 highway #9 North, Mill Spring, NC 28756. Phone: 828-329-0989. Email: tylertricklecreekfarm@gmail.com. Open: Saturday 9 am to 1:00 during month of June. Directions: I-26 towards NCSC line, exit highway 74 towards Charlotte, take 2nd exit highway 108, turn left towards Rutherfordton, go about 5 miles to highway 9, turn left towards Lake Lure. Go about 3 miles, cross bridge at dam, farm is first drive on right about 18 mile. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate Phone: 828-606-5928 I-26 towards NC/SC line, exit highway 74 towards Charlotte, take 2nd exit highway 108, turn left towards Rutherfordton, go about 5 miles to highway 9, turn left towards Lake Lure. Go about 3 miles, cross bridge at dam, farm is first drive on right about 1/8 mileJune

Transylvania County

• Queens Produce and Berry Farm - black raspberries, red raspberries and blackberries
  858 Davidson River Road, Pisgah Forest, NC 28712. Phone: 828-884-5121. Email: joetuttle@citcom.net. Open: Call for open hours and crop conditions. Click here for a map and directions. Queens is a ten-acre farm offering "U-pick" . We have many vegetables, fruits, and flowers in season. The season usually starts in April with asparagus and rhubarb. It ends in the fall with potatoes. Please call for directions and availability

 

Blackberry

Blackberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Blackberries typically peak during June in the South of the U.S., and in July in the north and in Canada. Crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce good local Blackberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions. See this page for a list of blackberry festivals around the U.S.

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
    
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for Blackberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Blackberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
4. Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.

Tips on How to Pick Blackberries

1. There are two types of blackberries to know about: thorny and thornless! Obviously, the thornless are easier to pick, but some people claim the thorny varieties are sweeter. With the thorny plants, you want to reach into the plant in the gaps, so you don't need to touch anything but the berry you're after, avoiding the thorns.
2. A ripe blackberry is deep black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug.  If the berry is red or purple, it's not ripe yet.
3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. Unlike strawberries, blackberries are usually pretty tough, I dump mine into the bucket. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
4. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick Blackberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Pick only the berries that are fully black. Reach in between the stems to grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the plant and you will find loads of berries that other people missed!
2. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunlight any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. Blackberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash  off the others, drain them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) Blackberries are less perishable than blueberries or strawberries, but refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the blackberries (while they are in the fridge)!
4. Even under ideal conditions blackberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase

Blackberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions

1. How to make Blackberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free Blackberry jam directions - very easy!
2. How to make Blackberry jelly
3. How to freeze berries
4. Blackberry syrup, make and can it! 
5. Seedless blackberry pie!
6. Blackberry Festivals: Where, When and More to Find an Blackberry Festival Near You this year:

Blackberry Facts and Tips

• Black Raspberries, also known as "black caps" are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• The USDA says 1 cup of blackberries has about 62 calories.
• 1 cup of blackberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• Select plump, firm, fully blackberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
• Oregon Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
• Blackberry tea was said to be a cure for dysentery during the Civil War. During outbreaks of dysentery, temporary truces were declared to allow both Union and Confederate soldiers to "go blackberrying" to forage for blackberries to ward off the disease.
• Blackberries were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout.
• The blackberry leaf was also used as an early hair dye, having been recommended by Culpeper, the English herbalist, to be boiled in a lye solution in order to "maketh the hair black".
• Guide to blackberry varieties
• Researchers have known for quite some time that berries contain antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals.  A study at the University of Ohio has found that blackberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
• U-pick Blackberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Blackberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
• You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible.  Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
• Want to go to a blackberry festival? See this page for a list!

 

 

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers