Blueberry U-Pick Orchards in Polk County, Central Florida in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for blueberries that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have blueberries 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

Polk County

• Black's Berry Farm - blueberries, UPDATE: April 03, 2021: The property has been sold; I\'m trying to find out if the new owners plan to re-open as a blueberry farm
  7548 Black Road, Lake Wales, FL 33898. Phone: . Open: closed. Directions: From US 27 and SR 542 \(Dundee Rd.\), go east on SR 542Dundee Rd. for 2.6 miles, which changes to US 27Alt SFL17 N Scenic Hwy to Lake Trask Rd. Turn left \(east\) on Lake Trask Rd. and go for 0.1 miles to Lake Mabel Loop Rd. Turn right \(east\) on Lake Mabel Loop Rd. for 2.2 miles to Canal Rd. Turn left \(east\) on Canal Rd. for 2.0 miles to Black Rd. Turn left \(north\) on Black Rd. for 0.75 miles to 7548 Black Rd. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
• Blue Berry Farm - Blueberries
  12500 Old Grade Road, Polk City, FL 33868. Phone: 863-984-4723. Open: Daily from 8 am to 8 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . Very large . Shaded area to rest and a portable potty.
  Comments from a visitor on May 22, 2010: "Very nice berries of good quality. Very friendly owners. Inexpensive $3/lb. Volume discounts."
• BMB Farms - blueberries, restrooms
  4277 Old Eagle Lake Road, Bartow, FL 33830. Phone: 863-698-0239. Email: bmb2farms@yahoo.com. Open: Friday through Monday from 8 am to 6 pm beginning April 10. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate Phone: 863-412-1556. . koulog@yahoo.com. Highway 98 S into Bartow. Take Old Bartow/Eagle Lake Road 2.5 miles to Farm (will be marked by signs.) Highway 17 to Spirit Lake Road. Spirit Lake Road 1/4 mile to Old Bartow/Eagle Lake Road. Old Bartow/Eagle Lake Road 1/4 mile to Farm (will be marked by signs.). In 2011, picking started April 30.
  Comments from a visitor on May 16, 2010: "What a GREAT experience we had at . The blueberries were loaded on the bushes, the proprietor was great, and the price was right. BMB has a great facility for picking berries, (the farm provides the picking buckets) and for sorting and cleaning after you pick. They give you bags to carry your berries home in or you could bring your own cooler or containers. I have picked blueberries at other farms and this is by FAR the best!! "
• Castro's Farm LLC - blueberries,
  6901 Poinsettia Ave, Bartow, FL 33820. Phone: (772) 971-0057. Email: castrosfarmllc@gmail.com. Open: Typical season is from early April through May; in season, Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 12 am to 5 pm, Hours and availability of crops to pick varies considerably; please call or email for current availability and hours; See our Facebook Page for current hours. Directions: \(1.5 mi\) via Alturas Loop RdEast Blvd. Payment: Cash, CashApp. Hello Blueberry Lovers!!! Castro Farms is a family owned and operated farm. It\'s U-PICK time!!! I know you\'ve all been waiting.. Our . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, CashApp. 3871 Castro's Farm LLC Alternate Phone: (772) 302-5640. . (1.5 mi) via Alturas Loop Rd/East Blvd. Hello Blueberry Lovers!!! Castro Farms is a family owned and operated farm. It's U-PICK time!!! I know you've all been waiting.. Our opening day for U-PICK is approaching soon. We would like to invite your Group to come on out and enjoy our Farm! We look forward to seeing you all and as always, thank you for supporting your local farmers. Click here for our Instagram page. (UPDATED: March 19, 2024) (ADDED: April 06, 2023)
• Dill's Blueberry Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, blueberries,
  3360 Masterpiece Road, Lake Wales, FL 33898. Phone: (256) 601-3331. Email: Jstogsdill@verizon.net. Open: Typical season late March through early May Pick your own blueberries Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm, closed Sunday;. Directions: 3360 Masterpiece Road, Lake Wales, Florida. 10-4 minutes from Eagle Ridge Mall, 5 minutes from highway 60. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Blueberry season for u pick late March through early May;. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. (UPDATED: March 08, 2020)
• Futch Family Farms - blueberries,
  12500 Old Grade Road, Polk City, FL 33868. Phone: 863-984-4723. Email: bf@mbjenterprises.com. Open: Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm, May until fruit is gone. Directions: From Orlando drive West on I4. From Tampa drive East on I4. Take exit 48. Drive North on Old Grade Road approximity 3.3 miles. Look for farm on left. Enter farm using the left side gate. Do not enter the right side drive \(Private road\). Park under trees and look for attendant. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . From Orlando drive West on I4. From Tampa drive East on I4. Take exit 48. Drive North on Old Grade Road approximity 3.3 miles. Look for farm on left. Enter farm using the left side gate. Do not enter the right side drive (Private road). Park under trees and look for attendant. Bring plastic bags, such as grocery bags, to put berries in. They will lay out flat in these type of bags keeping the berries from squashing each other. You may bring 1 gallon pails to pick in or use our pails. But if many pickers show up buckets may be limited. Most important: Have Fun. See you there. We also offer 20 beautiful acres surrounded by Florida green space for your special event, such as Weddings, Rehearsal Dinners, Family Reunions, Bridal showers, Baby showers, Political Rallies, Fund Raisers, Memorial Services.
• Late Bloom Blueberry Farm - blueberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available, picnic area you may bring your own food
  115 Scenic highway (544), Haines City, FL 33844. Phone: 863-289-1722. Email: latebloomblueberryfarm@gmail.com. Open: late April until the berries are gone; from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm, 7 days a week. Directions: Directions: Conveniently located 1 mile east of US 27, on SR 544, across from the Presbyterian Church, Haines City, FL. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. .
• Luna Berry Farms - blueberries
  3132 Kville Ave, Auburndale, Florida, FL 33823. Phone: . Open: Daily in season from 9 am to 5 pm. Directions: Located in Auburndale Florida right off of Kville Ave. Click here for a map and directions. 513045/">Luna Berry Farms where you can come out and pick or buy the freshest in Florida. is . While picking your 6lb bucket provided by us you can take a break or send the kids over to the office where you can rent fishing poles and bait. Walk along our newly built bridge that stretches from one side of the lake to the other. is family owned and a great place to bring the kids out on a sunny day for a great experience in a great environment. All our berries are kept refrigerated directly after picking to assure freshness. We also have frozen berries packed and ready to go always during the season. Facebook page. (ADDED: October 14, 2019, JBS)
• S & S Micro Farm LLC - Uses integrated pest management practices, blueberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties, restrooms, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food
  8451 Sinkhole Road, Bartow, FL 33830. Phone: (407) 719-2403. Email: sandsmicrofarm@gmail.com. Open: During April and May, PYO is Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm, however availability of blueberries to pick varies considerably; please call or email for current availability and hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Venmo, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. . Blueberry season is typically April 15 to May 25, special event on Mothers Day. We use integrated pest management practices. We are a GAP Certified Farm. 10 acres of blueberries with 4 varieties to choose from gives us a longer season,. (ADDED: May 07, 2021)
• Shady Oak Farm - Uses natural growing practices, blueberries, U-pick and already picked, picnic area, school tours, group reservations
  3320 Shady Oak Drive East, Lakeland, FL 33810. Phone: (863) 512-1547. Email: shadyoakfarms@icloud.com. Open: PYO on weekends, 9am until 5pm; Call to confirm availability. Directions: From I-4, take Exit 21 \(Route 39 North\) or Exit 31 \(Kathleen Road North\). From Exit 21, take Route 39 North approximately 3 miles to Knights StationGriffin Road, turn right \(East\) and go approximately 5 miles. About 12 mile inside Polk County, take a left \(North\) onto Shady Oak Drive East. From Exit 31, take Kathleen Road North approximately 34ths mile to Knights StationGriffin Road and turn left \(West\), go approximately 3.3 miles to Shady Oak Drive East, turn right \(North - truncated. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. . From I-4, take Exit 21 (Route 39 North) or Exit 31 (Kathleen Road North). From Exit 21, take Route 39 North approximately 3 miles to Knights Station/Griffin Road, turn right (East) and go approximately 5 miles. About 1/2 mile inside Polk County, take a left (North) onto Shady Oak Drive East. From Exit 31, take Kathleen Road North approximately 3/4ths mile to Knights Station/Griffin Road and turn left (West), go approximately 3.3 miles to Shady Oak Drive East, turn right (North). We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Picnic area on pleasant pond. Good for groups. We also sell blueberry and other plants and flowers. Also called JD Oaks Vineyard. (UPDATED: April 29, 2020)
• Thomas Farms - blueberries, may also have some peaches, U-pick and already picked, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, school tours
  2035 Gerber Dairy Rd, Winter Haven, FL 33880. Phone: 863-860-1016. Email: twc4073069748@earthlink.net. Open: typically April and May, Fridays and Saturdays at 9am and on Sundays at 11am or call us for an appointment. Directions: from Winter Haven go South on highway 17 past the city of Eagle Lake, turn Left on Bomber Road, go approximately 2 miles and then turn Right on Gerber Dairy Road, Thomas Farms is on the Left \(look for the red gate\). . Click here for a map and directions. 69">Thomas Farms Alternate Phone: 407-234-7874. . from Winter Haven go South on highway 17 past the city of Eagle Lake, turn Left on Bomber Road, go approximately 2 miles and then turn Right on Gerber Dairy Road, is on the Left (look for the red gate). . First opened in late 2007, has 4 acres of blueberries.
• Walter Farms - blueberries,
  9613 Alturas Babson Park Cutoff Road, Bartow, FL 33830. Phone: 407 873-0817. Email: Lausannewalter610@gmail.com. Open: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm. Directions: Highway 27 South to Alturas Babson Park Cutoff Road, turn West, go 7 miles to stop sign. Farm is on left and marked by a Walter Farms sign. For a map to our farm, . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. 169775Walter Farms . Blueberries May 10 to June 10. (ADDED: May 16, 2016) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

 

Blueberry

Blueberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Blueberries are one of the easiest fruit to prepare and serve. There's no peeling, pitting, coring or cutting. They have few natural pests, (other than birds), so pesticides are generally unnecessary! This year's crop is fantastic (see related news story), thanks both to the weather and to more farms planting more blueberry bushes due to increased consumer demand over the past few years as more studies proclaim the anti-oxidant and other health properties of blueberries.

Click here to find a local Blueberry Festival (usually held between April and July).

If you are looking for information about a similar berry, the saskatoon (also called the June berry or Serviceberry) see this page about saskatoons.

Picking tips:

Select plump, full blueberries with a light gray-blue color. A berry with any hint of red isn't fully ripened.

Ripening AFTER picking?

First, it is key to know that once picked, blueberries will NOT become any sweeter, nor will the flavor improve. The only change that occurs is the color. They will APPEAR to ripen, but it is only a color change, from white to green to rose to red to pale blue to fully blue. So, white and green colored blueberries will not "ripen" after they are picked; while blueberries that have already turned purple, red or blue-ish usually DO change color after they are picked (if they are kept at room temperature to "ripen").

As the blueberries ripen ON THE BUSH, the flavor goes from tastless to bitter to tasteless tart to tart blueberry flavor to sweet blueberry flavor.

Grocery stores sell blueberries that are tart, not sweet because they had them picked unripe by machine so they are very firm and can handled being bumped around in shipping. They may look good, but are not as tasty as those picked when actually ripe.

So, the key is, PICK ONLY RIPE BERRIES!

How to pick blueberries

Since blueberries hang on the bushes in bunches a but like grapes do, the easiest and fastest way to pick them is hold your bucket under them in one hand and with your other hand, cup a ripe bunch and gently rub them with your fingers. The ripe berries will drop into your bucket, while the unripe ones will remain attached to the bush.

When the bushes are at peak, I can easily pick 2 gallons per hour (if I'm not being distracted by the kids and the sun isn't too hot!). A newbie might do 1 gallon per hour.and at the beginning or end of the season it takes more time as the berries are not as plentiful nor concentrated in clusters.

Tips for storing blueberries after harvesting:

• Once picked, don't place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form in the container.
• Don't wash berries until just before using, to prevent berries from becoming mushy.
• Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. Store your fresh blueberries in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep 10 to 14 days.
• Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening. Place berries one layer deep. Freeze, then pour the frozen berries into freezer containers. Because unwashed blueberries freeze individually, they can be easily poured from containers in desired amounts. Remember both frozen and fresh berries should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries in cold water.

Blueberry Measurements and Conversions

Keep in mind that blueberries vary considerably in density and moisture content, so these ranges are approximates.

• 1 gallon of blueberries weighs about 7.5 lbs or (4 liters of blueberries is about 3.5 kg)

• 1 pint of fresh blueberries weights about 3/4 of a pound. (1 liter of blueberries is about 700 grams)

• 1 pound of fresh blueberries is usually between about 2 and 3 cups of berries.

• It takes about 4 cups (about of blueberries to make a blueberry pie (see this fantastic and easy blueberry pie recipe)

• A normal batch of blueberry preserves, jam or jelly requires 5 pints of berries.

• Blueberries do come in a variety of sizes from small (190-250 berries per cup) to extra large (<90 berries per cup).

Blueberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Blueberries

Recipes

• The world's best Blueberry pie, recipe and directions and illustrated!
• Blueberry buckle coffee cake: illustrated directions for this great crumb-topping blueberry coffee cake
• Other easy directions to make blueberry desserts: cobblers, etc.

Canning, freezing and other blueberry recipes:

• How to Freeze Blueberries
• How to Can Blueberries
• How to Make Homemade Blueberry Jam
• How to make blueberry jelly
• How to make and can blueberry syrup (it works for strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, too)
• blueberry pie filling to use later,
• blueberry butter

Baking tips

If you have trouble with blueberries settling to the bottom of muffins and blueberry breads, try one or more of these tips:

• Coat them with flour before adding to the batter. Just gently shake the blueberries in a bag (plastic or paper) with 1/2 cup of flour, then dump them mix in a sieve to remove excess flour.
• It may just be that your batter is too thin. try making the batter a little thicker!
• Fill the muffin cups or baking pan up to 1/4 full with batter (which hasn't had blueberries added to it yet); then stir the blueberries into the remaining batter, and continue to fill the muffin cups or bread pan. The blueberries will start off higher in the mix!

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