2024 North-Western South Carolina (Spartanburg - York) Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in North-Western South Carolina (Spartanburg - York) in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have strawberries farms 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

Chester County

• Cotton Hills Farm - strawberries, porta-potties are available, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties
  2575 Lowrys Hwy, Chester, SC 29706. Phone: 803-581-4545. Email: peter_wilson@cottonhillsfarm.com. Open: Monday through Saturday, 9am to 7pm; Our season starts when the strawberries begin to ripen in the middle of April and we finish up at the end of October with the pumpkins and farm tours. Directions: Located on US 321 on the York and Chester County line. From Rock Hill, take Cherry Road south until it becomes US 322. Continue on US 322 until you reach McConnells. Turn left on US 321 going south and we are 5 miles on the right. From York or Gastonia, take US 321 going south. We are five miles below McConnell\'s on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers. Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesLocated on US 321 on the York and Chester County line. From Rock Hill, take Cherry Road south until it becomes US 322. Continue on US 322 until you reach McConnells. Turn left on US 321 going south and we are 5 miles on the right. From York or Gastonia, take US 321 going south. We are five miles below McConnell's on the right is a real farm growing fresh produce as well as traditional row crops such as cotton, wheat, and soybeans. We are a family owned and operated farm and if you come to the farm there is a good chance you will likely meet one of us. We strive to offer top quality produce at a good price. We plant our vegetable crops 5 to 10 times during the year to insure top quality and produce being harvested off new, fresh plants. Our farm tours are very educational as parents and kids both get to see real crops growing in the field. We have pick-your-own strawberries available in the spring on the farm. The U-Pick season usually lasts from the end of April through May. The spring weather makes it perfect for being outside picking strawberries. U-Pick is fun for all ages! You can always call The Market at (803) 581-4545 for picking conditions and more information. .(UPDATED: July 25, 2019, JBS)
• Jordan Farms - Strawberries
  Seegars Road, Fort Lawn, SC 29714. Phone: (803) 448-4475. Email: stacksfam2010@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm, closed on Sunday, s; Picking Strawberries about mid-April through May, or mid June. Click here for a map and directions. From I-77 south, take Exit 77 in Rock Hill. Turn left on U.S. 21. Go about 20 miles to Seegars Road and turn left. Field is third driveway on right. Look for sign. Take-home containers 50 cents. Jordan Fresh Farms is committed to providing fresh locally grown produce to our community and surrounding area. We strive treat our customers as family.
• Water Oak Farm - Uses integrated pest management practices, corn (sweet), cucumbers, kale, melons, summer squash, strawberries, other vegetables,
  4730 Ligon Rd, Richburg, SC 29729. Phone: (864) 784-6176. Email: wateroakfarmsc@gmail.com. Open: Call or Text Ahead to reserve a time for you and your family to pick fresh strawberries, Hours during typical growing season Early April - Late July Fri - Sun 10:30am to 5pm Hours days of operation subject to change due to changes in growing season and weather; Please check FB page for updated hours and contact us in advance to ensure staff is available to assist you. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Call or Text Ahead to reserve a time for you and your family to pick fresh strawberries, Hours during typical growing season (Early April - Late July) Fri - Sun 10:30am to 5pm Hours days of operation subject to change due to changes in growing season and weather; Please check FB page for updated hours and contact us in advance to ensure staff is available to assist youWe use integrated pest management practices. s is a family-owned farm serving the local Richburg region with a 'you-pick' strawberry market and a variety of seasonal produce. Join us for a family friendly Farm/Ag experience. (ADDED: March 06, 2021)

Spartanburg County

• Green Acres Produce - strawberries
  5750 Anderson Mill Road, Moore, SC 29369. Phone: 864-576-2784. Open: mid-April 14 to mid May, Seven days a week, 8 am to 7 pm. Click here for a map and directions. Take I-26 to Hwy. 221 to Hwy. 290, go about 3 miles, then turn onto Anderson Mill Road, farm is about 11/2 miles on the left. (ADDED: April 22, 2010, from the govt website)
• Peach Country - strawberries, nectarines, peaches, plums, and prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area
  13485 Hwy 11, Campobello, SC 29322. Phone: 864-430-3353. Open: Monday thru Saturday, 9:30 am to 6 pm, Sunday, 11:30 am to 6 p. Directions: From Exit 5 on Interstate 26 take Hwy. 11 towards Campobello. Go straight thru red light in Campobello, staying on Hwy. 11. Go app. 4 miles and we will be on the left at the intersection of Hwy. 11 and New Cut Road. If you get to Gowensville you have gone to far and need to turn around and come back down Hwy. 11 a half mile. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Peach Country Facebook page. . Alternate phone: 864-468-4999m. Strawberries: May 1st-30th, Peaches: June 10th-August 20th, Apples: September 20th- October 31st. Our crops are controlled by Mother Nature, but expected crop yielding months are typically mid-June through SeptemberCrops are usually available in June, July, August

York County

• Black's Peaches - Strawberries, blackberries, peaches, tomatoes, sweet corn, apples
  IIntersection of Springlake Road and SC 5, York, SC . Phone: 803-684-2333. Email: blackspeaches@aol.com. Open: 8 am to 6 pm on Mondays-Saturdays,from 1 pm to 6 pm, Sundays; Pick Your Own Strawberries in May, Peaches from the 1st of June through 1st of September, Blackberries in July. Directions: On S.C. 5, 3 miles west of York at intersection with Springlake Road. Look for signs. Thirty varieties of peaches; available June 1-October 1. Apples from August through September. Fall pumpkin tours also available. Take-home containers, restrooms, drinking water available. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Black's Peaches Facebook page. Price not set Pick Your Own..(based on availability - call for details) Pick Your Own Strawberries - Spring Pick Your Own Peaches - Summer. Strawberries usually in May. Peaches usually from 1st of June through 1st of September. (UPDATED: January 19, 2021)
• Bush-N-Vine Farm - blueberries, peaches, pumpkins, strawberries, flowers, porta-potties are available, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, school tours
  1650 Filbert Hwy, York, SC 29745. Phone: (803)684-2732. Email: info@bushnvinefarm.com. Open: Monday to Friday 8:00 to 6:00 Saturday 8:00 to 5:00, March 1st to December 31st. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Bush-N-Vine Farm Facebook page. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates Click here for our Facebook page. Come pick your own strawberries; 2022 U-Pick strawberry Prices: $20/gallon; $11/half gallon! We open our pick-your-own fields in mid/late April and we usually close them in mid/late May. We usually start offering pick your own blueberries in May through July. Blackberry season starts in mid June and we have pick your own available until late July. The best part about our blackberry varieties is that they are thornless..so no pain, just tastiness! Our pick-your-own peaches are perfect for you! They're the quickest fruit to pick, and you will have basket full in no time; peaches start in late May! They have sunflower fields as well as a cut your own flower patch with zinnias, dahlias, black-eyed susans, and more. And we are one of the few locations in the area where you can pick your pumpkin straight from the vine! Visit our "Pumpkins" page and plan to come to our pumpkin patch this fall! ​(UPDATED: May 13, 2022, JBS)
• Kylies Strawberry Patch LLC - strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available, picnic area, school tours
  2950 Southeastern Road, Rock Hill, SC 29730. Phone: (803) 371-6256. Email: mkulpinski@comporium.net. Open: UPDATE for 2021, Their website or Facebook page says they are closed indefinitely. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Kylies Strawberry Patch LLC Alternate Phone: (803) 448-0366 . if they reopen, it is 7 days per week Monday - Thursday 12pm to 6pm Friday - Sunday 8am to 6pm2950 Southeastern Road Rock Hill, SC 29730. Strawberries April to June(ADDED: February 20, 2017)
• Springs Farm - strawberries, restrooms, school tours
  835 Springfield Parkway, Fort Mill, SC 29716. Phone: 803-548-3939. Email: buypeaches@springsfarm.com. Open: Mid - April through the end of May Thursday through Sunday 8 am to 6 pm. Directions: From Charlotte: Take I-77S Exit 88. Left at the stop light. About 3 miles \(Go through 4 Stoplights\) on Springfield Parkway. Market will be on the Left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Springs Farm Facebook page. From Charlotte: Take I-77S Exit 88. Left at the stop light. About 3 miles (Go through 4 Stoplights) on Springfield Parkway. Market will be on the Left Pick Your Own is open the end of April - the beginning of June. During fresh strawberry season, customized group tours and wagon rides are available. They also have already picked (NOT U-pick) peaches; Since 1936, the Springs Family has been growing and harvesting peaches on our 70 acre peach farm. Each peach crop has been cultivated and cared for on the land that has been in the Springs family for hundreds of years. Our peaches are known for their fresh taste, but also for their tenderness and juiciness! There's nothing like eating a fresh, sweet, juicy peach! And that is exactly what we offer here at.
• The Peach Tree Orchards - strawberries, peaches, restrooms
  2077 Filbert Hwy, York, SC 29745. Phone: 803-684-9996. Email: thepeachtree@comporium.net. Open: See their Facebook page. Directions: Hwy. 321, 3.5 miles north of York. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers.
  The Peach Tree Orchards Facebook page. Fax: Peach season can vary, but is generally June to Early September. Throughout the entire season, we feature roughly 40 varieties of peaches. (UPDATED: July 25, 2019, JBS)

 

Strawberry

Strawberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S. strawberries typically peak during April in Florida and Texas, May in the deep South, and in early June in middle sections and later June in the far North and Canada. Keep in mind that 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 strawberries, producers depend on ideal spring weather conditions. 

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - strawberries are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. 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 strawberries, 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 strawberries 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 Strawberries

1. Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.

2. With the stem broken about one-half inch from the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.

3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. 

4. Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.

5. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

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

1. Be careful that your feet and knees do not damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
   
2. Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
   
3. To help the farmers, also remove from the plants berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury or other defects and place them between the rows behind you. If they are left in the plants, the rot will quickly spread to other berries.
   
4. Berries to be used immediately may be picked any time, but if you plan to hold the fruit for a few days, try to pick in the early morning or on cool, cloudy days. Berries picked during the heat of the day become soft, are easily bruised and will not keep well.
   
5. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunshine 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. Strawberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three, 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.
   
6. For interesting and fun strawberry facts and trivia from the California Strawberry Commission, click here!

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use 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 and cut the caps (green tops) off the others and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) See this page about how to freeze strawberries.
4. If you like the strawberries you picked, ask the farm what variety they planted, and not the weather conditions the week or two before. The flavor of a strawberry is affected by the variety, the weather and the degree of ripeness when picked.
5. Now, get ready to make strawberry jam. It is VERY easy - especially with our free strawberry jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy.

Strawberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Strawberries

• How to freeze strawberries!
• Strawberry jam (with pectin) (uses less sugar or honey and less cooking)
• Strawberry jam (without pectin) (requires much more sugar and cooking)
• Strawberry (and other berry) jams without sugar
• Strawberry jelly
• Strawberry-rhubarb jam!
• Homemade strawberry ice cream (regular, low fat, nonfat, low sugar, vanilla and even gelato)
• Canning strawberries
• Make gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries
• How to make fruit juice -  strawberry and other berries
• Strawberry pie filling
• Strawberry pie
• Easy Rhubarb-Strawberry pie
• Fig-strawberry jam
• Fig-strawberry jam, made with Jello gelatin

Strawberry Facts, Measurements and Tips

• Picking the best strawberries: Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries DO NOT continue ripen after they are picked! In the photo, only the berry on the far right is completely ripe.
• Strawberry festivals: Most areas that grow strawberries have a strawberry festival, at which you can taste all kinds of fresh strawberry foods, pies, jams, cakes - and most commonly, fresh strawberry shortcake.  To find out where and when there is one near you, see this page for a list of strawberry festivals, sorted by state!
• Strawberries measurements: government agriculture websites tell us that
  1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups and is about the same as 1 liter and
  1 quart of fresh strawberries weighs 1 lbs to 1.25 lbs (or 450 to 600 g). Of course, the weight varies on variety and weather conditions. 
  1 quart is normally enough for 4 servings, although I'll admit my son can eat 1 pint by himself!
• How much to pick? In general, 1 quart of fresh, whole, just-picked strawberries = approximately 3.5 cups hulled, whole berries. In other words, removing the caps/hulls and the occasional mushy berry means you lose 1/4 cup to 1/2 (it depends how much fruit you remove with the hull) or about 7 to 12% of every quart you pick.
• One cup of strawberries contains only about 50 calories
• U-pick strawberries are much healthier than store-bought.  Consumer reports says store bought strawberries have so many pesticide and fungicide residues on they, that they don't recommend you eat them at all!
• U-pick strawberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. 1 lbs of fresh strawberries is about 2/3 of a quart.
• It takes about  10 to 15 minutes to pick a quart, if the berries are reasonably plentiful
• The strawberry plant adapts to wide variety of soil conditions, but does not tolerate drought well, and the berries quickly rot if the weather is rainy. For this reason, the plants are usually grown on raised beds through plastic mulch!
• Cultivation of strawberries began in Europe in the 1300's, but the berry only became very popular in the early 1900's in California.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as strawberries 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 grow your own strawberries?  Here's an article about how to: Strawberries are an Excellent Fruit for the Home Garden, HYG-1424-98!
• See this page for many more fun and interesting strawberry facts, nutritional information and trivia

Other weird strawberry facts

• Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
• Strawberries were originally called strewberries because the fruit was 'strewn' amongst the leaves of the plant.
• California is king of strawberry productions because: California produces 75 percent of the nation's strawberry crops; one billion pounds of strawberries each year.  If all the strawberries produced in California in one year were laid berry to berry, they would go around the world 15 times. Each acre of land in California in strawberry production produces an average of 21 tons of strawberries annually, with a total of 23,000 acres of strawberries planted in California each year.

More conversions

1 pint (2 cups)  of fresh whole strawberries

• = about 8 oz (1/2 lb) of strawberries
• = 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
• = 1 cup pureed strawberries
• = 12-14 large strawberries

2 quarts of fresh strawberries are needed for a 9" pie

A 10 oz package of frozen berries is about the same as 1 cup of sliced fresh strawberries

References:

• University of Illinois Extension
• Driscolls
• Ohio State University Extension
• Strawberries-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

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