Nothing beats freshly picked produce, and it can be fun to do it yourself. An outing to a U-pick farm can be a great tradition for kids.

We keep a list, year-round, of farms where you can pick your own produce, and that list is below. But with our very unusual situation this spring and summer, we want to point out that things will be different this year.

Some farms are still allowing you to pick your own produce this spring and summer but they’re adding hand-washing stations, enforcing spacing between people, and implementing other measures. 

Please contact the individual farm about their safety measures.

You might also be interested in this list of farmers markets in the Charlotte area.

Before you head out, make sure to call and check on conditions. Hours can change depending on the weather and how the crop is doing.

In fact, no matter what you see about hours on other lists…still call. We’re not listing hours because they can vary so much. Click through to the websites or Facebook pages. Facebook is often a better way to get the most current information than the websites.

This list covers the whole growing season, so you’ll find information on everything from strawberries in the spring to summer peaches to apples in the fall.

We only included farms that have websites or Facebook pages, so that it would be easy to verify the information, with one exception. We did include one very popular farm with a great reputation, that is very close to Charlotte. They don’t have a website, but we verified their details with an email.

Typical growing seasons in North Carolina:

• Strawberry: Late April to the beginning of June
• Blueberry: Late May to mid-July
• Blackberry: Mid June through July
• Peach: June through September
• Apple: August through February

Timing might vary. These are estimates. Here’s a chart from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture that shows approximate growing seasons for many fruits and vegetables.

U-Pick Farms for Apple Season

 

This is a year-round list, but we’re moving the apple farms to the top of the list, to make them easy to find. 

We updated on August 14th, so the status of the various farms reflects the situation on August 14th. Also, please make sure to visit the farm’s website or call to learn about updates, and requirements as far as masks, etc.

Millstone Creeks Orchard
506 Parks Crossroad Church Road, Ramseur
Check for updates on Facebook page
June-July: Blackberries
June-July: Blueberries
July-August: Peaches
July-August: Grapes
August: Sunflowers
August-October: Apples
September-October: Pumpkins/gourds
November: Pecans
Apple season starts in September. The only way to pick apples is to sign up for their Apple Pickin’ Adventure, which includes access to the U-pick orchards, a hayride, apple tasting in the orchard, apple cider slushie samples, and a quarter peck bag of apples. The price is $11.95/per person on weekdays, and $15.95/person on weekends. Register here.

Justus Orchards
187 Garren Rd.
Hendersonville
828-974-1232
Check for updates on Facebook page
July-August: Blackberries
Mid-August to Early November: Apples
Farm and orchard tours, bakery

Apple Hill Orchard
2075 Pleasant Hill Avenue, Morganton
828-437-1224
Mid-August to late October: Apples
Tours and Saturday wagon tours, bakery, cider mill, country store
Apple season starts in mid-August. They’ll provide you a U-pick bag, which you’ll fill up with apples and keep.

Carrigan Farms
1261 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville
April: Asparagus
May: Strawberries
Late July and August: Sunflowers
September: Apples
October: Pumpkins
Apple season goes from around September 8th to September 30th.

The Orchard at Altapass
1025 Orchard Road, Spruce Pine
828-765-9531
Many varieties of apples. Normally there’s music and dancing but they’ve put that on hold for this year. U-pick apples are available now.

Skytop Orchard
Greenville Hwy. (U.S. 225) with Pinnacle Mountain Rd.
Flat Rock
828-692-7930
August to October: Apples
U-pick apples are available now.

Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
170 Stepp Orchard Drive
Hendersonville
828-685-9083
August to October: Apples
Apple season just started.

Windy Hill Orchard
1860 Black Highway York, SC
803-684-0690
Fall: Apples
Apple season has just started, but U-pick apples will be available starting September 11th. The farm stand is open now.

 

U-Pick Farms for Other Seasons

This list includes strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches and more

Black’s Peaches
1800 Black Highway, York, SC
803-684-2333
Check for updates on their Facebook page.
May: Strawberries
July: Peaches

Bush-n-Vine Farm
1650 Filbert Hwy, York, SC
803-684-2732
Check for updates on their Facebook page
Spring: Strawberries
Summer: Blueberries, Blackberries, Peaches
Fall: Pumpkins
Other crops are available for purchase.

Buttermilk Creek Farm
1905 Gwyn Road, Burlington
336-212-1997
Check for updates on their Facebook page.
June and July: Blueberries and blackberries
July: Peaches

Fisher’s Peach Orchard
650 Fisher Road, Greer, SC
864-895-4115
Check for updates on their Facebook page.
July: Peaches

 

McLawland Farms LLC
8632 Reedy Creek Road, Charlotte, 28215
704-804-0937
June: Blackberries
July: Flowers
October: Sunflowers
Vegetables also available for purchase, and tours are available. 

Rivers’ Blueberries Farm
1595 Colony Road, Rock Hill, SC
Summer: Blueberries

Shady Oaks Farm
3487 Yount Road, Newton
828-464-5722 (call ahead)
Check Facebook page for updates
Summer: Blueberries
Fall: Vegetables

Summerberry Farm
3430 Rimer Rd, Concord
704-721-0670
Summer: Blackberries
No website or Facebook for this one, but it’s included because of its excellent reputation and because it’s so close to Charlotte. Here’s an unofficial Facebook page.

 

Campbells Berry Farm
27 Tracy Bolick Lane, Bethlehem
828-598-0707
June-August: Blueberries
Over 2,500 rabbiteye blueberry bushes. U-pick blueberries 7 days a week. 

TLC Blueberry Farm
3318 Greene Road, Monroe
704-609-1758
Summer: Blueberries
Saturdays only

Ivy Place
8603 Van Wyck Road, Lancaster, SC
704-651-3700
April – June: Strawberries
June-August: Blackberries and Blueberries
Updates on Facebook page

Lineberger’s Maple Spring Farm
906 Dallas Stanley Hwy, Dallas
704-922-8688
Check for updates on their Facebook page
April-May: Strawberries
June-July: Blackberries 
September-October: Muscadines
Normally there are wagon rides, bonfires, and more, but these won’t be available at this time.

 

Deer Run Farms of Midland
12325 US-601, Midland
704-791-0571
Spring: Strawberries

Helm’s Christmas Tree Farm
6345 Christmas Tree Ln, Vale
704-276-1835
Winter (week before Thanksgiving through around December 20): Cut your own Christmas Tree
Also offers hayrides and covered wagon rides.

 

Patterson Farm
10390 Caldwell Road, Mount Ulla
704-797-0013
Spring: Strawberries
Updates on Facebook page

Springs Farm
835 Springfield Parkway, Fort Mill, SC
803-548-3939
Check Facebook page for updates
Spring: Strawberries
Also: Peach stand at 1010 Springfield Parkway, Fort Mill, SC

The Hunter Farm
13624 Providence Road, Weddington
704-846-7975
Spring: Strawberries

 

Piedmont Produce
4212 E. HWY 218, Monroe
704-753-2300
Spring: Strawberries
The farm offers pre-picked strawberries and U-pick strawberries. They offer free delivery of orders over $30 for people older than 65.

 

 

 

Wise Acres
4701 Hartis Road Indian Trail
704-628-6232
Spring: Strawberries
Summer: Sunflowers
USDA Certified organic farm. Normally there are family activities all year, but at this time all the farm activities, except for picking, are closed.