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: 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 Blueberry and Blackberry Season

This is a year-round list, but we’re moving the blueberry and blackberry farms to the top of the list, to make them easy to find. We’ve contact the farms, but haven’t heard back from all of them, and for those (if they haven’t updated on their website or Facebook page about the 2020 season) we’ve indicated to “check back soon.”

TLC Blueberry Farm
3318 Greene Road, Monroe
704-609-1758
Summer: Blueberries
Saturdays only
U-pick blueberries on Saturday. $3/pound. Pesticide free. They also have blueberry bushes for sale. Cash preferred. They also sell blueberry ice cream on Saturdays. Look for updates on Facebook.

Ivy Place
8603 Van Wyck Road, Lancaster, SC
704-651-3700
April – June: Strawberries
June-August: Blackberries and Blueberries
Updates on Facebook page
Ivy Place is offering U-pick blueberries, as well as U-pick blackberries and sunflowers. Within a couple weeks they’ll have U-pick tomatoes. You need to  book an appointment. This is their way of making sure that only a manageable number of people are on the farm at any one time.

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.
U-pick blackberries are available now.

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
As of June 5th, U-pick blueberries and blackberries are ready, but in a week or so there will be many more available. There’s a $2/person for picking (kids 2 and under are free), plus the cost of the berries. 

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.
U-pick blueberries and blackberries will be available in June, and U-pick peaches will be available in July.

Rivers’ Blueberries Farm
1595 Colony Road, Rock Hill, SC
Summer: Blueberries
Check back soon about U-pick blueberries.

Shady Oaks Farm
3487 Yount Road, Newton
828-464-5722 (call ahead)
Check Facebook page for updates
Summer: Blueberries
Fall: Vegetables
U-pick blueberries should be available around the 3rd week of June. They say the bushes are loaded and they’re expecting a banner year. They will also have U-pick green beans for those who want bulk for canning.

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.
Via an email we learned that U-pick blackberries will be available Saturday, June 27th, for the first day of the season.  Please call first, as they often pick out before closing time and often before 12 p.m., then must close for 2 or 3 days to let more berries ripen. They are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Wednesday, when they’re open 8 a.m. to 5 pm. and Sundays, when they’re closed. They provide containers and their price is $12/gallon. 

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
U-pick blackberries will be ready in early July.

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. 

 

U-Pick Farms for Other Seasons

This list includes U-pick strawberries, which is just about over for the 2020 season, as well as later summer and fall crops.

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

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

Carrigan Farms
1261 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville
April: Asparagus
May: Strawberries
September: Apples
October: Pumpkins

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.

 

The Orchard at Altapass
1025 Orchard Road, Spruce Pine
828-765-9531
Many varieties of apples. Also music, dancing, hayrides, Heritage Thursdays, and more

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.

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

Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
170 Stepp Orchard Drive
Hendersonville
828-685-9083
August to October: Apples

 

Windy Hill Orchard
1860 Black Highway York, SC
803-684-0690
Fall: Apples

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