Desoto and Hardee counties, west Florida U-Pick Farms - 2024 PickYourOwn.ORG

Looking for a local, pick-your-own farm in Desoto and Hardee counties, west Florida? Scroll down this page and you will see the U-Pick farms in Desoto and Hardee counties, west Florida, sorted by county. Those that offer organic or sustainably grown produce are identified by the words "organic" and/or "sustainable" in Green, next to their name  (see "What does Organic mean?"). The U-pick crops they offer follow the name of the farm. To search the page for a specific crop, use Ctrl-F (or on an ipad or Mac, use their "search on this page" function) If they have a website, the name will be in blue and underlined; click on it and it will open their website. If you find anything outdated or inaccurate, see the customer and farmer menus (as appropriate) at the top menu bar to submit updates and corrections and help me keep each current!

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

Note: Beware the copycat websites like the one that stole our name and uses .farm extension: they copied my work and do NOT even update the info! I make updates EVERY day. They use tech tricks to get higher rankings, but have many more inaccuracies and out-dated info. Obviously, I cannot check every farm every day, but I do check as many as I can every day, and respond to all requests.  They don't. Don't support the scammers!

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! And if you know of any farms I missed and want to add a farm, please let me know!   I'm making updates for this year as fast as I can - if you find anything out-of-date, wrong or not working - please let me know! This website is supported by purchases you make through the links to products on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This allows me to continue to maintain the website and make improvements!

What's in season in December 2024, and other timely information:

Notes for December 2024: Crop growth is slowing down, except for Christmas tree farms and if you live in southern California, southern Texas, Florida or along the Gulf coast where citrus are starting, and believe it or not, the blueberry and strawberry season in those areas is about to begin. See your state harvest calendar . This year, much of the country is still seeing mild weather, so lettuce, peas, broccoli, cabbage  and other greens are thriving.  And this is a good time to get a canner and  learn how to preserve foods for the winter, like canning some applesauce, apple butter or jam, which make great gifts. As do your own homemade specialty liqueurs! How about homemade cranberry sauce or a pumpkin pie made from a real pumpkin for the holidays? See our comprehensive list of easy home canning, jam and jelly making, preserving, drying and freezing directions. You can access recipes and other resources from the drop down menus at the top of the page or the site search. A fun winter activity is to make your own ice cream, even gelato, or low fat or low sugar ice cream - see this page. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me!

Valentine's Day - February 14 - See this website for Valentines Day history, facts and Amazon's top picks for fast, easy, inexpensive gifts for the man, woman or children in your life!

Easter will be April 4, 2021 - if you want to take your children to a free Easter egg hunt - see our companion website to find a local Easter Egg hunt!

 

Children's Consignment Sales occur in both the Spring and Fall  See our companion website to find a local community or church kid's consignment sale!

Desoto and Hardee counties, west Florida U-Pick Farms and Orchards in 2024, by county

Click on the resources drop-down above, if you need a county map

Note about strawberries in Florida: There are a few strawberry u-pick farms in Florida open during the entire season, which lasts from December through April). Most commercial farms do not open their fields to the general public until the end of the season, which is usually in April (depending on the weather).

NOTE: The exit numbers on the Interstates have changed, but we have no way of knowing what the new correct exit numbers are until the farmers correct their listings; so be sure to ask when you call the farms!

• Florida's fruit and vegetable festivals
• Florida citrus harvest calendar (when to go pick oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes)
• Other crop availability / harvest schedule - click here
• Farm markets, roadside stands,
• Local meat, milk, eggs, local honey, horse riding, farm B&B's etc.

Desoto County

• A.L.L. Blueberries, LLC - blueberries, porta-potties are available
  3151 Sw Gator Trail, Arcadia, FL 34266. Phone: (863) 993-3686. Alternate Phone: (863) 990-1739. Email: allblueberries2012@yahoo.com. Open: During the off - season, we open our field as the blueberries are become ready; Please see our Facebook page for more details; Our regular harvest time is mid - April through the end of May. Directions: Hwy 72 to Gator Trail. Two miles to field on right. For a map to our farm, click here. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. (UPDATED: October 05, 2016) (UPDATED: May 30, 2016)(UPDATED: April 28, 2016) (ADDED: April 26, 2015)
• Circle C Farm - blueberries,
  880 North Johnson Ave, Arcadia, FL 34266. Phone: 239-908-8589. Alternate Phone: 239-248-9254. Email: karenknotek@att.net. Open: 8am till 4pm, Monday thru Sunday, Usually weekends from late though mid-May. Directions: cross street highway 17 and west Gibson, Arcadia FL. For a map to our farm, click here. Payment: Cash, only. (UPDATED: May 27, 2016) (ADDED: May 14, 2016)
• English Lake Farm - blueberries, grapefruit, oranges, other citrus, peaches, mangos, avocados, permissions, already-picked produce
  7288 South West Lime Drive, Fort Ogden, FL 34267. Phone: 863-990-6164. Alternate Phone: 863-494-0911. Email: Englishlakefarm@aol.com. Open: Monday to Thursday, from 9am to 5pm; Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 8am to 5pm. Directions: Call for detailed directions to the farm. Off of Highway 17, halfway between Punta Gorda and Arcadia; located in SW Florida in Ft. Ogden, off of Highway 17, halfway between Arcadia and Punta Gorda. Look for the little Post Office.. For a map to our farm, click here. Blueberries are available March 15th until June. Payment: Cash, Check. It looks like this year's crop will be a great one and the peaches are also on the way to getting ripe. Come on out while the weather is still not too hot. We're looking forward to seeing all our old friends and to making a lot more! We also have a limited supply of raw Orange Blossom Honey as well as a selection of jams and jellies. We have for U-Pick: Peaches - May, June; Blueberries - April, May, June; Persimmons - July, August; Citrus - November, December, Jan., Feb; Honeybells, Meyer Lemons,Ruby Red Grapefruit, Tangerines, Tangelos; Avocados - July, August.
  Comments from a visitor on September 16, 2010: "I went there this summer on several occasions and even brought along a gaggle of friends, to pick the most delicious and BIG blueberries!! Farmer Walter and his lovely wife are still there. Additional veggies available in smaller quantities, just call and ask. SPOKE WITH WALTER TODAY: The next crop will be CITRUS (HONEYBELLS, MYER LEMONS, ETC) starting Dec.2010. Walter also grows lots of fun things like apples, watermelons, avocado, persimmon, peaches and sells trees too, during the season. Very close to Punta Gorda / Pt Charlotte. "
• Ryder Berries, LLC - blueberries, U-pick and already picked
  2490 Sw Gator Trail, Arcadia, FL 34266. Phone: (863) 990-7671. Alternate Phone: (863) 990-1586. Fax: 9412967877. Email: ryderberries@comcast.net. Open: Saturday and Sunday, from 8 am to 8 pm beginning May 6, 2017 until the end of the season. Directions: From Arcadia: Highway 72 W to Horse Creek Bridge. Turn left on Gator Trail and go 1 1/2 miles to 2490 SW Gator Trail, Arcadia, FL. From Pt. Charlotte: Kings Highway to highway 72, turn left, then turn left on Gator Trail and go 1 1/2 miles to 2490 SW Gator Trail, Arcadia. From Sarasota: Highway 72 (Clarke Road) to three miles inside Desoto County Line. Just before Horse Creek bridge, turn right on Gator Trail and go 1 1/2 miles to 2490 SW Gator Trail, Arcadia.Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. (ADDED: May 05, 2016)
• Sandhill Citrus - U-Pick Citrus Grove
  6014 County Road 760, Arcadia, FL 34266. Phone: 863-780-4302. Does anyone have more information or current status? If so, please write me!

Hardee County

• Center Hill Farm - peas, strawberries,
  2949 Center Hill Road, Bowling Green, FL 33834. Phone: 863-781-6900. Alternate Phone: 863-781-6901. Email: centerhillstrawberry@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 6 pm; strawberries are usually done by mid-March. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Picking strawberries until the end of March. Payment: Cash, only. Center Hill Farm U-Pick offers a wide variety of produce throughout the year, featuring u-pick strawberries during the winter months. (UPDATED: April 6, 2021 JBS)
• Jack Green Farms - blueberries
  1250 Broadus Williams Road, Zolfo Springs, FL 33890. Phone: (863) 375-4901 Click here for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in May. Open: Monday to Sunday, 7 am to 7 pm Payment: Cash, Check. (UPDATED: April 20, 2015, JBSFDACS)
• Gardner Farm - strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables,
  160 Fish Branch Road, Gardner , FL 33890. Phone: 863-781-5273. Email: gardnerfarm@yahoo.com. Open: Call before you come; Tuesday thru Saturday 10 am to 5:30 pm; Closed Sunday and Monday, and on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years day. Directions: 10 miles south of Zolfo Springs, 9 miles north of arcadia, on highway 17. Crops are usually available in January, February, March, April, May, June, November, December. Strawberries, vegetables and citrus available November 1 thru June 1, blueberries April, May, June; grapes not available till 2010 and wine in 2012. Payment: Cash, only. oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, lemons available November through May. EZ-pick will be available starting in 2010. Tropical and Landscaping plants now available, and strawberry plants. (UPDATED: April 20, 2015, JBSFDACS)

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For availability of other non pyo crops (berries, vegetables, etc.) in Florida, click here!

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