2024 Northeast from Atlanta - Gwinnett, Hall, I-85 to SC border in Georgia Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Northeast from Atlanta - Gwinnett, Hall, I-85 to SC border in Georgia in 2024, by county

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

Barrow County

• Pharr Farms - strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, pumpkins,
  480 Argonne Road, Winder, GA 30680. Phone: (678) 925-0246. Email: pharrfarms@gmail.com. Open: They post updates on their facebook pgae when they are open for picking. Click here for a map and directions. . This is a 4th generation family owned farms that offers u-pick strawberries, blueberries and blackberries in the spring and summer. They have home grown pumpkins in the fall and offer a wide-variety of home grown vegetables. Everything at the farm is grown and picked by them with the exception of the u-pick operation, where you can choose to pick the produce.Price update for 2022: U-Pick strawberries are $15 a gallon, Pre-picked berries are $17 a gallon. (ADDED: June 14, 2022, JBS)

Hall County

• Cool Springs Blueberry Farm - blackberries, blueberries, U-pick and already picked, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, group reservations
  5975 Smith Mill Road, Gainesville, GA 30506. Phone: (770) 535-7350. Email: hello@coolspringsblueberryfarm.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Cool Springs Blueberry Farm Facebook page. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Blueberry Season is typically June 15 to August 15. (ADDED: April 23, 2019)
  Comments from a visitor on July 16, 2012: "I've been picking blueberries every summer with , from their website)my kids for over 10 years, and our experience at Mr.Mark Ransbotham's blueberry farm was the best picking we have ever done here in Georgia. Our usual farms were either closed or our of berries, so I called Cool Springs before heading out to Gainesville. Mr. Ransbotham was so kind and informative on the farm that I was sure I had found a hidden jem. The drive and the farm are beautiful. We walked into the office where Mr. Ransbotham told us about where to pick the berries and gave us harnesses that held our buckets as we picked. The kids were hopeful and excited to see the field where we would be enjoying our morning. I was so very impressed that the owner walked us out to the section and kindly told us that if we couldn't find enough berries then we could go to his other field. The blueberry bushes are young and approximately 3 feet tall and just loaded with gorgeous blueberries. The kids loved how they were spaced and how nicely they were spaced. Our favorite part was the fact that several of the bushes were in the shade and we could either sit on the ground or use one of the orange buckets to sit on as we picked. When it was time to pay for our berries (only $10 for a bucket) Mr. Ransbotham told us all about the different varieties that we picked. In the fall and spring you can purchase blueberry bushes which is a wonderful service. In addition to blueberries, the farm offers cold drinks to make the travel home a little easier. We will definitely be back, and I strongly recommend this blueberry as perfect for families of all ages. I truly wish I had known about this little piece of paradise before now!"
• Snare Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, blackberries, blueberries, figs, muscadine grapes,
  3736 Gillsville Highway, Gillsville, GA 30543. Phone: (978) 835-5458. Email: SnareFarm@gmail.com. Open: Every day, all day, while fruit are ripe June through September; CALL FIRST FOR AN APPOINTMENT. Directions: Snare Farm is east of Gainesville. From I-985 exit 22, take GA 129 S for 3.1 miles, and turn left onto GA 323. We are on the right in 3.9 miles, opposite Snare Road. No sign, just an old, 3rd-generation family farm. Pull in and park on the grass on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Every day, all day, while fruit are ripe (June through September); CALL FIRST FOR AN APPOINTMENT. BLACKBERRIES (thornless), June to July; BLUEBERRIES, June to July; FIGS, July to September; MUSCADINE and SCUPPERNONG GRAPES, August to September;. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. (aka, Donald Snare) -(UPDATED: May 20, 2020)

Oconee County

• Miller Blueberry Farm - No pesticides are used, blackberries, blueberries, Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available
  1371 Union Church Road, Watkinsville, GA 30677. Phone: 706-769-4161. Email: ron@millerbbfarm.com. Open: Season starts in mid June and the farm is open Open Mid June to July 1; Thursday - Saturday 7:30am-7:30pm; Open July 2 to Mid August; Tuesday - Saturday 7:30am-7:30pm; Call or check the website for unexpected closings due to dangerous weather or to allow for additional ripening time; The recorded message at the farm is updated every day or more often if needed; Always open on July 4th no matter what day of the week. Directions: We do not use pesticides on the . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Miller Blueberry Farm Facebook page. . crops. Pick your own blueberries & blackberries. Certified Bee Friendly Farm with no pesticide used on the berries. Getting to know your farmer and see the fruit growing gives you good insight about the quality of the food you eat.

Oglethorpe County

• Buffalo Creek Berry Farm - Uses natural growing practices, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, mulberries, U-pick and already picked, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, school tours, group reservations, events at your location (call for info)
  810 Stevens Grove Church Road, Lexington, GA 30648. Phone: (706) 201-5553. Email: bcberryfarmga@gmail.com. Open: Thursday to Sunday, from 7 am to 2 pm; June and July. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Buffalo Creek Berry Farm Facebook page. . . We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. We are committed to a wholesome product at an affordable price. The goal here is to keep everything natural, safe, and farm fresh! Where it is safe, we grow these fruits without pesticides, and this has been possible with blueberries, raspberries, and mulberries. We are careful to use the least toxic chemicals available and the smallest amount possible to do the job. We invite you to come down and see what we are doing for yourself! Why not stop by and see us this season. Berry Season will begin in April and BOOKINGS do not open until March. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO BRING YOUR OWN PICKING CONTAINERS. Pay when you finish picking (cash, check, Venmo, CashApp are preferred). 3% processing fee for debit / credit card payments including Apple pay & Android pay. Note: A gallon picking bucket weighs about 4 to 5.5 lbs depending on how full you stack your berries. All strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and mulberries are the same you pick price ($5/lb in 2021).(UPDATED: May 01, 2018)A visitor writes on May 26, 2019: "The trip out to Buffalo Creek Berry far is so worth your time! Cameron and Laura are the nicest, loving people and you can't help being entertained by Elsie and her berry covered face, Savanna laughs at her all the time! You can see the love of the earth in this family by the care Laura takes with each plant or fruit and Cameron works so hard at keeping his land healthy and free of toxins, pesticides and harm. The strawberries were new this year, the rows were well maintained, the old fruit was removed to help prevent fungus and bugs, such a pleasant experience our group of ladies had. We treated ourselves with homemade strawberry ice cream afterwards! Support this working farm by spending some time out here, the proof is in the taste of these berries, you will not find more flavorful berries! You and your body will appreciate them too! Downtown Lexington was a wonderful stop too, the Rowdy Rooster carries the fruit if you can't make it all the way. Dr. Rhonda Mills"A visitor writes on June 30, 2013: "I visited the Buffalo Creek Farm today, June 30, 2013 with my four kids, ages 7 - 10 (yes, that includes a set of twins) and we thought the farm was just wonderful. We chose Buffalo Creek because they had peaches, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries and with four kids, they couldn't agree on just one kind, so this was perfect. The day we went, the peaches were not "pick your own," but they had some picked for you to buy. They did have rows and rows of blueberries - we could have picked all day long, and we didn't get there until almost noon because we drove in from Atlanta. We also picked full gallons of raspberries and blackberries! Now my only problem is what to do with all of the beautiful fruit we picked! The owners couldn't have been nicer. They were wonderfully sweet to my children and didn't mind if they ate some of the berries as we picked. Also, there were real bathrooms, not port-a-potties. The whole place was beautifully maintained and lovingly kept with bushes overflowing with fruit. Cannot recommend this farm enough! We will be back next year!"
  Comments from a visitor on July 18, 2010: "My wife and I were celebrating her birthday today, July 18th 2010, and she wanted to go to a peach farm as well as a blueberry farm. we checked all over the internet and found several within 75 miles of Suwanee,Ga. After checking out several of the farms and the comments left by customers we were concerned that we might go to a farm where the owners/managers would not have good customer service, or the farm might be in need of some lawn, poison ivy maintenance. Boy, were we surprised when we arrived at. The farm was in very good condition. The peach trees were in excellent condition and the blueberry bushes had been properly trimmed for the maximum output of berries as well as no poison ivy, and no tall grass on the farm. You could tell that the owners really cared about their farm as well as you, their customer. This farm is the best hidden secret this side of Georgia. Always call first, but you will not be disappointed with their peaches, blueberries or their true hospitality. "

 

Blackberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S. Blackberries typically peak during June in the South, and in July in the North. 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 Blackberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions. See this page for a list of blackberry festivals around the U.S.

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - 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 Blackberries, 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 Blackberries 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 Blackberries

1. There are two types of blackberries to know about: thorny and thornless! Obviously, the thornless are easier to pick, but some people claim the thorny varieties are sweeter. With the thorny plants, you want to reach into the plant in the gaps, so you don't need to touch anything but the berry you're after, avoiding the thorns.
2. A ripe blackberry is deep black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug.  If the berry is red or purple, it's not ripe yet.
3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries.Unlike strawberries, blackberries are usually pretty tough, I dump mine into the bucket. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
4. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

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

1. Pick only the berries that are fully black. Reach in between the stems to grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the plant and you will find loads of berries that other people missed!
2. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunlight 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. Blackberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week, 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.

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze 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  off the others, drain them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) Blackberries are less perishable than blueberries or strawberries, but refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the blackberries (while they are in the fridge)!
4. Even under ideal conditions blackberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase

Blackberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions

1. How to make Blackberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free Blackberry jam directions - very easy!
2. How to make Blackberry jelly
3. How to freeze berries
4. Blackberry syrup, make and can it! 
5. Seedless blackberry pie!
6. Blackberry Festivals: Where, When and More to Find an Blackberry Festival Near You this year:

Blackberry Facts and Tips

• Black Raspberries, also known as "black caps" are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• The USDA says 1 cup of blackberries has about 62 calories.
• 1 cup of blackberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• Select plump, firm, fully blackberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
• Oregon Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
• Blackberry tea was said to be a cure for dysentery during the Civil War. During outbreaks of dysentery, temporary truces were declared to allow both Union and Confederate soldiers to "go blackberrying" to forgage for blackberries to ward off the disease.
• Blackberries were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout.
• The blackberry leaf was also used as an early hair dye, having been recommended by Culpeper, the English herbalist, to be boiled in a lye solution in order to "maketh the hair black".
• Guide to blackberry varieties
• Researchers have known for quite some time that berries contain antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals.  A study at the University of Ohio has found that blackberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
• U-pick Blackberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Blackberries 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 go to a blackberry festival? See this page for a list!

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