2024 Northeast Tennessee Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Northeast Tennessee 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.

Greene County

• Buffalo Trail Orchard - apples, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries (black),
  1890 Dodd Branch Road, Greeneville, TN 37743. Phone: (423) 639-2297. Email: phillip@buffalotrailfarm.com. Open: Starting in June, Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 8 PM and Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM; July Hours are Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 4 to 8 PM. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Buffalo Trail Orchard Facebook page. . . Buffalo Trail is a pick your own farm with apples, blackberries, blueberries, and pumpkins. Pre-picked fruit and vegetables are also available. From the orchard you have a wonderful view of the Chuckey Mountain. Call to check hours and produce availability and reserve pre-picked berries. Come out and pick some blackberries! They usually ripen in mid June and are plentiful through early July. Facebook page. Or, come see us at the Market Square Farmers' Market or Boone Street Market, where we will have them available by the pint and quart!
• Cloud 9 Ranch - Uses natural growing practices, beans, blackberries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, peppers, summer squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, walnuts, Fresh eggs
  910 Ottway Rd, Greeneville, TN 37745. Phone: 423-972-1263. Email: cloud9ranch@gmail.com. Open: May through October Mon - Sat 3 PM to 7 PM, Other arrangements can be made, just give us a call. Directions: From Greeneville: Take 172 \(Baileyton Hwy\) towards Baileyton, approximately 7 miles, turn Left onto Ottway Road. We are located 1 \(one\) mile on Ottway Road on the Right. From I-81: Take 172 \(Baileyton Hwy\) towards Greeneville, approximately 6 miles, turn Right onto Ottway Road. We are located 1 \(one\) mile on Ottway Road on the Right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Cloud 9 Ranch Facebook page. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. From Greeneville: Take 172 (Baileyton Hwy) towards Baileyton, approximately 7 miles, turn Left onto Ottway Road. We are located 1 (one) mile on Ottway Road on the Right. From I-81: Take 172 (Baileyton Hwy) towards Greeneville, approximately 6 miles, turn Right onto Ottway Road. We are located 1 (one) mile on Ottway Road on the Right. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. We have steadily improved our crops, and are also now offering fresh eggs, fresh baked breads, jellies, and other baked goods along with our produce at the Depot Street Farmers Market every Saturday morning from 8 am to 12 noon.
• Middle Creek Blueberry Farm - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, blueberries, other berries, raspberries, and prepicked produce, gift shop, picnic area
  595 Middle Creek Road. Just outside Greeneville, TN, Afton, TN 37616. Phone: 423-636-2624. Email: adam@stonepile.org. Open: We will only be providing Ready-Picked berries to start each season; We take orders by telephone and email; We may open for U-Pick later in the season and we are making a callback list, so let us know if you are interested; Every day Daylight hours, June til Frost. Directions: From Greeneville - Hwy 11E east to Erwin Hwy Turn Right \(Ryan\'sWaffleHouse intersection\) Through Tusculum to 107 Turn Right \(or take 107 from 11E toward Chuckey \) Cross the River then turn right on 351 South \(107 cutoff\) Left after Hermon Methodist on Middle Creek, We're just up on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . From Greeneville - Hwy 11E east to Erwin Hwy Turn Right (Ryan's/WaffleHouse intersection) Through Tusculum to 107 Turn Right (or take 107 from 11E toward Chuckey ) Cross the River then turn right on 351 South (107 cutoff) Left after Hermon Methodist on Middle Creek, We're just up on the left. Click here for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October. Blueberry season begins 2nd week of June and lasts til frost or sell out. Blackberries and Raspberries in July. We have some Peaches, Plums, Cherries, Grapes, Kiwis, Pecans and Apples coming along, maybe next year. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. We provide buckets to pick in and cardboard flats to carry them home.We sell Ready-Picked all-natural strawberries starting May, just call and order.
• The Funny Farm - No pesticides are used, blackberries, raspberries (Autumn, red), Fresh eggs, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, mining for gems, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, school tours, group reservations
  4957 Old Stage Road, Chuckey, TN 37642. Phone: (423) 329-3632. Email: Tkstanton94@gmail.com. Open: This is seasonal, please check our Facebook for dates. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, PayPal, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  The Funny Farm Facebook page. . We do not use pesticides on the crops. (UPDATED: June 22, 2021)

Hawkins County

• Red Dog Ridge Farms - apples, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (black),
  1267 Burem Road, Rogersville, TN . Phone: 423-742-6399. Email: Reddogridgefarms@gmail.com. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Red Dog Ridge Farms. . We are 4 miles south of Rogersville on highway 347 (Burem Rd) second Driveway on the left after crossing the Holston River Bridge. U-Pick farm that offers Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Black Raspberries, Apples, Peaches, and a few other items. (UPDATED: May 13, 2016) (ADDED: May 01, 2016)

Johnson County

• Villa Nove Vineyards - blackberries, grapes, weddings, winery
  1877 Dry Hill Road, Butler, TN 37640. Phone: (423) 768-3633. Email: info@WataugaLakeWinery.com. Click here for a map and directions. . Our vineyard is outside of Mountain City in Butler, TN overlooking beautiful Watauga Lake. is classified as a mountain vineyard and sits at an elevation of 2350 feet. A beautiful wedding pavilion sits at the highest point of the vineyard offering a 360 degree view of the mountain ranges surrounding the vineyard. An awe inspiring setting for that special day. Contact us to discuss our wedding venue offerings. (ADDED: May 09, 2015, JBS)

 

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