2024 Fredericksburg, Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Fredericksburg, Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula 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.

Caroline County

• Mount Olympus Berry Farm - Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, melons, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins and gourds
  23298 Jefferson Davis Highway, Ruther Glen, VA 22546. Phone: (804) 448-0395. Email: mary@mtolympusfarm.com. Open: 9 am to 6 pm, daily, April-October 31. Directions: Located at U.S. 1 in Carmel Church. I-95 exit 104 \(Bowling GreenCarmel Church\). Go west on Route 207 to U.S. Route 1. Turn right \(north\) on U.S. 1. Go approximately one mile. Farm in on the left. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Mount Olympus Berry Farm Facebook page. ; FAX (804) 448-2913, FAX (804) 448-2913. . Located at U.S. 1 in Carmel Church. I-95 exit 104 (Bowling Green/Carmel Church). Go west on Route 207 to U.S. Route 1. Turn right (north) on U.S. 1. Go approximately one mile. Farm in on the left. Call for current in-season hours.Mount Olympus Farm is a family owned farm located between Richmond and Fredericksburg, VA. You can pick-your-own (PYO) strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. We also take pride in offering a large variety of high quality fresh vegetables including many heirloom varieties. Our garden center has many perennials, herbs, annuals, shrubs, etc. Can't make it to our farm? Look for the Mt. Olympus truck bringing fresh produce to several Northern Virginia producer-only farmer's markets. Farm stand and garden center/nursery with locally-grown fruit and veggies. Jams, jellies, and local honey available. Convenient to Richmond or Northern Virginia areas. Customers welcome to picnic by the lake. Arrange for your daycare or school group to come pick their own pumpkin. Please call for current hours and picking conditions. They also have bulk / wholesale pumpkins. Mt. Olympus Berry Farm Facebook page. (UPDATED: September 20, 2020 JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on July 12, 2011: "Excellent. First visit this weekend & would highly recommend it. We went for U-pick blueberries & blackberries, both of which were available this past weekend. Also have nice farm market., restrooms, picnic area. Not organic, but sustainable. I think they do holiday themed events. A lot of detail on their web page & on Facebook"

Fredericksburg City

• Braehead Farm - strawberries, beans, blackberries, cucumbers, peas, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries (red), summer squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties
  1130 Tyler Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. Phone: 540-899-9848. Email: Info@braeheadfarm.com. Open: 7 days a week 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; Open until 6:30 pm on Saturdays during the Harvest Festival from September 28 to November 3. Directions: Interstate 95 to Route 3 East, go approximately 2 miles to right on Belman Road, right on Tyler Street, farm on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Braehead Farm Facebook page. . Fax: 540-899-9847. . If you need to come before 10:00 AM to beat the heat, just give us a call in advance and we will try to accommodate you! Availability of Pyo: APRIL: Strawberries and could possibly be ready by the end of April! Also pre-picked asparagus in the Market! Asparagus is the only crop we grow that is NOT pick-your-own. MAY: strawberries,JUNE: some strawberries, vegetablesJULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER: Blackberries, Raspberries, tomatoes, vegetables OCTOBER and NOVEMBER: Pumpkins, vegetables, and a few blackberries and raspberries. (UPDATED: November 30, 2015, JBS)

King William County

• Pleasant Fields Farm - blackberries, blueberries, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, prepicked produce, restrooms
  1765 Nelsons Bridge Road, Hanover, VA 23069. Phone: 804-994-2791. Email: pleasantfields@aol.com. Open: UPDATE FOR 2021: here will not be any pick your own in 2021 Hopefully maybe in 2022; Pick - your - own is available from daylight to dark and Hayrides and Haunted Forest is open Thursdays and Fridays 5pm to 10pm and Saturdays and Sundays 1pm to 10pm. Directions: Route 30 to Dabneys Mill Road; go about 1 mile; Turn right onto Nelsons Bridge Road; Farm will be about a 1 on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. Pleasant Fields Farm . We open in May with pick-your-own Strawberries and our Self-Serve Stand; Then we have Blueberries ,Blackberries and Raspberries; In the fall starting October2 pm to November 1st We have our hayrides and Haunted Forest along with pumpkins and Mums. Crops are usually available in April through October. (UPDATED: May 04, 2018, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on August 02, 2009: "My husband and I went picking at this morning. Blackberries were plentiful, and raspberries were just beginning to come into season. Blueberries were advertised, but were picked clean. The farm is open from daylight to dark. Today (a Sunday) it was operating on the honor system, and cash or checks could be left for payment. There was a nice farm stand with lots of produce pre=picked: watermelons, corn, butternut squash, zucchini, acorn squash, eggplant, apples, oranges, peaches, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, a variety of potatoes, lemons, limes, and fresh honey. I don't know how much of it was local (the tomatoes and honey definitely were). No fresh cut flowers available, but we weren't looking for them anyway. There is a restroom available."

Middlesex County

• Lew Bristow's Blackberry Farm - blackberries,
  9607 General Puller Highway, Hartfield, VA 23071. Phone: 804-776-7785. Directions: Approximately 12 mile from Hartfieldost Office.Post Office. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Monday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm Mother Nature permitting; Feel free to phone for availability and leave message; We will phone you back when they're ready. Approximately 1/2 mile from Hartfieldost Office.Post Office.

Spotsylvania County

• Miller Farms Market - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, pumpkins, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, gift shop, picnic area
  12101 Orange Plank Road, Locust Grove, VA 22508. Phone: (540) 850-5009. Email: info@millerfarmsmarket.com. Open: Monday-Saturday: 8am-5pm; closed on: Sundays. Directions: From Orange use route 20 north for 12 miles. Turn right on route 621. Drive 8 miles and we are on the left. From Fredericksburg use route 3 west for 9 miles. Turn left on route 621. Drive 5 miles and we are on the right. Strawberries: Starting May 10 , Blackberries: starting July 1, Pumpkins starting September 15. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. We also have natural milk products \(milk in glass bottles, yogurt, cheese, ice cream\), and natural meat products\(beef, pork, chicken, lamb, bison\). Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Miller Farms Market Facebook page. . . From Orange use route 20 north for 12 miles. Turn right on route 621. Drive 8 miles and we are on the left. From Fredericksburg use route 3 west for 9 miles. Turn left on route 621. Drive 5 miles and we are on the right. Strawberries: Starting May 10 , Blackberries: starting July 1, Pumpkins starting September 15. We also have natural milk products (milk in glass bottles, yogurt, cheese, ice cream), and natural meat products(beef, pork, chicken, lamb, bison). . UPDATED: October 19, 2013X)
  Comments from a visitor on July 12, 2011: "We pick strawberries here every year, including this year (we went twice!). That's an excellent farm. Late in the strawberry season, they reduce their prices as the picking gets more scarce. As your listing already says, they do u-pick strawberries & blackberries. They have an outstanding farm market with fresh produce, local meat, dairy, honey, preserves, gifts, plants, etc. They have a picnic & play area, and they're a super nice farm family. Their only down side is that they aren't open on Sundays, which is frequently the only day I have free for a u-pick adventure. That's how we ended up going to Mt. Olympus instead. Both are great places, I would easily recommend either one.". (
  Comments from a visitor on May 26, 2010: "Miller Farms Markets is still up and running, and we will be picking strawberries there this weekend. I'll report back!"

 

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