Blueberry U-Pick Orchards in Eastern Florida Panhandle: Jefferson, Madison and Taylor County in 2024, by county

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

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Jefferson County

• Blue Sky Berry Farm, LLC - Uses natural growing practices, blueberries,
  1180 Ashville highway, Monticello, FL 32344. Phone: (850) 545-6128. Email: blueskyfarmllc@gmail.com. Open: We will be open starting June 2020 when the berries are ripe; Please check the site for updates and hours; bskyfarm;com. Directions: Minutes from the courthouse in Monticello. About 45 minutes from Tallahassee. We use natural organic practices, and are subject to the NOP small quantity exemption. We use only organic practices and have a variety of blueberry typesBlue Sky Farm grows the following Rabbiteye blueberry varieties: Brightwell, TifBlue, Bluebell, Windsor, Climax, True Blue, Titan, Ochelochnee. Each variety produces its own uniquely delicious blueberry. You can come tour our farm when we are . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, AmEx.
  Blue Sky Berry Farm, LLC Facebook page. . open and you will see some of the best views in the area as we are located on a scenic hilltop! Our berries are all organically grown. Remember to bring sunscreen, water and wear clothes toed shoes. 100% organic U-pick blueberries. 7 different varieties from small and sweet to big and juicy. (UPDATED: April 24, 2020) (ADDED: May 11, 2015)
• Blueberry Springs - No pesticides are used, blackberries, blueberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available
  383 Wacissa Springs Road, Wacissa, FL 32361. Phone: 850-997-1238. Email: BlueberrySprings@aol.com. Open: starting May 30, 2019, Tuesday through Sunday, from 7 am to 12 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm; Closed Mondays; We will be open through middle of July, 2019; Call first for availability . Directions: from Tallahassee take either I-10 E, SR 90 E, or SR 27 S to SR 59 S; take SR 59 S to Wacissa; from the blinking light in Wacissa, go straight for 1 mile to dead end signs; farm is on the left before the dead end at the head of the Wacissa River. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Blueberry Springs . We do not use pesticides on the crops. has some plants and produce available. We recommend swimming, canoeing/kayaking and picnic lunch at the Wacissa River located 300 feet from the farm after picking. Call for more information. (UPDATED: April 26, 2019)
• Green Meadows Farm - Certified Organic, blueberries, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food
  177 East Bluebird Road, Monticello, FL 32344. Phone: 850-997-4886. Email: annadgreen@gmail.com. Directions: Located two blocks off U. Click here for a map and directions. Green Meadows Farm . Closed for the 2016 blueberry season, but will reopen June, 2017 for next year's crop., when our hours should be Fridays and Saturdays ONLY (we are closed Sunday through Thursday), from 7:30 am to 12 noon and 5 pm to sunset; During the month of June or until all berries are picked!. We are .S. Highway 90 in Jefferson County, Florida. From Monticello Courthouse to West toward Tallahassee. Turn left on Main Avenue (about three miles), go two blocks and turn left onto East Bluebird Road. Farm sign and driveway will be on your left. Be careful, Bluebird Road is a one lane country canopy road. Follow signs to parking and picking areas. Watch for signs on U.S. Highway 90 to help you find the turn off. (UPDATED: July 07, 2016)
  Comments from a visitor on June 04, 2011: "Nice, small. Yummy blueberry ice cream."
• Myrtle Creek Farm - blackberries, blueberries, restrooms, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food
  2184 Tram Rd, Monticello, FL 32344. Phone: 850-997-0533. Email: myrtlecreekfarm@gmail.com. Open: UPDATE for 2021, Their website and Facebook pages are gone or outdated - I presume they have closed. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Myrtle Creek Farm Facebook page. . Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me; Monday to Sunday, from 8 am to 12 pm, 5 pm to 7:30 pm; May to July. We use natural practices for growing our berries. (ADDED: June 12, 2016)

Madison County

• Hilda's Blueberries U-Pick - Blueberries
  332 N.E. Chamomile Way, Madison, FL . Phone: (850) 973-8592. Open: May through August. Click here for a map and directions. .
• Jimmy Dixon - Blueberries
  Route 2, Box 571, Madison, FL 32340. Phone: 850-973-8592. Open: May-July, Monday to Saturday, 8-6pm, Directions: Off CR 254 and Route 145 N of Madison. Click here for a map and directions. .
• Priscillas Produce - blueberries, peas
  607 SW Debary Way, Greenville, FL 32331. Phone: 850-948-4816. Email: priscillasproduce@gardener.com. Open: Call for for hours and availability. Directions: Call for directions. Payment: Cash, only. May also be spelled: "Prisilla\'s Produce".Comments from a visitor on June 17, 2010: "Very nice and people were friendly. This used to be part of Tuten\'s U-Pick in Madison also. Right down the road from them. They have blueberries and zipper peas to be picked right now. She also has onions and peaches you can buy from her stand. Mrs Priscilla told me that in late October she will have . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . May also be spelled: "Prisilla's Produce".
  Comments from a visitor on June 17, 2010: "Very nice and people were friendly. This used to be part of Tuten's U-Pick in Madison also. Right down the road from them. They have blueberries and zipper peas to be picked right now. She also has onions and peaches you can buy from her stand. Mrs Priscilla told me that in late October she will have crops that will consist of Kale, Spinach, Carrots, Tomatoes and more., "

 

Blueberry

Blueberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Blueberries are one of the easiest fruit to prepare and serve. There's no peeling, pitting, coring or cutting. They have few natural pests, (other than birds), so pesticides are generally unnecessary! This year's crop is fantastic (see related news story), thanks both to the weather and to more farms planting more blueberry bushes due to increased consumer demand over the past few years as more studies proclaim the anti-oxidant and other health properties of blueberries.

Click here to find a local Blueberry Festival (usually held between April and July).

If you are looking for information about a similar berry, the saskatoon (also called the June berry or Serviceberry) see this page about saskatoons.

Picking tips:

Select plump, full blueberries with a light gray-blue color. A berry with any hint of red isn't fully ripened.

Ripening AFTER picking?

First, it is key to know that once picked, blueberries will NOT become any sweeter, nor will the flavor improve. The only change that occurs is the color. They will APPEAR to ripen, but it is only a color change, from white to green to rose to red to pale blue to fully blue. So, white and green colored blueberries will not "ripen" after they are picked; while blueberries that have already turned purple, red or blue-ish usually DO change color after they are picked (if they are kept at room temperature to "ripen").

As the blueberries ripen ON THE BUSH, the flavor goes from tastless to bitter to tasteless tart to tart blueberry flavor to sweet blueberry flavor.

Grocery stores sell blueberries that are tart, not sweet because they had them picked unripe by machine so they are very firm and can handled being bumped around in shipping. They may look good, but are not as tasty as those picked when actually ripe.

So, the key is, PICK ONLY RIPE BERRIES!

How to pick blueberries

Since blueberries hang on the bushes in bunches a but like grapes do, the easiest and fastest way to pick them is hold your bucket under them in one hand and with your other hand, cup a ripe bunch and gently rub them with your fingers. The ripe berries will drop into your bucket, while the unripe ones will remain attached to the bush.

When the bushes are at peak, I can easily pick 2 gallons per hour (if I'm not being distracted by the kids and the sun isn't too hot!). A newbie might do 1 gallon per hour.and at the beginning or end of the season it takes more time as the berries are not as plentiful nor concentrated in clusters.

Tips for storing blueberries after harvesting:

• Once picked, don't place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form in the container.
• Don't wash berries until just before using, to prevent berries from becoming mushy.
• Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. Store your fresh blueberries in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep 10 to 14 days.
• Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening. Place berries one layer deep. Freeze, then pour the frozen berries into freezer containers. Because unwashed blueberries freeze individually, they can be easily poured from containers in desired amounts. Remember both frozen and fresh berries should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries in cold water.

Blueberry Measurements and Conversions

Keep in mind that blueberries vary considerably in density and moisture content, so these ranges are approximates.

• 1 gallon of blueberries weighs about 7.5 lbs or (4 liters of blueberries is about 3.5 kg)

• 1 pint of fresh blueberries weights about 3/4 of a pound. (1 liter of blueberries is about 700 grams)

• 1 pound of fresh blueberries is usually between about 2 and 3 cups of berries.

• It takes about 4 cups (about of blueberries to make a blueberry pie (see this fantastic and easy blueberry pie recipe)

• A normal batch of blueberry preserves, jam or jelly requires 5 pints of berries.

• Blueberries do come in a variety of sizes from small (190-250 berries per cup) to extra large (<90 berries per cup).

Blueberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Blueberries

Recipes

• The world's best Blueberry pie, recipe and directions and illustrated!
• Blueberry buckle coffee cake: illustrated directions for this great crumb-topping blueberry coffee cake
• Other easy directions to make blueberry desserts: cobblers, etc.

Canning, freezing and other blueberry recipes:

• How to Freeze Blueberries
• How to Can Blueberries
• How to Make Homemade Blueberry Jam
• How to make blueberry jelly
• How to make and can blueberry syrup (it works for strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, too)
• blueberry pie filling to use later,
• blueberry butter

Baking tips

If you have trouble with blueberries settling to the bottom of muffins and blueberry breads, try one or more of these tips:

• Coat them with flour before adding to the batter. Just gently shake the blueberries in a bag (plastic or paper) with 1/2 cup of flour, then dump them mix in a sieve to remove excess flour.
• It may just be that your batter is too thin. try making the batter a little thicker!
• Fill the muffin cups or baking pan up to 1/4 full with batter (which hasn't had blueberries added to it yet); then stir the blueberries into the remaining batter, and continue to fill the muffin cups or bread pan. The blueberries will start off higher in the mix!

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