Citrus U-Pick Orchards in Manatee County, west Florida in 2025, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for citrus that we know of in this area.

Not all areas of a state have citrus 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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Manatee County

• Plesscher Groves - 2024 may be closed, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, other citrus, tangerines, Other fruit or veg, Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked
  3350 Co. Road 675 E, Bradenton, FL 34211. Phone: 941-322-2030. Open: UPDATE for 2024, A visitor tells me they are permanently closed, I have not been able to confirm this, Does anyone have more information, like a phone or email address? If so, please write me!. Valencia Oranges are currently available; The Groves are open December 5th to April 1st annually, 7 days a week from 9 am to 5 pm. Directions: From Tampa: Follow I-75 S. Take exit 220 for FL-64 E s. Turn left onto FL-64 E. Turn right onto Co Road 675/Waterbury Road The groves will be on your Right. From Sarasota: Follow I-75 N. Take exit 220A for FL-64 E. Turn right onto FL-64 E. Turn right onto Co Road 675/Waterbury Road The groves will be on your Right. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. We also sell firewood.

 

Citrus

Citrus Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S., Citrus  such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit, mandarins, satsumas, tangerines and the like, typically peak during winter and early Spring. See the season section for specific dates. It should be obvious that citrus are only grown in semi-tropical areas on the country (like Florida, southern Texas, southern California, etc.). In order to produce good local citrus, producers depend on ideal weather conditions, and no freezes.

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - Citrus are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. 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 citrus, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers.
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.

Citrus Picking tips:

Most modern orange, grapefruit, mandarin or tangerine orchards have dwarf trees that are very close to the ground - my 3 year old finds it easy to pick citrus! (photo above and below)

The color can be anything from dark green, to yellow, pink, orange, bright red, dark red or even a combination.  It all depends on the variety.  And color is not really how you tell when a citrus fruit is ripe. The key will be to ask the farmer which are ripe. 

1.  Look for  firm, bruise-free skin/peel/rind

2. Look for a heavy, solid feel to the fruit. heavier and more solid means juicier!

3. The dimples should have small, fine dimples on the peels

4. Watch out for soft, tender spots or wrinkled, folds in the rind.

5. The smell of the the fruit should be a strong, sweet citrusy smell.

The farmer/orchardist will also know what characteristics to look for in the particular varieties that he is growing.

 

When are citrus ripe - how to tell!

Citrus ripen from the outside of the tree towards the center, so the citrus out the outside of the tree will ripen first.  Once they are picked, they stop ripening. Picking citrus directly from a tree is easy.. abut  uniform orange color is not necessarily an indicator of a delicious, juicy orange.  Notice the photo at right.

 The best way to know if a citrus fruit is ripe is the smell and taste.  Try one and you will know what to look for in appearance and smell with the others.

When are Citrus in season?

Keep in mind that these are typical, general dates.  It can vary considerably upon weather, location, orchard and variety.

• Navel oranges - November to June.

• Valencia oranges - March to October.

• Cara Cara oranges December to May.

• Clementine oranges  -October to December

• Satsuma - October to January.

• Pineapple sweet oranges - November to February.

More Tips

• Once picked, don't throw the citrus into the baskets, place them in gently, or they will bruise and go bad more quickly.
• Don't wash citrus until just before using to prevent spoilage.
• Keep citrus cool after picking to increase shelf life.  A cool basement is ideal, but the fruit/vegetable drawer of a refrigerator will work, too. Kept cool, fresh-picked citrus will generally keep weeks, but it DOES depend on the variety.  Red and Yellow Delicious citrus do not keep well, for example; but Rome, do! High humidity helps to to keep the citrus from shriveling, but don't let them get actually wet. A wet towel placed nearby helps to keep the humidity up. A refrigerator is fine for small quantities of citrus. Boxed citrus need to be kept in a cool, dark spot where they won't freeze.
  Prevent contact between citrus stored for the winter by wrapping them individually in sheets of newspaper. The easiest way to do this is to unfold a section of newspaper all the way and tear it into quarters. Then stack the wrapped citrus
• Nutrition and miscellaneous facts: One-half cup of citrus is only 42 calories. Citrus contain no cholesterol or fat and are also low in calories. T Citrus are high in dietary fiber, Vitamin A and niacin. They contain iron and other trace minerals and are a fair source of Vitamin C. 
• Citrus are ranked No. 1 in Vitamin C and antioxidant activity compared with many other commercially available fruits and vegetables. That means a serving of citrus has more of the antioxidant power you need to fight aging, cancer and heart disease.

Storing Citrus

In a refrigerator, citrus can last 2 or3 weeks.. Keep them in a bag that has holes for airflow, ie. they have a few holes in them . The airflow is important to prevent buildup of moisture or condensation which causes mold growth.

At room temperature, Citrus will keep for about a week.

Recipes and Preserving Citrus

Canning and freezing citrus - fully illustrated, with step-by-step instructions

• How to can oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, tangerines, clementine's and other citrus
• How to make home-canned orange juice or other citrus juices
• How to make home-canned lemon juice or other citrus juices
• How to freeze orange, lemon, grapefruit or other citrus juices

Marmalades, Jellies, and Other Recipes, illustrated with step by step instructions

• FROG Jam (fig-raspberry-orange-ginger)
• Orange marmalade
• Lemon curd (or lime curd)

Citrus weights and measures

The weight of the citrus fruit, and the number of fruit per bushel varies depending on the size of the fruit , their moisture content and variety.  But, in general:

• 1 bushel = 48-72 oranges or 32-48 grapefruit.

• 3/4 bushel = 36-54 oranges or 24-36 grapefruit

• 1/2 bushel = 24-36 oranges or 16-24 grapefruit

Citrus Festivals

Here is a list of Florida citrus festivals  If you know of any more, please write me! Feedback.

 

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