How great is it that we live right next door to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World – Plant City, Florida! That means we have an abundance of places for U Pick Strawberries within an hour’s drive and it is easy to find somewhere for strawberry picking near you.
Strawberry picking in Florida is a GREAT family activity to do with kids. The berries grow in raised beds on the ground (unless they are hydroponic strawberry plants) so they are easy for kids to reach.
We try to go pick our own strawberries in Tampa / Lakeland / Plant City area every year. Strawberry season in Florida typically runs from December – March, with the Plant City Strawberry Festival as the annual celebration of all things berry!
Don’t miss our Strawberry Picking Tips at the bottom of this post. We can also help find Blueberry Picking Near You (March – May) and Peach Picking Near You (April – May). We also have a list of U-Pick Sunflower Farms for April-June/September-October, and Pumpkin Patches in October. If you’re looking for fresh produce, there are also numerous Farmers Markets happening weekly around Polk County, you can find them all in our Farmers Market Guide.
IMPORTANT:
- We cannot begin to keep track of ever-changing Strawberry U-Pick days/hours so a website and/or Facebook page is included for each farm. (Facebook is typically the best source for updated info)
- Dates and times change on a day to day basis and farms open depending on weather. We STRONGLY suggest you check websites/Facebook or call ahead the day of your visit to confirm availability, prices, and hours. Even if our list says a farm is open, check before you go! We also may have missed an opening announcement, so if you have a favorite farm, check to see if they are open.
- There are some strawberry picking farms open all season for you pick strawberries (December – April)
- Many farms will not open for u-pick strawberry picking season until their commercial season ends, which is typically in March and is dependent on the weather and the remaining strawberry crop. Farms will be sure to announce when they are open so if you don’t see a recent post, don’t send messages – they are busy farming!
- Be sure to pull up the address before you make plans, some of these Strawberry farms in Florida are a 1+ hour drive from Lakeland and Polk County.
Strawberry Picking: Plant City + Tampa Bay + Central FL
Be sure to check Website/Facebook links for current dates/times!!
Fancy Farms Market + U-Pick Strawberries
The Fancy Farms Market is open from December to June, located on the corner of Drane Field Road and County Line Road between Lakeland and Plant City. Market includes fresh produce and fruit desserts, strawberry milkshakes, as well as various other goods for purchase.
Dates: U-Pick Strawberries open seasonally in February/March – check FB for dates AND locations – U-Pick is often at a nearby strawberry patch in Plant City.
Location: 5204 Drane Field Rd Lakeland FL 33811
Website | Facebook
Keel & Curley Winery at Keel Farms
Located in Plant City, between Lakeland and Tampa, Florida, Keel & Curley Winery has been producing some of Florida’s #1 wines since 2003. They offer tours, tastings, dining, events, farm activities, and a variety of special events and U-Pick seasons including U-Pick Plant City Strawberries, U-Pick Blueberries and U-Pick Peaches. Open year round, check the website or Facebook for upcoming events.
Dates: U-Pick Dates in January – check FB for events
Location: 5210 Thonotosassa Road, Plant City, Florida 33565
Website | Facebook
Berry Sweet Acres
Located in Plant City, between Lakeland and Tampa, Florida, Berry Sweet Acres is a family-owned business with local ties and decades of experience in strawberry growing. Walk-in’s are welcome but reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. Reservations will be honored first.
Dates: Opens mid December – check FB for updates
Location: 5621 W US Highway 92, Plant City, FL
Website | Facebook
Three Son Farms
Family run strawberry farm dedicated to the production of quality berries and vegetables. U-pics are opened late March / early April for strawberries. Sunflower U-pics are also offered late spring and fall.
Dates: Early January U-Picks announced – check FB for updates
Location: 3830 McIntosh Rd, Dover, FL 33527
Facebook
Favorite Farms
Strawberry U-Pick Farm located near Plant City. Check website/Facebook page for opening dates, hours, and prices.
Dates: Open seasonally for U-Pick after the commercial strawberry season ends typically in February or March.
Location: 10274 McIntosh Road, Dover, Florida 33527
Facebook
Spivey Farms
Strawberry U-Pick Farm located in Plant City. Check website/Facebook page for opening dates, hours, and prices.
Dates: Does not open for U-Pick until the end of the commercial season, typically in March.
Location: 6101 South County Road 39, Plant City, Florida 33567
Facebook
5K Farms Organic Strawberry U Pick
Organic Strawberry Farm in Plant City offering strawberry pick-up, pre orders, and U-Pick organic strawberry picking. Varieties include pineberries or whiteberries {pinkish-white strawberries}. Check Facebook for alternative strawberry picking locations, not always at the address listed below.
Dates: Open seasonally for U-Pick after the commercial strawberry season ends typically in March.
Location: 6302 South County Road 39, Plant City, FL 33567
Facebook
Strawberry Passion Organic Farm
100% Certified Organic Farm growing an assortment of veggies and Strawberries during the various seasons. If you’re looking for strawberry picking in Tampa, this is the closest field to east Tampa.
Dates: Open Seasonally for Strawberry Picking near Tampa in March after the commercial season ends.
Location: 11722 Tom Folsom Road, Thonotosassa, Florida 33592
Facebook
Tomlin FFA Produce Stand
The Tomlin Middle School FFA program offers U-Pick Strawberries as well as a produce stand. They are NOT open daily – check Facebook for the days they are open.
Location: Corner of Hwy 92 and Edwards in the Tomlin Middle School Ag Field, Plant City
Facebook
U Pick Strawberries in Central Florida
Center Hill Farm U-Pick
Center Hill Farm U-Pick offers a wide variety of produce throughout the year, featuring u-pick strawberries during the winter months.
Dates: Opened mid December. Call 863 781 6901 for updates and listen to the voice-mail greeting, it will tell you if the farm is open or not. Come early, fields are often picked out by lunchtime.
Location: 2949 Center Hill Road, Bowling Green, Florida 33834
Facebook
Hunsader Farms
Hunsader Farms is open Late Sept thru Mid June with multiple U-Pick options. Bradenton’s Hunsader Farms includes a playground, farm animals petting zoo ($5/person), farmers market, fall festival, pumpkin festival, U-Pick Sunflowers, and more. At their Farmers Market you can find also find tomatoes, pumpkins, corn, okra, peas, and so much more.
Dates: Strawberry U-Pick available mid December through March/April. Always call first for availability – the U-Pick hotline is 941-331-1212.
Location: 5500 County Road 675, Bradenton, Florida 34211
Website | Facebook
JG Ranch
Strawberry U-Pick Farm located in Brooksville, north of Tampa.
Dates: Open seasonally for U-Pick Strawberries beginning mid December. Check Facebook page for specific dates.
Location: 17200 Wiscon Road, Brooksville, Florida 34601
Facebook
Strawberry Picking: Orlando + St. Cloud + Clermont
Be sure to check Website/Facebook links for current dates/times!!
Southern Hill Farms
On our one hundred twenty acre farm crops include blueberries, peaches, strawberries, sunflowers and zinnias. Visit this local farm for Spring U-Pick and Fall Festival events. Also check back for U-Pick Blueberries | U-Pick Peaches | U-Pick Sunflowers.
Dates: Open for Strawberries {and Sunflowers} beginning in December.
Location: 16651 Schofield Road, Clermont, Florida 34714
Website | Facebook
Mick Farms
Just South of Lake Nona, Mick Farms is home to 32 acres located in St. Cloud. Check out their selection of home grown seasonal produce, homemade pickles and assorted canned goods, plants and farm stand t-shirts. Specializing also in sunflowers, u-pick pumpkin patch and u-pick strawberries. Also check for U-Pick Sunflowers.
Dates: U-Pick Strawberries open December to May – check FB for specific days
Location: 4261 Canoe Creek Road, St. Cloud, Florida 34772
Facebook
Pappy’s Patch U-Pick Strawberries
Family-owned and operated strawberry patch located outside of Orlando. Open seasonally Dec – April. Check Facebook/website for availability, Pappy’s Patch U-Pick Strawberries has no set hours, we will know a day or two in advance and are open every day we have berries.
Dates: Open mid December – be sure to check FB as they are often picked out by mid day
Location: 675 Florida Avenue, Oviedo, Florida 32765
Facebook
Oak Haven Farms & Winery
Oak Haven Farms and Winery is a u-pick straw berry farm, vineyard and on site winery.
Dates: Oak Haven Farms is open to the public during the season early December to mid-late March depending upon the weather. The country kitchen is open on WEEKENDS ONLY starting in late December and ending in March offering strawberry shortcake, sundaes, u-roast hot dogs. Call our Farm Hotline for accurate picking availability and conditions (352) 735-1996 before leaving home.
Location: 32418 Avington Road, Sorrento, Florida 32776
Facebook
Strawberry Markets in Plant City + Central FL
Looking for somewhere to get a strawberry milkshake, strawberry shortcake, or other sweet sensation in the Tampa Bay area? Check out these local strawberry markets:
Fancy Farms – Located on County Line Road in Lakeland (just south of Drane Field Road), this is the closest place to Lakeland to get a delicious strawberry milkshake, treats or dessert, and also pick up fresh strawberries! Located at 3838 Fancy Farms Road, Plant City, Florida 33566.
Parkesdale Market – 3702 W. Baker Street, Plant City, FL 33563
Berry Barn – 3931 State Rd 60, Dover, FL 33527
**Check for operating hours – markets are open seasonally during strawberry production season**
Map – Find a Strawberry Farm Near You
U Pick Strawberry Farms Near Me – U Pick Strawberries Near You – U Pick Strawberries Plant City
Strawberry Picking Tips
- Check the local Farm’s website or Facebook page the day before or day of your visit to confirm hours for picking berries.
- Pick early in the morning when it is still cool.
- Wondering what to wear to pick strawberries? Dress comfortably with closed toe shoes. You WILL be walking in dirt and you will get dirty!
- Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen – fields are in the sun. Light colored clothing is the best thing to wear for strawberry picking so you don’t get hot.
- Bring your own container, not too deep. Many fields do not keep containers on site.
- Take CASH!! Many u-pick farms only accept cash.
- Strawberries do NOT ripen once picked, so be sure to select firm, ripe berries, and pick them with the leafy green top ON.
- Check under leaves as some of the best berries are hiding there.
- Berries need to be kept cool once picked, plan your day accordingly or bring ice if you aren’t taking them home immediately.
- If berries are not used immediately, refrigerate and loosely cover with paper towel or plastic wrap. Do not wash or cut tops until ready to use.
- Although Plant City Florida Strawberries are the most “famous,” there are still plenty of great places to go Strawberry Picking in Florida that might be closer to you.
If you LOVE all things strawberry, don’t miss the Florida Strawberry Festival happening February 29 – March 10, 2024 in Plant City. Includes rides, live entertainment, and every strawberry treat you can imagine!
Know of a Plant City Florida Strawberry Farm or other places for Strawberry Picking Near You in Florida that is offering U-Pick hours? Contact us and we’ll add them to our list.
Spring Activities Guide
Check out our full Spring Activities Guide for more things to do in Lakeland, Polk County, and Central Florida from January – May. BBQ Festivals, Valentine’s Day, 5k races, seasonal events, annual favorites, SUN ‘n FUN, Easter Egg Hunts, Mother’s Day, and more.