Where to pick strawberries in Tampa Bay

Strawberry picking in Tampa Bay is a must-do in the springtime, in fact, it’s one of our favorite things to do in Tampa Bay with the kids! And, you know strawberries are kind of a big deal in our area since we have a festival dedicated to the sweet fruit, the Florida Strawberry Festival!

March is the height of the u-pick season, however, we often see strawberry-picking events as early as February and even into April, so you’ve got a good amount of time to experience this for yourself.

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There are a few things to keep in mind before you head out the door to the U-pick farm:

• Check with each farm to ensure they are open before you go since things can change.
• Wear closed-toed shoes and plenty of sunscreen.
• Pack extra sunscreen, bug spray, and water.
• Bring cash just in case.
• Bring a container or bags to carry your strawberries in. (The containers you get at the store when shopping for strawberries are great since they are designed to keep your berries fresh, so clean and keep.)

Related: Where to pick blueberries in Tampa Bay

How to store your freshly picked strawberries when you get home:

Since you’ll want to ensure all those freshly picked strawberries stay fresh, we turned to the expert and asked Sue Harrell with the Florida Strawberry Growers Association –also known as Strawberry Sue, to share her top tips.

If you happen to have one of the clear plastic clamshells from store-bought strawberries, she says these are ideal.

“If you look at that container, it has venting in it. That is designed to keep that berry as fresh as it can possibly be,” said Sue. “When you take it home, put them in the refrigerator unless you are going to eat them right away. Store it there until right before you get ready to eat.”

“When you’re ready to eat, leave it on the counter for a few minutes, 15 minutes or so, and let it warm up. You are going to have better flavor berries if it’s at room temperature than cold,” she added.

She also suggests you leave the green top on the berry until you are ready to prepare.

“Rinse them off with the top on so you are getting that full flavor and it’s not watered down. Don’t soak them. My mother used to soak them in a bowl of water to get the sand off. Well, we grow on plastic here, so the berries aren’t sandy. They are nice and clean. Just give them a quick rinsing. Even if you rinse them in that colander, I call it a colander –the clamshell that has the holes in it–rinse the berries off and eat them fresh.”

Now that you know how to store and how to prepare your strawberries, we’re showing you where to pick strawberries right now in Tampa Bay!

The BEST Strawberry U-Pick Farms in Tampa Bay

*Hours and days open may change based on the availability of strawberries.

NEW: Bearss Groves U-Pick in Lutz: U-pick strawberries

213 Warren Road, Lutz
Visit Facebook page here
Check out this all-new U-pick experience in Tampa Bay! Bearss Groves has opened its 10-acre strawberry picking fields for the first time and will extend their season due to popular demand. This week’s dates are Friday, March 15 from 3 pm-6 pm, Saturday, March 16 from 8 am-3 pm, and Sunday, March 17 from 8 am-3 pm.! Stay tuned for future dates. Berries are $3 per pound. Bring cash since cash is preferred.

5K Farms in Plant City

5372 E SR-60, Plant City 33567
Follow their Facebook page for updates.
5K Farms is opening their strawberry u-pick this weekend on Saturday, March 16, and Sunday, March 17 from 9 am-5 pm. You can bring your own container, but they will have buckets available for purchase for $5. Strawberries are $2 per pound.

Berry Sweet Acres in Plant City: U-Pick Strawberries

5621 US Hwy 92 in Plant City
Berry Sweet Acres Facebook Page
Open Wednesdays-Sundays 
There’s nothing quite like the taste of freshly picked strawberries and Berry Sweet Acres is opening up its fields for u-pick strawberries. They are open Wednesdays through Sundays. If you purchase one pound or more of strawberries, access to the field is free, otherwise, it’s a $5 charge.

Keel & Curley in Plant City: U-Pick Strawberries

5210 Thonotosassa Road, Plant City 33565
keelfarms.com
Keel & Curley location on Thonotosassa Road also happens to be right by Dinosaur World, so it’s a great day trip for families. We also love grabbing lunch under the covered patio and saying hello to the farm animals, so make some time in your day for that too! Check their Facebook page here for updates.

JG Ranch in Brooksville: strawberries and greens

17200 Wiscon Rd, Brooksville 34601
www.jgranch.com
Strawberry picking Thursday-Sunday
JG Ranch is now offering u-pick strawberries (as they ripen) and veggies like broccoli. You’ll want to check in on their Facebook page to see if they are open for u-pick before you head out.

Pigeon Cove Family Farm: U-pick strawberries

3321 Moores Lake Road, Dover 
Visit Facebook page here
Pigeon Cove Family Farm is a recent addition to the area. They are currently offering u-pick strawberries on select days, so be sure to check with their Facebook page to make sure they’re open before you head out.

Hunsader Farms in Bradenton: U-Pick Strawberries 

5500 County Road 675, Bradenton 34211
www.hunsaderfarms.com
Open daily
Hunsader Farms is offering u-pick strawberries right now for $3 per pound. Their fields are open daily. They also usually have other u-picks throughout the year including veggies like varieties of beans and peas, squash, and tomatoes. There’s also a petting zoo with more than 30 species of animals! They’re open daily right now, (Monday-Saturday 8 am-4 pm & Sunday 10 am-3 pm) so it’s a good day trip for littles. Hunsader Farms also offers the prettiest sunflowers, zinnias, and wildflowers for u-pick in the springtime, so standby for that!  Learn more here.

Upicktopia in Masaryktown: U-Pick Strawberries, Greens, and more!

19125 Phillips Rd, Masaryktown 34605
www.upicktopia.com
Open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays
Upicktopia has a variety of veggies and strawberries available for u-pick. You’ll want to check their Facebook page before you go to see what they have available for u-pick as it changes.

Strawberry Passion/Passion Organics in Thonotosassa: u-pick strawberries (end of March)

11780 Tom Folsom Rd, Thonotosassa 
Typically open Friday-Sunday
Visit Facebook Page
Strawberry Passion/Passion Organics is offering u-pick strawberries on weekends at their McIntosh Road field along with their farm fresh market. Check their Facebook page for updates and availability.

Three Son Farms in Dover: U-pick strawberries

3830 MacIntosh Road, Dover 33527
Visit the Facebook page here
Three Sons Farms in Dover has closed its strawberry picking fields for the season. You can still by milkshakes and pre-picked strawberry flats from their Fruitstand.

Wish Farms Blueberry U-Pick in Plant City: U-Pick Strawberries and Blueberries TBA

1301 Frontage Road S, Plant City 33563
www.wishfarms.com
Wish Farms sometimes offers u-pick events. You can check their events page here to stay up to date.

Pappy’s Patch U-Pick Strawberries 

501 Florida Ave, Oviedo, FL 32765
Visit Facebook Page
Pappy’s Patch usually offers U-pick in March and April. You can check their Facebook page for updates.

Want to add your favorite u-pick farm? Email us and let us know so we can share: editor@tbparenting.com