Blueberry U-Pick Orchards in The Roanoke Area and surrounding Western Virginia 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.

New! As inflation remains high, see this page for reliable (tested) brands of generic canning lids at lower costs, and cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
 If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather.  See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Bedford County

• Buffy's Blueberries - Blueberries, blackberries, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals
  1085 Capital Hill rd., Moneta, VA 24121. Phone: 540-330-5144. Open: July into September from 7am till noon, Wednesday thru Sunday; Select times are available for groups picking a minimum of 20 pounds. Directions: Take White House Road toward Smith Mountain Lake Park about 5 miles and see orchard signs on left at crest of long hill. Take first right to parking and barn. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check . 70021/">Buffy's Blueberries Harvetta the Emu and chickens. 4 Acres of blueberries and 12 - 15 varieties ,Blueberries are being raised pesticide free. is formerly TLC Orchard. They are a pick your own pesticide free orchard. The blueberry bushes at TLC Buffy's Blueberry Orchard are loaded with berries that will begin to ripen the first week of July. There are twelve varieties of blueberries in the field and the plants will produce berries through the month of September and possibly into October. Call For more information or to schedule special picking times. In 2018 if you pick the berries the price is 4.00 per lb. and if you call ahead and want them picked for you the price is 6.00 per lb. Blackberries are also available in July. There are 4 acres of blueberries that are pesticide free. Because of this we cannot use chemicals to control pests or poison ivy. It is recommended to wear long sleeves and long pants and to spray your legs or pant legs to prevent chigger and tick bites. Sharleen has bug spray available if you forget yours. (ADDED: July 23, 2018, Suggested by a visitor)
• Scotts Strawberry Farm (aka, A&E Farms) - blackberries, blueberries, raspberries (red), raspberries (black), strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, events at your location (call for info),Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked, farm market, restrooms
  5234 Joppa Mill Road, Moneta, VA 24121. Phone: 540-297-7917. Email: aferguson@hughes.net. Open: UPDATE for 2022, Their Facebook page has not been updated since 2020; so I assume they have closed permanently. Directions: from Roanoke 24 east 17 miles turn left onto 747 go 2 miles on right. from Bedford 122 south 4 miles turn right onto 747 go 4 miles on left. from Lynchburg 460 west to Bedford 122 south exit go 4 miles turn right onto 747 go 4 miles on left. from Franklin County 122 north 20+ miles to 24122 intersection left on 24 west go 5 miles right onto 801 1-12 miles right onto 747 .8 mile on right. Strawberries: May to early June, Produce: May thru August, Blackberries, Raspberries, Blueberries: late June - truncated. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. 87810Scotts Strawberry Farm (aka, A&E Farms) Alternate Phone: 540-871-0635. . mid May on; Monday thru Saturday 7:30 am till 7 pm Sunday 1 pm till 6 pm. from Roanoke 24 east 17 miles turn left onto 747 go 2 miles on right. from Bedford 122 south 4 miles turn right onto 747 go 4 miles on left. from Lynchburg 460 west to Bedford 122 south exit go 4 miles turn right onto 747 go 4 miles on left. from Franklin County 122 north 20+ miles to 24/122 intersection left on 24 west go 5 miles right onto 801 1-1/2 miles right onto 747 .8 mile on right. Strawberries: May to early June, Produce: May thru August, Blackberries, Raspberries, Blueberries: late June thru August, all dates determined by the weather. click here for their Facebook page. NOTE: 2021 THE FARM IS FOR SALE: just under 127 acres, 4 acre lake, underground irrigation going to any field on the property, several buildings and barns, very large shop, 4 wells, 5 septic's, 3 mobile homes. Main house 4 levels, 3600+ SF, 4 BR, 5 BA, 2 Great rooms, 1 on main floor w/open fireplace thru both sides and 1 in basement with wood insert and room is finished, spiral stairs getting off 3 levels, stairs in front hall up to 2 BR, HP, can also use wood for heat. I probably left something off.anyway it is close.
  Comments from a visitor on July 08, 2010: (positive)"I picked blackberries on July 6, 2010 for the first time ever - they are the most amazing blackberries! I had to look for the really ripe ones but there were plenty to be found. It took me about an hour to fill the field bucket- you pay by the bucket full not by weight and they allow you to heap it as high as you can for $16.00. There were a ton of yet to ripe berries so I will be going back again for sure. It seemed to me that the berries have not been affected by the drought because they have a nice watering system. The berries were incredibly JUCY. Nice perks are: you can drive right up to the field, they have clean, real (not porta-pot)bathrooms, and they sell other farm fresh produce as well. "
  Comments from a visitor on July 07, 2010: (positive) - "I have been Scott's twice recently and have to say I disagree with the other two recent posters. First was during the strawberry festival, it was too hot to stay long, but we did pick a 5qt bucket full, very easily. Most recently we picked blackberries and raspberries on 6/27/10. I will agree that there were not many raspberries, but there were LOTS of blackberries. We picked three 5 qt buckets full. I don't know if the previous posters misunderstood where to turn, as the fields can be confusing, but there were 5 rows of completely ripe blackberries and about 10 rows that had some ripe and some not. "
  Comments from a visitor on June 26, 2010: (negative) - "I noted that a upset visitor posted a response in June 2010. I am not normally one to post such derogatory remarks but I am sorry to say that the previous poster is fairly correct. We were told there was blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. When we went out, we were told to go to a particular field. We arrived and found about 5 blueberry bushes and was able to pick about 1/2 cup of ripe blueberries. We did not see any blackberries. We did see about 35 raspberry bushes. While there were a lot of raspberries on the available bushes, 95% were not ripe. When we checked out, we were told that the berries should be ready in about 2 weeks. It is posted as being ready and we too were told on the phone about the readiness of the berries. It was a huge disappointment since we too drove about 40 minutes to get there. I would not recommend visiting this farm. "
  Comments from a visitor on June 19, 2010: (negative) - "WOW what a disappointment. I called before had for directions , . From my Home it was 45 miles, Asked about the different kinds of berry that "were in season NOW" I quoted, She explained a " bunch of blueberry bushes. raspberry and black berry would be here soon... Lies ,lies lies. I got there only 12 blueberry bushes ( which is what I was going for) and NOT ONE BERRY ON THE BUSH. So I picked not a berry and stopped by to ask why she lied to me on the phone and to my face before I went out to the fields. She said You must have misunderstood me. B*** S***. Then she offered to sell me her pre-picked berries at 3.99, a pint well I I explained I do not plan to buy her pre-picked week old berries after spending 1.5 hours driving and 1/2 a tank of gas to a horrible lady. oh yes I did " A HORIBBILE LADY" Another visitor writes in 2009: (positive) - "Pick your own price for 2009 is $1.80 quart or $9.00 for the 5 quart field bucket. They also have a Scott Strawberry Farm Festival - (the last weekend in May) 10 am to dusk Saturday, Noon-Dusk Sunday - Crafts & food, door prizes, pony & carriage rides, bungee jump, moonwalk, homemade ice cream, homemade strawberry & blackberry pie, flatfoot contests and the BEST strawberries around. U-Pick or buy ready-picked."

Craig County

• Woodall Blueberries - blueberries,
  560 Little Mountain Road, New Castle, VA 24127. Phone: 540-544-7587. Email: woodall.blueberries@gmail.com. Open: July 1 to Early August Daily, from 7:30am to 8 pm unless closed for ripening. Directions: We are in the Sinking Creek Valley of Craig County, Virginia. From BlacksburgVirginia Tech area: Travel Route 460 West to Newport. Turn Right on Route 42 East. Continue 13 12 miles. Turn Left on Route 624, Little Mountain Road. First house on the right. From RoanokeSalem area: Travel Route 311 North from Salem to New Castle. Turn Left on Route 42 West. Continue 16 12 miles. Turn Right on Route 624, Little Mountain Road. First House on the Right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . . We are in the Sinking Creek Valley of Craig County, Virginia. From Blacksburg/Virginia Tech area: Travel Route 460 West to Newport. Turn Right on Route 42 East. Continue 13 1/2 miles. Turn Left on Route 624, Little Mountain Road. First house on the right. From Roanoke/Salem area: Travel Route 311 North from Salem to New Castle. Turn Left on Route 42 West. Continue 16 1/2 miles. Turn Right on Route 624, Little Mountain Road. First House on the Right. Blueberry season opens around July 1 and typically lasts through the month. Facebook page.

Giles County

• Bee Berry Farm - No pesticides are used, blueberries, Honey from hives on the farm, porta-potties are available
  1588 Blue Grass Trail, Newport, VA 24128. Phone: 540-544-6833. Open: UPDATE: May 22, 2024: The owner tells me they are closed until next season 2024, when their hours should be: Closed in 2024 for field renovations. Directions: Look for the \picking today\" sign. From 460 West or East: Turn at Newport \(towards Newcastle\) on highway 42 \(Blue Grass Trail\) at the Super-Valu store \(If coming from Blacksburg + points east". Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. that\'s a RIGHT turn\) Continue on highway 42Blue Grass Trail east towards Newcastle for approximately 3.4 miles We\'re on the right at 1588 Blue Grass Trail. Look for a sign plus a blue mailbox. "
• Bob Pond Blueberry Farm - blueberries, Raspberries, Christmas trees
  1814 Powell Mountain Road, Rich Creek, VA 24147. Phone: 540-726-3084. Email: bpondberries@yahoo.com. Click here for a map and directions. . Fax: 540-726-3097. . Gary Midkiffs' farm has approximately 10,000 blueberry bushes, with many varieties that ripen at different times, providing blueberries from late June through September. The berries peak the second week of July. U-PICK BLUEBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES. Christmas trees Both U-choose and wholesale. Also wholesale and Retail Nursery plants including Blueberries, blackberries, Current Bushes, Grapes and Raspberries.
• Windrush Farm - Blueberries
  250 Windrush Lane, Newport, VA 24128. Phone: 540-544-7088. Email: windrushberryfarm@gmail.com. Open: see their website or facebook page. Directions: Windrush Farm is in the New River Valley of SW Virginia just outside Blacksburg--home of Virginia Tech. From N Main at 460 in Blacksburg: 460w for 5 miles--left onto 605s---3.2 miles to farm on left. From Pearisburg: 460E for 15 miles--right onto 605s--3.2 miles to farm on left. From Roanoke: 81 S to exit 118B --follow 460W toward VT \(from this point, refer to Blacksburg directions\). . Click here for a map and directions. . is in the New River Valley of SW Virginia just outside Blacksburg--home of Virginia Tech. From N Main at 460 in Blacksburg: 460w for 5 miles--left onto 605s---3.2 miles to farm on left. From Pearisburg: 460E for 15 miles--right onto 605s--3.2 miles to farm on left. From Roanoke: 81 S to exit 118B --follow 460W toward VT (from this point, refer to Blacksburg directions).

Halifax County

• Giant Oaks Farm and Orchard, Bed & Breakfast - Uses natural growing practices, apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, Muscadines, grapes, pears, raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (Autumn, black), strawberries, walnuts, Turkeys (organic, not-hormone-fed), Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
  3035 Neals Corner Road, Clover, VA 24534. Phone: 850-691-9661. Email: ericakay55@hotmail.com. Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate Phone: 804-712-1738. . UPDATE for 2019, Their website is gone; Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me

Montgomery County

• 3 Birds Berry Farm - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries (red), raspberries (yellow),
  1876 Brooksfield Rd, Blacksburg, VA 24060. Phone: 540-552-4195. Email: 3birdsberryfarm@gmail.com. Open: See our website for current picking hours June - Sept or call the farm phone anytime for a recording. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . . Blueberries (early June-late August) Blackberries (late June-August) Raspberries (July-September). We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Our farm is just 7 minutes from downtown Blacksburg, Virgina! We are passionate about berries! New for season 2012: we are ADA compliant (with accessible porta potty, picking path & parking). We are also considered "transitional" (seeking organic certification). Our Prices: All berries $3/pint (or $20/gallon for volume picking discount). Price includes sales tax & pint containers. We provide picking buckets and take home pints/bags. Our apologies in advance: dogs NOT permitted on farm for health/safety reasons. See you in the fields!. The ONLY pyo crops offered are: blueberries, blackberries, raspberries. Our farm is just 7 minutes from downtown Blacksburg, Virginia and the ONLY U-Pick berry farm in Blacksburg! It ran as "Crow's Nest U-Pick Berries" for over 30 years.
• Al's Blueberries - blackberries, blueberries,
  3960 Mt. Tabor Road, Blacksburg, VA 24060. Phone: . Email: r.lafon@yahoo.com. Open: All week during season; 8am to Dusk. Directions: About 5 12 miles past Slusser Chapel Church on mt. tabor road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.

Patrick County

• Windy Hill Orchards - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, Muscadines, grapes, nectarines, peaches, raspberries (red), Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food, school tours, group reservations
  176 Windy Hill Lane, Ararat, VA 24053. Phone: 276-251-5222. Email: debbe@windyhillorchards.com. Open: Spring & Summer hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm; Closed Sunday and Monday: Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, PayPal. . Alternate Phone: 276-692-8157. . We use integrated pest management practices. Typical dates: Blueberries - Due May 30th; Peaches - Due the 3rd week of June. Blackberries - Due in July. Grapes - First grapes due in July. Apples - Gala's due in Aug..We have a beautiful crop of apples this year. We have raw cider at the shed for purchase. We also have raw cider vinegar available. Virginia facebook page. . (UPDATED: September 24, 2023)

Roanoke County

• Chestnut Grove Farm - beets, blueberries, chard, lettuce, kale, collards, tomatoes, peppers, summer squash, cucumbers, and other vegetables.
  9897 Greenhouse Rd, Bent Mountain, VA 24059. Phone: (540) 929-8018. Email: beshelly60@gmail.com. Open: Normally, Wednesday to Saturday; See our facebook page for availability and hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . . We have a couple acres of blueberries. You are welcome to come and pick blueberries in the summer. We are in the process of adding to our field crops. In the next couple of years, we hope to add to our outdoor production. (UPDATED: May 18, 2018) (ADDED: March 21, 2017)

 

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