2024 Montgomery and southeastern Alabama Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Montgomery and southeastern Alabama in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have strawberries farms 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

Autauga County

• Autauga Hill Farms - Strawberries, peaches, new potatoes, peas, squash
  152 Co Rd 27, Prattville, AL 36067. Phone: (334) 365-4340. Directions: From Prattville, take Hwy 14 W past Big Bass Bait Shop, until top of hill. Turn left on Co Rd 27, 2nd house on the right past Clear Creek subdivision. Click . Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate phone: (334) 657-6989We are not offering "pick your own" this year (2015); We normally do, but we pruned the trees very heavily this year; We will have some for sale; June 1- Aug 1, Saturday only from 9 am to 3 pmhere for a map of this location. (UPDATED: June 25, 2018, JBS) (ADDED: April 25, 2010, from AL state Ag website)

Barbour County

• Backyard Orchards - strawberries, blueberries, cotton, flowers, peaches, pumpkins, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, pumpkins, corn maze
  6585 Northeast Hwy 431, Eufaula, AL 36027. Phone: (334) 695-5875. Email: BACKYARDORCHARDS@HOTMAIL.COM. Open: Call for hours. Click here for a map and directions. Strawberry season runs from late March to early June. We offer U-pick and prepicked berries and grow two varieties. Blueberry season runs from early June-August. We offer Upick and prepicked berries! Peach season runs from early June-August. Every year we have a pumpkin patch and corn maze! We grow our own pumpkins including jack o' lanterns, white pumpkins, and fairy tale pumpkins! This year's fall events run from September 27- November 1. Take a wagon ride to the maze, sunflower, cotton, and pumpkin patch. The kids will enjoy playing in our cotton seed wagon and corn bins plus lots more! 2 and under are free. Admission includes one pumpkin per person! We grow many vegetables throughout the season. All a prepicked and sold in the barn. Here's a list of what we grow: Cabbage, Collards, Turnips, Potatoes, Onions, Squash, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Field Corn, Sweet Corn, Peppers, Peas, Okra. Facebook page(UPDATED: June 25, 2022, JBS) (ADDED: June 7, 2015, JBS)

Chambers County

• Dempsey Farms - Strawberries
  Junction of Hwy 431 and Chambers Co. Rd. 28, Lafayette, AL 36862. Phone: (334) 444-7471. Email: dempseyfarm42@gmail.com. Open: Availability changes daily, Call ahead; typically March - May, Monday to Saturday from 2 pm to 6 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. Directions Junction of Hwy 431 & Chambers Co Rd 28(UPDATED: October 07, 2019, JBS) (ADDED: June 21, 2018, JBS)

Chilton County

• G & G Farms - UPDATE: December 26, 2016: The owner tells me they are now permanently closed strawberries, prepicked produce
  592 County Road 422, Clanton, AL 35045. Phone: . Open: permanently closed. Click here for a map and directions.
• Penton Farms - Sugar Hill Farms - Sugar Hill Farms - strawberries, U-pick and already picked, pumpkins
  3358 County Road 59, Verbena, AL 36091. Phone: 205-351-1480. Email: rcpenton80@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 2 pm, April 1 to May 31. Directions: From I-65 take exit 200 and head West 2.5 miles. The Strawberry Patch will be on the left. Payment: Cash, Check. You can pick your own strawberries or purchase a bucket already picked. We have 141,000 strawberry plants where you can bring the whole family and pick delicious strawberries or you can purchase them pre-picked. We also have a playground for children with slides, swings, and a large sandbox. This is a family owned and operated strawberry u-pick. 2019 prices: $9.00 a bucket u-pick and - truncated. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 205-389-3080 From I-65 take exit 200 and head West 2.5 miles. The Strawberry Patch will be on the leftYou can pick your own strawberries or purchase a bucket already picked. We have 141,000 strawberry plants where you can bring the whole family and pick delicious strawberries or you can purchase them pre-picked. We also have a playground for children with slides, swings, and a large sandbox. This is a family owned and operated strawberry u-pick. 2019 prices: $9.00 a bucket u-pick and $10.00 a bucket if we pick. We take cash, check, or credit (with a $1 transaction fee)(UPDATED: October 19, 2020 JBS)
• Sugar Hill U-Pick Farm - strawberries
  3358 Co Rd 59, Verbena, AL 36091. Phone: 205-389-3080. Open: May each year. Click here for a map and directions. They have 200,000 strawberry plants where you can bring the whole family and pick or you can purchase them pre-picked. They also have a playground for children with slides, swings, and a large sandbox(ADDED: July 15, 2022, JBS)

Coffee County

• Country Best Farms - Strawberries, tomatoes available to pick (more items may be available).
  1711 Moates Road, Enterprise, AL 36330. Phone: 334-393-7224. Open: most of the year with different products. Click here for a map and directions. Country Best Farms A visitor says "Squash, new potatoes, tomatoes, and other vegetables for sale in their produce store. Also, Nancy Helms makes homemade cakes, pies and ice cream. I believe they are open They have had field trips from local schools visit their farm. I believe they do take credit cards. Bob and Nancy Helms and their son, Joshua are friendly, down to earth people. They sell their produce for reasonable prices and their produce is always freshly picked. Their farm and produce store are always clean. "

Covington County

• Edmondson's Farm - Strawberries, cantaloupe, field peas, tomatoes, okra and other seasonal vegetables
  1423 Race Track Road, Florala, AL 36442. Phone: 334-858-7963. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash/Check. Look for their signs on AL Hwy 55 and 331 South directing to the farm and an indication as to what's in season
  Comments from a visitor on July 23, 2009: "The Edmondson's strawberries are the best I've ever tasted. They are juicy, sweet, and beautiful in color/size. Their tomatoes are wonderful, too. Picking your own won't take long and the price is right, too."

Dale county

• Deloney Farms - - Strawberries (You pick or we pick)
  1121 Co Rd 34, Ozark, AL 36360. Phone: (334) 774-9918. Open: Monday to Saturday, 7 am to 5 pm. Directions: From US Hwy 231, take AL Hwy 27 south, 2 miles. . Click here for a map and directions.

Elmore County

• Oakview Farms - strawberries, blueberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, gift shop, events at your location (call for info)
  164 Dewberry Trail, Wetumpka, AL 36093. Phone: 334-567-9221. Email: oakview164@aol.com. Open: See their Facebook page link below for current strawberry and blueberry upick info; For blueberry U Pick, days open are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7 am to 1 pm. Directions: From US Highway 231 North in Wetumpka, turn onto Redland Road and go straight up the hill 5.3 miles. Oakview Farms sign will be on the corner of Redland Road and Dewberry Trail. Store is first driveway on Dewberry Trail. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Oakview Farms Facebook page. . See their Facebook page (link below) for current strawberry and blueberry upick info; For blueberry U Pick, days open are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7 am to 1 pm Fresh stone ground grains, lettuces, honey, free range eggs available year around. Fall organic vegetables availableGranary has a stone burr gristmill, general store and whole grain source, we also offer seasonal fruits and vegetables, Upicks, raw local honey, and more. believes in food safety and quality, sustainably grown vegetables and fruits, chemical free and organic grains, our raw honey, fresh farm eggs, and more. (UPDATED: June 25, 2018, JBS)

Geneva County

• Aplin Farms - strawberries(u-pick and pre-picked)and peaches, broad beans, broccoli, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, figs, flowers, onions, peas, pecans , peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, and prepicked produce, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
  2729 N Co Rd 49 , Dothan, AL 36305. Phone: 334-726-5104. Email: japlin4863@gmail.com. Open: Daily. Directions: From Dothan take Hwy 84W about 5.5 miles. Turn left on County Road 49. Go about 5.6 miles on Co Rd 49. The Farm will be on the right. Co Rd 49 is also known as South Bay Springs Road. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. click here for picking updates. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August, September, October Call for Hay Ride Times. Groups can make reservation Monday through Friday. Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch are open the Month of October. All other crops are available from May to October. Call for availabilityAlso operates greenhouse; we sell: Ferns, hanging baskets, & many other types of plant in the spring and Mums in the fall (UPDATED: October 20, 2020 JBS)
• Charles E. Carroll - - Strawberries
  3204 Willow Creek Road, Dothan, AL 36305. Phone: (334) 792-0761. Open: April 10-May 30, Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm. Directions: Hwy 52 West of Malvern. . Click here for a map and directions.
• Little Sweets Strawberry Farm In Slocomb - Strawberries
  3204 Willow Creek Road, Dothan, AL 36305. Phone: 334-618-8365. Open: Monday - Saturday 8 Am - 5:30 Pm April 1 - June 10. Directions: FROM DOTHAN TAKE HIGHWAY 52 WEST, GO THROUGH MALVERN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, EAST OF SLOCOMB ON HIGHWAY 52. . Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate phone: 334-792-0761 Click here for a map(ADDED: May 28, 2017, JBS)
• Three Queens Farm - strawberries
  3067 Co Rd 6, Black, AL 36314. Phone: (334) 684-3008. Email: sandcturner@centurytel.net. Open: starting in April, 7 days a week, Mon-Thurs from 9 am to 6 pm; Sat 8 am - 6 pm, Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. East of Geneva on AL Hwy 52, right on Co Rd 4 & left on Co Rd 6, approx. 3.5 miles to farm, look for sign(ADDED: June 21, 2018, JBS)
• Waterberry Farm - beans, flowers, strawberries
  1449 N. Morris Street, Slocomb, AL 36375. Phone: 334-886-2454. Email: phennig@sw.rr.com. Open: Tuesday-Saturday 8 am to 5 pm and Sunday 1 pm to 4 pm Strawberries and Beans: November-May. Directions: From Hwy 52 east in Slocomb,turn right onto North Morris street. Drive 2&12 miles, Waterberry Farm will be on your left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. From Hwy 52 east in Slocomb,turn right onto North Morris street. Drive 2&1/2 miles, will be on your leftCrops are usually available in January, February, March, April, May, November, December Flowers March-May We use natural practices, but are not yet certified OrganicWe are the Wiregrass area's only vertical strawberry patch. Our berries are grown hydroponically in a greenhouse. They can be picked with no bending or kneeling! We also have lettuce, arugala, and herbs.

Houston County

• Shiver's - - Strawberries, vegetables
  19430 US Hwy 84E, Gordon, AL 36343. Phone: (334)522-3756. Open: May 1 - Oct, Monday to Saturday, 7 am to 7 pm, Sunday 1 pm to 7 pm. Directions: From Medical Center travel E on Hwy 84E approximately 15 miles. See signs on right. . Click here for a map and directions. Tomatoes, peaches, squash, strawberries, field & sweet corn, peas, butterbeans, eggplant, peppers, okra.

Tallapoosa County

• Sweet Pick'ins Farm - strawberries, U-pick and already picked
  847 Old Miller\'s Ferry Road, Dadeville, AL 36853. Phone: 334-707-8220. Email: tapandedie@sweetpickinsfarm.com. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: From Dadeville take Highway 280 West, turn right on North Loop Road, turn left on to Old Miller\'s Ferry Road. The farm is one mile off Highway 280. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Sweet Pick'ins Farm Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 334-750-1401 From Dadeville take Highway 280 West, turn right on North Loop Road, turn left on to Old Miller's Ferry Road. The farm is one mile off Highway 280 Strawberries beginning around mid-March until May; Green Onions beginning in April and going through May; Sweet Onions beginning in May; Cantaloupes from June through September; Watermelons in July and August; Fall Tomatoes starting mid-August; Turnips and Greens starting mid-September; Collards starting in October. 2019 prices: $10.00/gallon U-Pick $13.00/gallon We-Pick. Again this year, we are NOT raising our prices!!! $1.00 extra if you keep the basket. Please call ahead if you want the berries already picked. We are short of pickers here at the beginning but hope to find help very soon! (UPDATED: June 25, 2019, JBS)

 

Strawberry

Strawberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S. strawberries typically peak during April in Florida and Texas, May in the deep South, and in early June in middle sections and later June in the far North and Canada. Keep in mind that crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce good local strawberries, producers depend on ideal spring weather conditions. 

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - strawberries 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 strawberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   
   
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping strawberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
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.

Tips on How to Pick Strawberries

1. Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.

2. With the stem broken about one-half inch from the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.

3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. 

4. Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.

5. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick strawberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Be careful that your feet and knees do not damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
   
2. Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
   
3. To help the farmers, also remove from the plants berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury or other defects and place them between the rows behind you. If they are left in the plants, the rot will quickly spread to other berries.
   
4. Berries to be used immediately may be picked any time, but if you plan to hold the fruit for a few days, try to pick in the early morning or on cool, cloudy days. Berries picked during the heat of the day become soft, are easily bruised and will not keep well.
   
5. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunshine any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. Strawberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.
   
6. For interesting and fun strawberry facts and trivia from the California Strawberry Commission, click here!

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the caps (green tops) off the others and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) See this page about how to freeze strawberries.
4. If you like the strawberries you picked, ask the farm what variety they planted, and not the weather conditions the week or two before. The flavor of a strawberry is affected by the variety, the weather and the degree of ripeness when picked.
5. Now, get ready to make strawberry jam. It is VERY easy - especially with our free strawberry jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy.

Strawberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Strawberries

• How to freeze strawberries!
• Strawberry jam (with pectin) (uses less sugar or honey and less cooking)
• Strawberry jam (without pectin) (requires much more sugar and cooking)
• Strawberry (and other berry) jams without sugar
• Strawberry jelly
• Strawberry-rhubarb jam!
• Homemade strawberry ice cream (regular, low fat, nonfat, low sugar, vanilla and even gelato)
• Canning strawberries
• Make gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries
• How to make fruit juice -  strawberry and other berries
• Strawberry pie filling
• Strawberry pie
• Easy Rhubarb-Strawberry pie
• Fig-strawberry jam
• Fig-strawberry jam, made with Jello gelatin

Strawberry Facts, Measurements and Tips

• Picking the best strawberries: Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries DO NOT continue ripen after they are picked! In the photo, only the berry on the far right is completely ripe.
• Strawberry festivals: Most areas that grow strawberries have a strawberry festival, at which you can taste all kinds of fresh strawberry foods, pies, jams, cakes - and most commonly, fresh strawberry shortcake.  To find out where and when there is one near you, see this page for a list of strawberry festivals, sorted by state!
• Strawberries measurements: government agriculture websites tell us that
  1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups and is about the same as 1 liter and
  1 quart of fresh strawberries weighs 1 lbs to 1.25 lbs (or 450 to 600 g). Of course, the weight varies on variety and weather conditions. 
  1 quart is normally enough for 4 servings, although I'll admit my son can eat 1 pint by himself!
• How much to pick? In general, 1 quart of fresh, whole, just-picked strawberries = approximately 3.5 cups hulled, whole berries. In other words, removing the caps/hulls and the occasional mushy berry means you lose 1/4 cup to 1/2 (it depends how much fruit you remove with the hull) or about 7 to 12% of every quart you pick.
• One cup of strawberries contains only about 50 calories
• U-pick strawberries are much healthier than store-bought.  Consumer reports says store bought strawberries have so many pesticide and fungicide residues on they, that they don't recommend you eat them at all!
• U-pick strawberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. 1 lbs of fresh strawberries is about 2/3 of a quart.
• It takes about  10 to 15 minutes to pick a quart, if the berries are reasonably plentiful
• The strawberry plant adapts to wide variety of soil conditions, but does not tolerate drought well, and the berries quickly rot if the weather is rainy. For this reason, the plants are usually grown on raised beds through plastic mulch!
• Cultivation of strawberries began in Europe in the 1300's, but the berry only became very popular in the early 1900's in California.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as strawberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
• You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible.  Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
• Want to grow your own strawberries?  Here's an article about how to: Strawberries are an Excellent Fruit for the Home Garden, HYG-1424-98!
• See this page for many more fun and interesting strawberry facts, nutritional information and trivia

Other weird strawberry facts

• Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
• Strawberries were originally called strewberries because the fruit was 'strewn' amongst the leaves of the plant.
• California is king of strawberry productions because: California produces 75 percent of the nation's strawberry crops; one billion pounds of strawberries each year.  If all the strawberries produced in California in one year were laid berry to berry, they would go around the world 15 times. Each acre of land in California in strawberry production produces an average of 21 tons of strawberries annually, with a total of 23,000 acres of strawberries planted in California each year.

More conversions

1 pint (2 cups)  of fresh whole strawberries

• = about 8 oz (1/2 lb) of strawberries
• = 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
• = 1 cup pureed strawberries
• = 12-14 large strawberries

2 quarts of fresh strawberries are needed for a 9" pie

A 10 oz package of frozen berries is about the same as 1 cup of sliced fresh strawberries

References:

• University of Illinois Extension
• Driscolls
• Ohio State University Extension
• Strawberries-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

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