There is nothing like fruit that has just been harvested! The smell, the taste, the look, and even greater pride comes when you are the one who picked the succulent crop that you have on your hand (extra points for the win if it was a family event and the kids had a lot of fun while doing so).
U-pick is a term that farms use to describe the possibility of the general public choosing their own produce, and paying for it after they have picked it. Not every farm in South Carolina offers this, but the ones that do, normally provide families with a morning or an afternoon full of happiness and good times.
Here in South Carolina, we are super lucky that the weather is pleasant throughout so many months, and that the winters are mild. As a result, we have fruits in season to collect for most of the year. Last year I had the opportunity to visit 10 farms around the State of South Carolina, where I had the opportunity to enjoy the following:
1. Strawberries
Strawberry Season in South Carolina is BIG! It normally happens between the months of April, May and the first part of June. Although this year, I was surprised to be able to go strawberry picking in March. Strawberry fields are abundant around the Midlands, both in Richland (Cottle Farms) and Lexington (Clinton Sease Farms), and even as far as Chester (Cotton Hills Farm) counties (to name a few farms that offer this). Normally, a gallon of u-pick strawberries costs between $15-$18, but prices can vary from farm to farm.
2. Blueberries
There are a few farms around the state where you can harvest this delicious fruit. Blueberries are normally in season during the months of June, July, and August (when Strawberry season is over). And, it’s amazing to see the change of colors during the whole ripening process from greenish-yellow to pink, to dark purple. Some blueberry farms in our area include O’B Joyful Farm in Eastover and Hickory Bluff Berry Farm in Holly Hill.
3. Peaches
Amazingly, and hard to believe for many, South Carolina is the second-largest producer of peaches in the country (just behind California). During the summer, some farms allow the general public to engage in selecting and taking home the produce of their choice. Normally, peach picking season runs from June through August. A favorite farmland offering u-pick peaches is Fishers Orchard in Greer, SC.
4. Apples
Apple harvesting happens around the month of September. Although most of the Midlands have a climate too warm for apple trees, we do have an opportunity to pick apples within a one-hour drive at a farm located in York County (Windy Hill Orchard). And, if you are feeling a little more adventurous, go ahead and visit one of the many orchards located in the Upstate (Greenville metro area), near the mountains.
5. Pumpkins
Pumpkins are another big crop here in SC, as, together with apples, they mark the start of fall and everything fall-related (pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin muffins, etc.). Many (but not all) of the fields where you can pick strawberries offer the opportunity to pick your own pumpkins. Just be aware that unlike strawberries, which are small, light, and easy to pick by young children, pumpkins are big and heavy, so toddlers might have a harder time during this activity (unless they find a tiny one).
