Where to find u-pick peaches, strawberries, blueberries and flowers in Delaware
Whether you want to fill your kitchen with farm-fresh produce or enjoy a day out in the warm weather, there are plenty of ways to support Delaware businesses and plan an outdoor adventure through u-pick offerings.
Throughout the year, farms across the state offer a variety of u-pick options, including fruits, vegetables and Christmas trees during the holidays.
While it's not time to think about Old Saint Nick again quite yet, you can indulge in summer's seasonal u-pick fun until then. To help, we've assembled a roundup to plan your farm-picking outings for the next few months.
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Note: Be sure to contact a farm or check their social media for current updates on what crops are available and when their u-pick activities are scheduled.
Recognized as a Delaware century family farm after opening in 1919, Fifer Orchards in Camden offers strawberry picking Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (exit by 5 p.m.) for the U-Pick experience. U-Play admission features yard games perfect for families, with picnic tables and restrooms for public use. Saturday admission requires an all-inclusive Spring Fest ticket.
You also can stop by the Farm Store to purchase local goodies and a selection of the orchard's fresh fruits and vegetables.
If you find yourself getting hungry after picking strawberries, the Farm Kitchen building sells lunch and dessert items including cider doughnuts, strawberry ice cream, apple cider slushies and homemade strawberry shortcakes.
Looking for another u-pick offering? Fifer Orchards Provides u-pick blueberries in June, u-pick peaches on Fridays and Saturdays in July and early August from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and u-pick flowers from July to mid-August Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Flower varieties include sunflowers and zinnias.
The farm uses its Facebook page to keep guests updated on daily picking conditions and orchard offerings.
1919 Allabands Mill Road, Camden, (302) 697-2141; fiferorchards.com/
In Smyrna, Hundred Acre Farms offers strawberry picking while they are in season. U-pick pricing is $5 per quart or $20 for a four-quart bucket. Contact the farm for u-pick availability prior to visiting.
This small family farm is located on about three acres of land and focuses on fruits, vegetables, bees, small batch jams and Christmas trees. Purchased in 1938, the farm is nearly a century old.
Following your day in the fields, check out some of their homemade honey jams that come in two strawberry flavors. Their red, black and blue jam is made with strawberries, blackberries and blueberries, and their strawberry apple jam, one of their most popular flavors, includes strawberries, apples, honey and no added sugar.
If you're unable to partake in a day of fruit picking but still want fresh local produce, Hundred Acre Farms offers a pick-up option so visitors can have their favorite farm produce set aside for them. All you need to do is reserve your items through the farm and they will deliver the order right to your car when you arrive.
2124 Vandyke Greenspring Road, Smyrna, (602) 689-6403; hundredacrefarms.org/
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In Harrington, Twisted Steel Cattle Co. LLC is a farm market specializing in homegrown beef, produce and other goods.
Strawberry picking is usually open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, but keep an eye on Twisted Steel's Facebook page for daily updates on picking conditions.
If you want more strawberry goodness, they offer prepicked strawberries by the quart, berries for dipping or that have been pre-dipped and fresh strawberry jam.
Preorder and pickup options also are available for any of their market offerings.
14255 S. DuPont Highway, Harrington, (302) 566-6943; www.facebook.com/TwistedSteelBeef/
Bennett Orchards is another location offering u-pick blueberries and peaches. This Frankford farm has six varieties of blueberries and sells produce at various farmers markets throughout the beach towns if you can't fit in a day of picking.
Keep tabs on their website for updates on u-pick offerings this summer.
31442 Peach Tree Lane, Frankford,(302) 732-3358; www.bennettorchards.com/.
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Kingsley Orchards in Frankford is well-known for several types of u-pick berries.
If you're new to the orchard or have never picked your own fruit before, find one of their farmers for a quick lesson on all things u-pick!
Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates on u-pick hours and availability.
24349 Blueberry Lane, Frankford, (302) 238-0105; www.kingsleyorchards.com/index.html.
Parsons Farms Produce in Dagsboro has u-pick strawberries, blueberries and peaches available in the spring and summer months.
To make the u-pick outing complete, they also have fresh beef for sale, a country store filled with fresh produce, ice cream, events and farm animals available for feeding and petting.
The farm's Facebook page will provide u-pick updates as the crops change.
30391 Armory Road, Dagsboro, (302) 732-3336; parsonsfarmsproduce.com/.
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Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: U-pick fruit, flower offerings at Delaware farms this spring, summer
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