Best DFW Places To Pick Summer Fruit
A batch of strawberries. (credit: Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
Although the DFW metroplex experienced a very harsh winter this past season, some area farms are still chugging right along. With the warmer seasons in full effect and families searching for new and exciting outings for their children, U-pick farms seem to be the perfect relaxing yet exciting choice. Choose from some of DFW's best farms for picking blackberries, blueberries, peaches and plums and see what all of the fuss is about. Venture to some of these award-winning farms and orchards to get a fun, educational and tasty experience on the benefits of farming and gardening. After your picking adventure, browse through selections of homemade preserves, jellies and jams at these farms to take a bit of country goodness home with you for satisfying enjoyment. Nonetheless, here are the top spots for summer fruit picking in DFW.
Duck Creek Blackberry Farm
5037 Duck Creek Road
Sanger, TX 76266
(940) 458-3217
www.duckcreekblackberries.comJust 45 minutes outside of Dallas in Denton County lies Duck Creek Blackberry Farm—a family farm with a great reputation in the DFW area for exceptional berry picking and an ultra-variety of blackberry families. With over 5,000 blackberry plants, Duck Creek offers its visitors a chance to experience a unique blend of thornless hybrid berries from Arapaho to Apache to Natchez. While only blackberries are for sale, families and children are invited to view the farm's pecan, apricot, peach, pear and plum trees while on site. Admittedly, the past winter was harsh on many of the DFW-area farms' plants and trees, resulting in very low blackberry blooms. However, this top picking farm remains highly rated and updates its website daily to advise of its opening dates and times, including the status of the blackberry harvest.
5037 Duck Creek Road
Sanger, TX 76266
(940) 458-3217
www.duckcreekblackberries.comJust 45 minutes outside of Dallas in Denton County lies Duck Creek Blackberry Farm—a family farm with a great reputation in the DFW area for exceptional berry picking and an ultra-variety of blackberry families. With over 5,000 blackberry plants, Duck Creek offers its visitors a chance to experience a unique blend of thornless hybrid berries from Arapaho to Apache to Natchez. While only blackberries are for sale, families and children are invited to view the farm's pecan, apricot, peach, pear and plum trees while on site. Admittedly, the past winter was harsh on many of the DFW-area farms' plants and trees, resulting in very low blackberry blooms. However, this top picking farm remains highly rated and updates its website daily to advise of its opening dates and times, including the status of the blackberry harvest.
Windy Creek Vineyards
3295 Union Hill Road
Sanger, TX 76266
(940) 458-7234
www.windycreekvineyards.comYet another farm located in Sanger and situated near Ray Roberts Lake, Windy Creek Vineyard hails as another go-to farming staple outside of DFW for summer picking. Known for its great selection of organic plums and peaches as well as grapes for picking, Windy Creek Vineyard is a location that is frequented often by those seeking some of the sweetest fruit in all of DFW and its surrounding areas. Current reports from Windy Creek have surfaced that the past winter was harsh for the farm's plums but the peaches appear "promising." Guests are invited to call the farm directly for status updates and picking reports prior to visiting the location.
3295 Union Hill Road
Sanger, TX 76266
(940) 458-7234
www.windycreekvineyards.comYet another farm located in Sanger and situated near Ray Roberts Lake, Windy Creek Vineyard hails as another go-to farming staple outside of DFW for summer picking. Known for its great selection of organic plums and peaches as well as grapes for picking, Windy Creek Vineyard is a location that is frequented often by those seeking some of the sweetest fruit in all of DFW and its surrounding areas. Current reports from Windy Creek have surfaced that the past winter was harsh for the farm's plums but the peaches appear "promising." Guests are invited to call the farm directly for status updates and picking reports prior to visiting the location.
Henrietta Creek Orchard
14255 Old Denton Road
Roanoke, TX 76262
(817) 439-3202
www.henriettacreekorchard.comFamily owned and operated, Henrietta Creek Orchard is possibly one of the more inviting orchards in the DFW metroplex and its surrounding cities. Offering a vast variety of apples along with peaches, this family-oriented orchard is prime for a picking outing with younger children or individually. Currently, peaches at Henrietta Creek Orchard are ripe for picking with four varieties of apples being primed for fall. Conclude your tour by purchasing some of the orchard's homemade preserves, honey and fruit butters or jellies to successfully round out your picking adventure.Related: Best DFW Nurseries For Starting Your Own Garden
14255 Old Denton Road
Roanoke, TX 76262
(817) 439-3202
www.henriettacreekorchard.comFamily owned and operated, Henrietta Creek Orchard is possibly one of the more inviting orchards in the DFW metroplex and its surrounding cities. Offering a vast variety of apples along with peaches, this family-oriented orchard is prime for a picking outing with younger children or individually. Currently, peaches at Henrietta Creek Orchard are ripe for picking with four varieties of apples being primed for fall. Conclude your tour by purchasing some of the orchard's homemade preserves, honey and fruit butters or jellies to successfully round out your picking adventure.Related: Best DFW Nurseries For Starting Your Own Garden
Blueberry Hill Farms
10268 FM 314
Edom, TX 75756
(903) 852-6175
www.blueberryhillfarms.comLocated in Edom, Blueberry Hill Farms has been in operations since 1982 and attracts not only local residents but out-of-state guests to its farm. This award-winning specialty U-pick blueberries and blackberries farm has been the recipient of not only extensive media coverage, but of numerous awards for its picking farm. While Blueberry Hill (similar to other farms) experienced an extremely harsh winter, the owners are hopeful that a late crop of blueberries will be ripe for picking as well as the blackberries which appear to be in good shape. After honing in on your picking skills, stop by the country store to indulge in blueberry lemonade, salsas and jams—it will be well worth the experience.
10268 FM 314
Edom, TX 75756
(903) 852-6175
www.blueberryhillfarms.comLocated in Edom, Blueberry Hill Farms has been in operations since 1982 and attracts not only local residents but out-of-state guests to its farm. This award-winning specialty U-pick blueberries and blackberries farm has been the recipient of not only extensive media coverage, but of numerous awards for its picking farm. While Blueberry Hill (similar to other farms) experienced an extremely harsh winter, the owners are hopeful that a late crop of blueberries will be ripe for picking as well as the blackberries which appear to be in good shape. After honing in on your picking skills, stop by the country store to indulge in blueberry lemonade, salsas and jams—it will be well worth the experience.
Mainstay Farm
1004 W. Bethesda Road
Cleburne, TX 76031
(817) 295-6772
www.mainstayfarm.comIn its past life, it was a dairy farm, but now Mainstay Farm reigns as a multi-faceted location offering everything from sheep racing to pumpkin patches to, of course, blackberry picking. While blackberry picking is singularly done during June of every year, Mainstay also offers specialty honey harvested onsite from its very own hives. Located five miles south of Burleson, this live and bustling farm owned by the Jim and Marianna Wilson family is one founded on family principles and a solid foundation. Venture out to Mainstay for blackberry picking and then explore the property which services its own gift shop and plate and filling station to perfectly complete your family adventure.Related: Best Gardens In North Texas
1004 W. Bethesda Road
Cleburne, TX 76031
(817) 295-6772
www.mainstayfarm.comIn its past life, it was a dairy farm, but now Mainstay Farm reigns as a multi-faceted location offering everything from sheep racing to pumpkin patches to, of course, blackberry picking. While blackberry picking is singularly done during June of every year, Mainstay also offers specialty honey harvested onsite from its very own hives. Located five miles south of Burleson, this live and bustling farm owned by the Jim and Marianna Wilson family is one founded on family principles and a solid foundation. Venture out to Mainstay for blackberry picking and then explore the property which services its own gift shop and plate and filling station to perfectly complete your family adventure.Related: Best Gardens In North Texas
Leah Frazier is a freelance writer covering all things Dallas. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
