Top Spots To Pick Summer Fruit In Houston
The late summer is a slower time for pick-your-own farms in the Houston area because with our high heat and humidity, the only fruits ready for picking are a few peach varieties, figs and some late blueberries. Many of the best places for fruit picking open early so you can get out and get your fruit before the heat of the afternoon. For all pick-your-own farms, call before visiting because inclement weather and fruit availability may limit the times the farms are open.
Matt Family Orchard
21110 Bauer Hockley Road
Tomball, TX 77377
(281) 351-7676
www.mattfamilyorchard.com
Matt Family Orchard grows mostly tree fruits as well as a few berries, but after the middle of July, your best bets for picking at this farm will be the fruits on the trees. For the rest of summer, you can find jujubes, Asian pears and figs ready for harvest in July and August. Some figs may still be available through September, too. During the fall, you can pick persimmons and citrus. Because the orchard does not charge a fee to pick fruit, you only pay for what you harvest, and you may bring cash, check or a credit card like Visa, Master Card or Discover to purchase your fruit.
21110 Bauer Hockley Road
Tomball, TX 77377
(281) 351-7676
www.mattfamilyorchard.com
Matt Family Orchard grows mostly tree fruits as well as a few berries, but after the middle of July, your best bets for picking at this farm will be the fruits on the trees. For the rest of summer, you can find jujubes, Asian pears and figs ready for harvest in July and August. Some figs may still be available through September, too. During the fall, you can pick persimmons and citrus. Because the orchard does not charge a fee to pick fruit, you only pay for what you harvest, and you may bring cash, check or a credit card like Visa, Master Card or Discover to purchase your fruit.
Atkinson Farms
3217 Spring Cypress Road
Spring, TX 77388
(832) 381-8202
www.atkinsonfarm.com
Atkinson Farms is open for the season from March 1 through October 31 with fruit picking and other activities available. There is also a market at the farm where you can purchase the fruits and vegetables grown there without the labor of harvesting them yourself. Atkinson Farms offers a list of seasonality of certain fruits and vegetables so you can know what to expect when you visit. As always, contact the farm ahead of time to see what is available for picking and what is only sold at its farmers' market.
Berryland Farms
2877 FM 1941
Winnie, TX 77665
(713) 551-6360
www.berrylandfarmsoftexas.com
Berryland Farms in Winnie usually grows peaches, blueberries, blackberries and tomatoes, but phone first for availability because weather plays a role in what comes to fruit. For instance, due to the unseasonably cold winter of 2014, Berryland Farms will not have peaches because the young trees were severely frost damaged. The farm is open six days a week and closed on Mondays. If you are concerned about how your summer fruit was grown, Berryland Farms assures you that no pesticides were used on its plants.
2877 FM 1941
Winnie, TX 77665
(713) 551-6360
www.berrylandfarmsoftexas.com
Berryland Farms in Winnie usually grows peaches, blueberries, blackberries and tomatoes, but phone first for availability because weather plays a role in what comes to fruit. For instance, due to the unseasonably cold winter of 2014, Berryland Farms will not have peaches because the young trees were severely frost damaged. The farm is open six days a week and closed on Mondays. If you are concerned about how your summer fruit was grown, Berryland Farms assures you that no pesticides were used on its plants.
Moorhead's Blueberry Farm
19531 Moorhead Road
Conroe, TX 77302
(281) 572-1265
www.moorheadsblueberryfarm.com
As the name suggests, you can go to Moorhead's Blueberry Farm to pick summer blueberries. This farm in Conroe is a short drive north of Houston on I-45. Before you go, phone the farm or check the Farm News page on the website for the latest updates on fruit availability and operating hours. You will only pay for the fruit that you pick at the farm, but bring your cash because credit cards are not accepted.
19531 Moorhead Road
Conroe, TX 77302
(281) 572-1265
www.moorheadsblueberryfarm.com
As the name suggests, you can go to Moorhead's Blueberry Farm to pick summer blueberries. This farm in Conroe is a short drive north of Houston on I-45. Before you go, phone the farm or check the Farm News page on the website for the latest updates on fruit availability and operating hours. You will only pay for the fruit that you pick at the farm, but bring your cash because credit cards are not accepted.
Neal's Berry Farm
24527 1/2 Gosling Road
Spring, TX 77389
(281) 255-3699
www.nealsberryfarm.com
Neal's Berry Farm is one of the few Harris County pick-your-own farms. This farm opens for berry picking season, which this year began in May. Please pay attention to signs that limit the public access areas because this farm must maintain private areas to continue to grow the produce it sells at local farmers' markets. Hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and until 2 p.m. on Sundays last until the end of July. While at this farm, you can pick blackberries during the summer, but if you arrive and the berries are gone, be sure to check for fresh vegetables, eggs, jams, jellies and honeys from the market at the farm.
Crystal Hessong ia a freelance writer and a lifelong, fourth generation Houstonian. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
