Pick Your Own Produce at a U-Pick Farm in Asheville

Pick Your Own Produce

What could be better than standing in the late spring or summer sunshine, the wind brushing your face as you hold the ripest, juiciest strawberry you’ve ever seen in your hands? This simple pleasure can be had at several U-pick farms in the Asheville area where you can pick your own fresh, juicy produce.

Vacation cuisine can be about more than just ordering at a restaurant. All around Asheville, you’ll find people planting produce delicacies and opening up their farms and gardens to visitors. Many offer “U-pick,” or pick-your-own produce options for those wanting to explore off-the-beaten track spots across the mountains. There, you can see where food is grown, pick some yourself and treat yourself and your family to a unique experience.

Give each of these farms a call before you go, grab a cooler to stash your pickings, and head out into the fields this for some of the best locally grown produce you can find. Also, because pick-your-own produce options depend on the time of year, weather and crop yields, call to check if your favorite vegetable or fruit is available.

Where to Pick Your Own Produce

Summer

Best for: Blackberries, Blueberries, Flowers, Raspberries, Strawberries​

Where to Go:

• Cane Creek Valley Farm: This fifth generation, family-owned organic vegetable farm is located in Fletcher in the Cane Creek Community. The farm offers seasonal produce at its farm stand, a new on-site ice cream cafe that serves local Dynamite coffee and u-pick flowers during the summer season.
• Cloud 9 Farm: Once a family hobby farm, Cloud 9 Farm has transformed into a sustainable business located in Fletcher just outside of Asheville. During the summer months, the farm offers U-pick blueberries and has four vacation rentals on-site, as well as honey bees, fresh eggs and naturally raised Black Angus beef.
• Dogwood Hills Farm: This 10-acre farm in Weaverville offers pick-your-own blueberries, blackberries, concord grapes and dozens of apple varieties. The farm also offers a farmhouse for vacation rental.
• Flying Cloud Farm: This farm in Fairview has a roadside produce stand that often sells blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, melons, strawberries and other vegetables. From mid-May through mid-October, you can also pick your own flowers at the farm. 
• Long Branch Environmental Education Center: This center, located in Leicester, offers pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries. It also features workshops, a trout pond, hiking trails and waterfall and mountain views.
• The Berry Farm: Located in Marshall, this farm typically has black raspberries and blackberries for U-pick along with bottled water and vanilla ice cream available for purchase.
• The Never Ending Flower Farm: Located in Barnardsville in the Big Ivy community, just 20 minutes north of Asheville, this family-owned farm offers a u-pick flowers through an honor system from mid-May through October, as well as several flower workshops throughout the year.

Fall

Best for: Apples, Pumpkins

Where to Go:

• Apple Orchards: Farms, pick-your-own orchards, markets and agritourism attractions.
• Hickory Nut Gap Farm: Located in Fairview, just 20 minutes from Asheville, this scenic, working mountain farm raises grassfed beef and pasture raised pork and poultry. In the fall, the farm typically offers a corn maze and pumpkins for purchase. Shop at their local store on-site or sign up for a guided tour.
• Jeter Mountain Farm: This 411-acre working farm is located in Hendersonville just south of Asheville. Known for its expansive u-pick orchard, guests can enjoy Western North Carolina's delicious apples beginning in August through October. The farm also offers u-pick sunflowers, peaches, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries during the summer, along with a large covered kids play area, hard cider and apple cider donuts in the falls. 
• Sky Top Apple Orchard: The orchard, located in Flat Rock, offers apples for picking. The scenic farm also offers views of the mountains and orchard ponds; a “barnyard” area with sheep, goats, chickens and turkeys; farm tours and hayrides; and picnic areas.

If you can't make it to pick your own, try some of the Asheville area's innovative farm to table restaurants.