Pick Your Own
Several farms in the area offer “pick your own produce”, but each farm varies in what they grow. To get more information on Virginia farms visit Virginia Grown and click on the county you are interested in learning about. Listed below are the most popular pick your own destinations for Richmonders.
Helpful Hint: Some of these farms require an admission fee in addition to the cost of the produce you purchase. Check each website for more details.
FALL
- apples and pumpkins:
26002 Pear Orchard Road, Moseley, VA 23120 Phone: 804.739.3831
The Chesterfield Berry Farm offers pick your own pumpkins in the Fall. This farm does charge and admission fee, but it includes lots of fun; wagon rides, pig races, a straw play area, & animal corrals. In addition to some events that require additional fees - the moonbounce, barrel train rides. etc. have an additional charge. Concessions are also available.
Special Events: The Chesterfield Berry Farm has four annual harvests during the year. The two most popular are in the fall and spring. The Autumn Harvest Fest, Pumpkin Festival and Family Fun Weekends generally fall during the end of September through October. It includes wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, an animal barn, giant corn maze, food, and other fun activities. The farm website is very informative, click on ‘Farm Fun’ then ‘Special Events’ to see all the details.
12607 Old Ridge Road, Beaverdam, Virginia 23015 Phone: 804.227.3601
The Ashland Berry Farm has pumpkin picking in October with free hayrides to and from the field. In addition they have haunted evenings for the older kids and adults. They also have the largest Christmas Shop in the area with over 50 different themes, hundreds of artificial tress (including prelit and fiber optic trees), and thousands of Christmas ornaments. The Ashland Berry Farm no longer has pick your own strawberries.
1435 Carters Mountain Trail, Charlottesville, VA Phone: 434.977.1833
Located 1,150 feet above Charlottesville, near Monticello, Carter Mountain Orchard is a wonderful place to enjoy picking peaches in the summer and apples in the fall. You can pick all types of apples including Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Winesap, and Fuji. Make sure to call ahead or check the website and find out what’s in season if you are looking to pick a specific variety. And be certain to leave time to visit the country store and bakery – full of all kinds of goodies including apple cider doughnuts, fresh cider, Virginia made jams and jellies, apple butter and local crafts.
Helpful hints: Wear layered clothing; the weather can change drastically from morning to afternoon and into evening. And remember comfortable walking shoes for the hills.
Special Events: The Apple Harvest Festival is usually two weekends in the September/October time frame.
2552 Dickie Road, Roseland, Virginia 22967 Phone: 434.277.5516
Located in Nelson County, the Dickie Brothers Orchard has been in the same family since 1752. They grow over 100 acres of apples and have over 15 different varieties, including McIntosh, Paula Red, Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Stayman, Rome, Winesap, Fuji, Empire, Granny Smith, Honeycrsip, Pink Lady, Golden Supreme and Jonagold. Harvest begins early August and ends late October. You can check the website or call to see what's ripe now.
If you have a chance, visit Crabtree Falls, about 10 miles from the orchard. Hike the 2 mile trail and see the cascades that fall over 1,200 feet. If your feeling like less of a challenge, there is an overlook, along a paved path, about 500 feet from the parking lot.
Helpful hints: Wear layered clothing; the weather can change drastically from morning to afternoon and into evening. And remember comfortable walking shoes for the hills.
4506 Millers Lane, Richmond, VA 23231 Phone: 804.222.2285
Bring your family to The Pumpkin Patch to pick your own special pumpkin. The Pumpkin Patch offers hay wagon rides through the pumpkin fields and if you are brave enough through the Haunted Barn, ending the trip at the Straw Bale Maze. Decorative fall items are also available including mums, corn stalks, straw bales, gourds, and Indian corn.
SPRING
- strawberries & cherries:
26002 Pear Orchard Road, Moseley, VA 23120 Phone: 804.739.3831
The Chesterfield Berry Farm offers pick your own strawberries in the Spring. This farm does charge and admission fee, but it includes lots of fun; wagon rides, pig races, a straw play area, & animal corrals. In addition to some events that require additional fees - the moonbounce, barrel train rides. etc. have an additional charge. Concessions are also available.
Special Events: The Spring Harvest Festival and Strawberry Festival are in May. The farm website is very informative, click on ‘Farm Fun’ then ‘Special Events’ to see all the details.
3622 Darbytown Court, Richmond, VA 23231 Phone: 804.795.9979
Located in the east end of Henrico county, visit The Berry Patch for a traditional, non-commercialized pick-your-own strawberry experience. Children can pick with parents and the younger ones can enjoy the play equipment and toys in the shaded area in front of the house. The Berry Patch is generally open the first or second week of May – but call ahead or check the website to make sure the berries are ready.
23298 Jefferson Davis Highway, Ruther Glen, VA 22546 Phone: 804.448.0395
Mount Olympus offers pick your own strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. Call or visit the website for details on what's in season.
1351 Greenwood Road, Crozet, VA Phone: 434.823.1583
Chiles Peach Orchard offers pick your own strawberries in May and peaches from July through August. While you’re there, visit the market for seasonal fresh local vegetables and gourmet goodies, including jams and jellies, strawberry donuts, apple butter and apple cider, gift baskets, and local crafts. And a trip is not complete without a visit to the ice cream parlor!
Special Events: The two most popular days to visit in August are the Annual Homemade Peach Ice Cream Days, made and sold by the Albemarle-Charlottesville Pilot Club.
3526 Spring Valley Road, Afton, VA Phone: 434.960.9443
Owned and operated by the Chiles' Family, the Spring Valley Orchard offers pick your own cherries. Visit the website for more details and directions, or call the picking hotline.
SUMMER- blueberries, blackberries, peaches:
17210 Genito Road, Moseley, VA 23120 Phone: 804.739.2037
The Swift Creek Berry Farm offers pick your own blueberries in July. Visit the website, and click on 'blueberries', for details about when the season opens and farm hours.
23298 Jefferson Davis Highway, Ruther Glen, VA 22546 Phone: 804.448.0395
Mount Olympus offers pick your own strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. Call or visit the website for details on what's in season.
1351 Greenwood Road, Crozet, VA Phone: 434.823.1583
Chiles Peach Orchard offers pick your own peaches from July through August. While you’re there, visit the market for seasonal fresh local vegetables and gourmet goodies, including jams and jellies, apple butter and apple cider, gift baskets, and local crafts. And, a trip is not complete without a visit to the ice cream parlor!
Special Events: The two most popular days to visit in August are the Annual Homemade Peach Ice Cream Days, made and sold by the Albemarle-Charlottesville Pilot Club.
3526 Spring Valley Road, Afton, VA Phone: 434.960.9443
Owned and operated by the Chiles' Family, the Spring Valley Orchard offers pick your own cherries. Visit the website for more details and directions, or call the picking hotline.
26002 Pear Orchard Road, Moseley, VA 23120 Phone: 804.739.3831
The Chesterfield Berry Farm offers pick your own blackberries and tomatoes in the summer.
Special Events: The Chesterfield Berry Farm has four annual harvests during the year. The two most popular are in the fall and spring. The Spring Harvest Festival and Strawberry Festival are in May. The Autumn Harvest Fest, Pumpkin Festival and Family Fun Weekends generally fall during the end of September through October. It includes wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, an animal barn, giant corn maze, food, and other fun activities. The farm website is very informative, click on ‘Farm Fun’ then ‘Special Events’ to see all the details.
