Go Berry Picking – CSOA’s Summer Bucket List

Summertime in Georgia is  the “ ripe” time to hit the farms for strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches and more.  CSOA has hand picked our favorite farms to take for a day of fresh air and berry-stained fingers near Atlanta.

Washington Farms
At this Watkinsville farm, spring strawberry season begins in mid-April and comes not only with buckets for berry picking, but also four super Saturdays where activities include wagon rides, a petting zoo, a cow train, a corn box, and more. Go later in the summer for blackberries, and pick your pumpkins there in the fall. Just be sure you pick before you play to make sure that the fields don’t get picked out early! Open Monday-Saturdays 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed Sundays.

5691 Hog Mountain Rd.
Bogart, Ga 30622
washingtonfarms.net

Southern Belle Farm
Head to this 330-acre family farm in McDonough for pick-your-own berries, plus a country market, jumping pillows, a cow train, pedal cars, a hayride, a giant tube slide, and more (all on the weekends). Admission to the farm activities is $8/ person, but the berries are free to pick (you pay for what you pick after you’re finished picking). Monday-Saturdays 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sundays 1-6 p.m.

1658 Turner Church Rd.
McDonough, Ga
southernbellefarm.com

Mercier Orchards
This family orchard, now in its 4th generation, begins picking season with strawberries in mid to late August, then offers blueberries, blackberries, peaches, and apples through the summer and into the fall. Go for the u-picks, but stay for the bakery and deli, market store, and now a farm winery and cider house.  Open seven days a week from 7 a.m.-6 p.m., but u-picks are available on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., weather permitting.

8660 Blue Ridge Dr.
Blue Ridge, Ga 30513
mercier-orchards.com

Jaemor Farms
While they only open their farm for strawberry picking one day a year—this year on May 5—the folks at Jaemor Farm know how to throw a party. In addition to picking, the kiddos will go bananas over the hayrides, petting zoo, farm slide, skeeball and duck races, while you can taste a couple of new recipes at the strawberry cook-off and check out the local vendors at the festival portion of the farm. Don’t miss the homemade strawberry milkshakes and fresh milk samples from Mountain Fresh Creamery’s mobile dairy unit.

5340 Cornelia Hwy.
Alto, Ga 30510
jaemorfarms.com