While you can buy fruits and vegetables at grocery stores year-round, why not pick your own when they are in season and support farms in Northern Virginia? The region offers a great variety, from sour cherries to crisp peaches to cool cucumbers. Here are five farms where you can pick your favorite summer produce.
Great Country Farms
Located in Bluemont, Great Country Farms is a 400-acre working farm complete with pick-your-own produce. The strawberries (May), raspberries (June). And blackberries (mid- to late July), are grown without chemicals. Come in July for peaches and in August for potatoes, then finish again in September for apples and in October for pumpkins. You can pick strawberries ($4.99 a pound), starting in mid-May. The farm’s admission price includes visits with baby bunnies, lambs, and goats, as well as a 12-acre play area. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 18780 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont, Admission at the gate: $14 for ages 18-54, $12 for ages 3-17, $12 for 55+, free for under 3; Advance tickets are $2 cheaper online.
Hollin Farms
Hollin Farms is a three-generational family farm in Fauquier County. Open from late-May through October, the farm specializes in a variety of pick-your-own fruits and vegetables, Angus cattle, and pasture-raised beef. In late May and June, you’ll be able to get your hands on sweet and tart cherries, as well as some vegetables, including cabbage, peas, and kale. However, it’s during the months of July and August that you won’t want to miss a trip to the farm. With Japanese plums, Asian pears, tomatoes, okra, and eggplant, your summer produce will surely be at the top of its game. The farm’s hours and costs for pick-your-own produce have not been posted yet. 1524 Snowden Rd., Delaplane
Valley View Farm
At Valley View Farm, you will find a market with a country store and a tasting room, an adopt-a-hive program, and a pick-your-own orchard. Once late June hits, you’ll be surrounded by blooming blueberries and pie cherries. In mid-July through August, yellow free stone and white peaches will be ripe. Backberries will be ready to pick in August. Open 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. You pay for what you pick 1550 Leeds Manor Rd., Delaplane
Sprouting Roots Farm
Sprouting Roots, a farm run by women, grows seasonal Indian vegetables, greens, and herbs in Loudoun County. Tomatoes, bitter and bottle gourds, green chilies, eggplant, and cucumbers are just some of the vegetables you’ll find at the farm, which also has a wide array of flowers, including lilies and marigolds, and herbs. You can find the farm on land at Fabbioli Cellars. The produce season starts in June. The farm is open 9 a.m. to noon, by appointment only. 15669 Limestone School Rd., Leesburg
Yankey Farms
Who doesn’t love strawberries in the spring and pumpkins in the fall? At Yankey Farms, a fresh market produce farm in Prince William County, you’ll find juicy strawberries perfect for making jam, jellies, and pies. Strawberry season runs into early to mid-June. Containers are provided. You can get a quart for $8 or a gallon bucket for $30. When the month of October returns, you can wander through the pumpkin patch to find the ones you love. But the fun doesn’t stop there, especially if you have kiddos. The farm operates a cow train and corn maze scavenger hunt. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays with no reservations needed. Reservations needed on Saturdays, and the farm is closed on Sundays. 11812 Bristow Rd., Bristow
Feature image courtesy Hollins Farm
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