This time of year, Tampeños enter into a shared frenzy for that shapeliest and most delicious of berries — the strawberry.
With fingers and mouths stained red, hungry Floridians embrace the berry-picking tradition. They take careful measure of each rosy morsel before it is snapped, personally, off the vine. There is something satisfying about harvesting food fresh from the source.
Lots of Florida farms are happy to indulge DIY hunters as they stalk those lush fields for buckets of berry booty. For strawberry seekers short on time, most farm stands will sell a flat of pre-picked berries.
Whatever a patron’s preference, the Greater Tampa Bay area offers a host of opportunities to enjoy nature’s candied red delicacies. host of opportunities to enjoy nature’s candied red delicacies, from simple farms to straight-up fairs.
Here is a list of strawberry-centric locations while the season is in full swing.
Florida Strawberry Festival
This is the big one — a berry behemoth, it might be said. Every year, Florida’s strawberry fanatics converge for a sweet celebration at the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City. This carnival lasts 11 days and serves approximately half a million visitors. This is a true fair with not only strawberries but major attractions like rides and live entertainment. This year, The Beach Boys, The Oak Ridge Boys, Sammy Hagar, John Anderson, Jake Owen and Lee Greenwood are just a few of the performers.
Where: 303 BerryFest Place, Plant City
When: Noon to 11 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, Monday, March 3 to 13
Parkesdale Market
Does Parkesdale Market offer the finest strawberry milkshakes in GTB? Locals swear to it. They will testify similarly about the shortcake. Lucky berry lovers can even become a strawberry king or queen for the day, complete with throne and crown.
Where: 3702 W. Baker St., Plant City
When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through April 17; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday April 18 to Oct. 31
JG Ranch
JG Ranch bills itself as a one-stop shop for “farm-to-table goods.” While most vegetables ought to meet a sink somewhere between farm and table, JG is not wrong. They offer u-pick strawberries plus a good many other fruits and vegetables.
Where: 17200 Wiscon Road, Brooksville
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday through April
Keel Farms
This idyllic farm and winery celebrates an ambitious range of natural goodies, from cattle to watermelons. The farm’s 35 acres is nothing to shake a berry bucket at. They put the space to good use. The proof? A bottle of Keel’s unique blueberry wine.
Where: 5202 Thonotosassa Road, Plant City
When: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday
Upicktopia
What began as a blueberry farm has grown into a 56-acre utopia. A lot of successful farms decide to install wineries, and Upicktopia is in the process of building its own tasting room.
Most strawberry-picking journeys are better when fueled with a little wine. There is no reason not to stock up on blueberries and blackberries along the way.
Where: 19125 Phillips Road, Masaryktown
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday through April 15
Hunsader Farms
A barn-style farm market, petting zoo, pumpkin festival, ice cream shop and playground come together for something altogether more than a mere farm. Hunsader was founded in 1967 and still has that once-upon-a-time-in-America thing going on.
Hunsader makes good on its promise to take visitors back to a time “when life was a little slower, a little sweeter and a lot simpler.”
Where: 5500 County Road 675, Bradenton
When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday
Starkey Farms
Starkey’s website features a picture of strawberries collected in a cowboy hat. This is not recommended berry-picking practice unless patrons wish to say howdy to the dry-cleaner. Still, it might be worth it just to collect a few of those Starkey strawberries, which positively glisten with invitation.
Where: 10730 Lake Blanche Drive, New Port Richey
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on specific days. Check the Starkey Farm Facebook for updates.
Locations opening soon for strawberry picking.
Passion Organics Farms
Passion’s Facebook page features countless positive reviews citing beautiful grounds, fresh produce and general organic goodness. Try Passion on a Saturday morning to see what their market has to offer.
Where: 11780 Tom Folsom Road, Thonotosassa
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday-Saturday, beginning March or April. Check the Strawberry Passion Farms Facebook for updates.
Three Son Farms
Three Son Farms is a family-run agricultural cooperative. While their sunflowers are noteworthy, they earn the biggest points for what they call a “strawberry pizza.” This is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. These marvelous confections are available by preorder.
Where: 3906 McIntosh Road, Dover
When: Coming in spring. Check the Three Son Farms Facebook for updates.
Spivey Farms
In 1969, Dennis Spivey was a humble pepper farmer with five acres of land. Today, Spivey Farms’ 100-plus acres churn out top-quality strawberries. The Spivey mascot is a strawberry man named Jammer who seems happy to represent a business that sells his brethren to hungry giants.
Where: 6101 S. County Road 39, South Plant City
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning in March. Check the Spivey Farms Facebook for updates.
5k Farms
5k Farms offers u-pick strawberries at an extraordinary discount of $2 per pound. Berries this affordable will naturally fill pickers’ buckets to the brim. An extra perk: they will buff biceps before they serve as a healthy post-workout treat.
Where: 6302 S. County Road 39, Plant City
When: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Check the 5k Farms Facebook for updates.
By Drew Mortier
