Since moving to Georgia, we often load the family into the minivan for a few hours or a full day at some of Georgia’s agritourism destinations. We always enjoy great selections of fresh produce, but our favorite days are the various U-Pick options offered during seasonal harvests.
Before we get knee-deep in strawberries or over our heads in a peach orchard, we'll admit that a farm visit fits our definition of a great family outing -- outdoors, lots of space to roam, many activities, interactive tasks and fresh treats!
Southern Belle
Located outside of McDonough, GA, Southern Belle offers a wide variety of U-Pick options in mid-June, including blackberries, blueberries, peaches and strawberries. We checked the website for information, then made an additional call to confirm details before deciding to visit.
Upon arrival, we headed to the check-in gates and faced our first decision: what would we pick and how much. We made the easy decision, and selected the option for a large basket of mixed berries plus a small quantity of peaches. Baskets in hands, we headed to the blueberry and blackberry patches first. We walked through several rows, then found a sweet spot where ripe berries were in easiest reach for our grandsons. With quick instruction and a little encouragement, the youngsters reached in without delay.
Family Days at Jaemor
In contrast to the mid-week, mid-day, early summer visit to Southern Belle, we headed to Jaemor Farms early on an August weekend (our first, in 2019) to enjoy one of their U-Pick days for peaches. Our early arrival helped us avoid the longer lines and more crowded spaces that we saw as we left later in the day.
This was our first peach-picking experience, and the friendly Jaemor workers offered their tips on finding and picking the best fruit. On this visit, our plan was to stock-up on peaches for snacking, baking for the upcoming holidays and making refreshing daiquiris during the end of summer. With seven pickers using 14 hands, we snagged two large boxes in less than 40 minutes — even after trying to slow our little helpers in order to stretch out our visit time.
Save These for the Fall
Mark fall on your calendar for apple picking in Ellijay and pumpkin selection near Dawsonville. If you want an early look at these fall outings, check this link at our blog site.
Georgia Grown Goodies
Moving to Georgia more than five years ago, we knew nothing about the state’s commitment to promoting its farms and farmers. Since then, we’ve become regular users of the Georgia Grown website to locate fun and filling stops for our in-state adventures.
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