The Incredible Farm In Southern California Where You Can Pick Buckets Of Berries
By Natasha Kayes|Published May 22, 2024
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Natasha Kayes
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I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
Is there anything more delightful than summer fruits? And if you ask me, berries are at the top of the fruit chain. I grew up waiting for summer when I could head out to my grandparents’ backyard and pick ripe fruit, from juicy plums to sweet blackberries. The area where I now live has many farms and fruit stands and one of my favorites brings back those fond memories for me. All summer long, you can go to Underwood Family Farms in Somis, CA, and take home armloads of delicious berries.
Underwood Farms is a wonderful family-friendly spot where you will find a huge selection of seasonal, local produce, and trust me, there is more here than initially meets the eye.
Berry picking usually starts here at the Somis farm in April (sometimes as early as March) and continues through mid-November, so there is plenty of time to join the fun.
You are welcome to bring your own wagon or grab one of the cute first-come, first-served wagons to take along as you wander through the fields and hunt for berries.
Searching for ripe berries is something kids and adults will both enjoy. Juicy strawberries are the first to come on the scene each season, usually ripening from spring through the middle of June.
Once summer begins, you will start to find ripe blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries on the bushes. Of course, a lot depends on the weather (and other factors), but you should be able to gather raspberries and blackberries until deep into the fall.
There is a small $3 fee to enter the pick-your-own fields, with no limit to how much you can take home. Each berry has a per-pound price that is clearly posted.
If you have kids along for the adventure, they will love the unique little playground where they work off some energy climbing in and around the wooden fire truck or playing in the sandbox.
Before or after you head out on your berry-picking journey, make sure you browse the Farm Market. I absolutely love this colorful market where you will find plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables that you don't see in stores, as well as fresh eggs, pickled veggies, nuts, honey, beans, juices, fresh-cut flowers, and gift boxes.
One trip to this incredible farm is just not enough. Summer berries are only one reason to visit. In the fall, you will find a pumpkin patch, corn stalk tunnel, gourds, squash, and lots of fall decor. Come January, you can hit the fields again to pick your own tangerines.
It is never a bad time to hang out at Underwood Farms! And guess what, Underwood has another location in Moorpark where they offer a huge variety of pick-your-own fruits and vegetables all year long.
Find out all about Underwood Family Farms on its official website and follow it on Facebook to keep up to date on farm events and what’s in season. Have you picked summer berries at Underwood Family Farms in Somis, CA? Tell us all about your experience in the comments. If your summer includes you-pick farms and farmers’ markets, take a look at this perfect produce bag set on Etsy! And make sure you check out more fun and exciting seasonal activities in SoCal.
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