If you want to have a real Florida experience, then make sure you go blueberry picking at Ever After Farms. Find out below all the pertinent information you need to make this the best day ever!

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Blueberry Picking

Ever After Farms

Address: 4400 Bouganvilla Dr. - Mims, FL 32754

Cost: Free + Additional Costs

There is no entrance fee. Upon driving in and parking each person is given a bag for blueberry picking. You only pay for the blueberries u pick at the end which costs $6 per pound. The only children’s activity that you have to pay for was $3 for the miniature animal petting zoo. Although that was to go into the pen for petting. It’s free to just stand on the outside and pet through the gate. All of the other fun activities available at the farm were free! They had a wagon ride, corn hole, fish feeding, and picnic tables by the pond.

Blueberry Farm

Ever After Farms has a little stand where you pay for the blueberries u pick. You can also purchase already picked blueberries if you wanted more as well as jams, preserves, drinks, and pies. There was some food and snacks for purchase as well, but these were not gluten free or dairy free friendly. Ever After Farms is located in Mims, Florida which is quite a way from any large town, so there is no place to go nearby to pick up food either. I packed a lunch and would recommend doing the same. There is so many things to do for kids including the blueberry picking that you’ll want to be at the farm for as long as you can to make sure you get a chance to do everything.

Blueberry Season

When is Blueberry Season?

Blueberry season which should really be called blueberry picking season can be from as early as April till as late as September. While this is a wide range of time, it is really dependent on where you live. Each state in the United States that produces blueberries will have a slightly different blueberry picking time according to its weather and seasons.

Blueberry Season Florida

Here in Florida, our blueberry picking season is very short and only lasts about 2 months. The 2-month time period is usually April and May. Often times, it may be even less than that due to the amount of people that can come visit the blueberry farm decreasing the overall supply to pick and thereby shortening the picking season. During those months in Florida, it’s not uncommon to see afternoon thunderstorms and rain showers. It’s always important that before you drive to any blueberry farm that you check to make sure they are open for visitors, because weather and crop may affect your visit.

U Pick Blueberries

Ever After Farms is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9 am to 2 pm during the u pick blueberries season. Call Ever After Farms at 321-269-9502 or check out their Facebook page prior to any visit to ensure they are open due to crop and weather. As I have recommended time and time again with any type of u pick, always try to be there as soon as they first open. Firstly, you get the pick of the crop (pun intended). Secondly, it’s the least crowded time of day since it will pick up as the day goes on and get quite crowded in the afternoon. Lastly, that’s typically the coolest time of day for Florida, so being outside for a couple hours is much more tolerable.

Pick Your Own Blueberries

Are you ready to pick your own blueberries? Here are tips to keep in mind to prepare for your blueberry picking day. It’s Florida, so there are two staples that I recommend in all my posts, sunscreen, and bug spray. You are on a farm in the Florida heat, these are just necessities. You will be walking, so make sure that you have comfortable shoes that can get dirty. Also, good to know is that the aisles between the blueberry plants are wide enough to be both handicap and stroller accessible. You can check out my travel accessories post which has great items that are always on hand for any day out with the kids. In the spirit of blueberry picking, we decided to go with a blue theme. Groundbreaking, I know. But here are some cute blue clothes for the whole family, mom, dad, kids, and baby.

Blueberries U Pick

What Color are Blueberries?

Now this may seem like a pretty simple question, what color are blueberries? But in reality, blueberries have a life cycle just like any other fruits or plants. And with that, the blueberry undergoes a few color changes as it ripens. Firstly, it starts out as green. Blueberries will start out as a small flower-like bud, but then they will start to form into the traditional blueberry shape. Secondly, they will turn red then into purple. You will see some blueberries at this stage with multiple color variations. Lastly, comes the traditional blue that the blueberry is known for.

How to Pick Blueberries?

Here’s a few helpful tips to make the most out of the blueberry picking experience. You may be asking yourself, why would knowing the blueberry colors be important? Well, while there is no specific formula to blueberry picking, knowing the life cycle colors, will help you in choosing the right ones. The ripest blueberries are those with a uniform color of the traditional dark blue. This tells you that they are ripe and ready to pick. They are slightly softer at this stage, come off the branch more easily, and are more flavorful. Now, while you can pick blueberries that are greenish red, reddish purple, or even purple blue, they are not fully ripe. They are often harder and have a tart taste. It’s always a good idea to leave these ones alone, since they need more time to ripen to be ready for those visiting the farm after you.

How Long Do Blueberries Last In The Fridge?

Once you take all your picked blueberries home, make sure to keep them in your fridge. They will last for up to 10 days. Although it’s still always best to check the blueberries before you eat them, just to make sure there isn’t any mold growth. Wash the blueberries right before you eat them. Washing them in advance, then leaving them in the fridge could cause mold growth to occur faster and decrease the length of time they last for.

U Pick Blueberry Farm

We loved this u pick blueberry farm, because there were so many things to do for kids. After our blueberry picking, we ate our packed lunch at one of the many picnic tables located at the pond that had a cute water feature. Although not sure how my kids were even hungry to eat lunch, since they both ate their body weights in blueberries during our time blueberry picking in the field. Lol.

Nevertheless, after lunch, we washed our hands in the farmhouse horse trough sink located on the side of the building. Played a little corn hole. Then we hopped onto the wagon for a ride around the property. The wagon ride not only took you past the entire blueberry field, which is massive, but also took you past their barn that holds wedding events. It’s absolutely gorgeous! If you need a wedding venue, then you should check out the one at Ever After Farms.

Once we got off the wagon ride, we stopped to see and pet some of the farm animals, like the miniature horses and goats. Finally, we ended the day feeding some of the fish in the pond with the free fish food that was available right on the dock.

As you are leaving don't forget to stop at another little farm stand near the parking area that sells flowers, peaches, and other great local and seasonal items. 

Things to do in Florida with Kids

As a parent, we are always on the lookout for fun things to do with the kids. Especially things that get us out of the house and get us outdoors and learning about new things. This is why I love living here! There are so many things to do in Florida with kids especially in the Central Florida area. For the thrill seekers, you have the theme parks. We can’t forget our Disney enthusiasts, like myself. For you all, you can check out my Disney posts to Topolino’s Terrace, Fort Wilderness, Old Key West Resort. But then there’s the real Florida, like blueberry picking at the blueberry farm, or when we went strawberry picking, or blackberry picking, or even pumpkin picking. And yet, there is even more to see like when we took The Polar Express train ride in Eustis, Florida. We really have a whole gamut of things to do in Florida with kids. So, make sure you subscribe or follow us on social media to see all the fun things we’re up to with the kids.

Disclaimer: There are some links in this article that are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, we receive a small commission. This is never an extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.