Blueberry Picking in Fort Ogden, Florida

Blueberries at English Lake Farm, U-Pick Farm in Southwest Florida
Blueberries!

Feels as though I’m always on the go because I don’t want to miss out on all the cools things of life which is why I spent this morning at English Lake Farm in Fort Ogden, Fla., picking blueberries and peaches. I was inspired for the outing by fellow travel writer and blogger, Lucy Tobias. I read her “Saturday Mornings with Lucy” e-newsletter which highlighted her her Saturday morning experience of picking blueberries.

English Lake Farm, U-Pick Farm in Southwest Florida
English Lake Farm, U-Pick Farm in Southwest Florida

So, I hopped on the iPhone and located the closest U-Pick farm and was pleasantly surprised to find English Lake Farm (7288 S. West Lime Dr., Tel: 863-990-6164) not too far from Port Charlotte. It’s located in Southwest Florida between Punta Gorda and Arcadia, off U.S 17.

The hosts provide a bucket lined with a plastic bag and provide tips on where to find the fruit. Blueberries are on their last run and peaches are ripening on branches and sweet for picking. I could smell that sweet, peach scent as I walked up to the trees.

Blueberry Bushes at English Lake Farm, U-Pick Farm in Southwest Florida
Rows of Blueberry Bushes

Blueberries were the day’s main objective and although I’m not sure how long I was outside, it was less than an hour in the Florida heat and humidity and I gathered 2.5 pounds of the sweet berries. Only picked half-a-pound of peaches. Blueberries are usually $6 a pound and peaches $2.50 but the farm sometimes runs specials. Call ahead.

U-Pick Peaches, English Lake Farm, Fort Ogden, Florida
U-Pick Peaches, English Lake Farm, Fort Ogden, Florida

Looking for a U-pick farm near you? Check out PickYourOwn.org – it’s a fave site I referenced when living in Tallahassee.

My tips for blueberry picking:

  • Watch your step, especially look for red ants! (Yes, I speak from experience)
  • Keep an eye on the sky – sometimes you’re competing for fruit with birds and they don’t like it when folks mess with their food source.
  • Keep protected from the sun, this includes sunscreen and hat.
  • Wear closed-toed shoes – this prevents critters such as bugs from biting and crawling on you.
  • Go early in the day because it’s cooler and better chance to find fruit.
  • Don’t forget an extra bag or two in case the farm doesn’t provide them.
  • Bring a cooler with ice (or ice packets) to keep the fruit cool on the way home.
  • Pack along water, Florida summers are hot!
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Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.

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