2023 Ultimate Guide to Strawberry Farms Around Birmingham

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Strawberry Farms Around BirminghamSouthern Springtime

Springtime in the south elicits turbulence. The seasonal heat returns in waves, vacillating unpredictably between subfreezing and a mid-summer level swelter. Then we have The Pollen Assault, where a chalky yellow dust coats our sinuses, bronchioles, cars, and anything left longer than 10 minutes out in the elements. We also stay particularly weather alert, learning to “respect the polygon” in frequent, late-night Facebook lives with Bham’s favorite weatherman, James Spann. Yet, despite all that pandemonium, spring is my favorite season Alabama offers. We get flowers galore, a whole forest full of blooming trees and buzzing bees, and so many sweet, sweet strawberry farms around Birmingham.

Many of these farms offer u-pick berries, too. What’s a u-pick farm? You’ve probably already guessed it. A u-pick is a farm where YOU get to pick what the farmers grow! Between March and May, you can catch a ride just outside the city to snag the freshest berries you’ll ever taste, directly off the plant.

Family U-Picking in Verbena

In mid-March, we took our kids out to Verbena, Alabama, about a 45 minute drive down I-65, to Sugar Hill U-Pick on Penton Farms. We went on a weekday early in the season, so we nearly had full run of the place! Our kids kicked off the adventure with some time on the farm playground, which included rows of swings and lofty orange sand pits, including plenty of space to roll and dig and slide down the slides embedded within. Be sure to bring a change of clothes so your kids can fill their pants and shoes with sand to their heart’s content! 

After playground time, we grabbed some buckets and followed a staff member to the fields. She pointed us toward one full row we could pick, all to ourselves. The kids were READY, and, had I realized all berries must be paid for prior to eating, I might have brought a stroller for my toddler. A tried and true berry lover, the 19 month old could not resist temptation! We held him for the duration of our picking time while he made a grab for every juicy strawberry he saw.

Once we filled our buckets, we made our way back to the front of the farm to pay and FINALLY gave the kids a few strawberries to eat before heading home. The strawberry dribbled grins they both gave us made the trip more than worth it!

Strawberry Farms Near Birmingham

Penton Farms is just one of many local kid-friendly u-picks, and we are on a mission to visit them ALL this year! Here are the deets on Penton Farms and all the others on our must-see list for 2023:

Penton Farms

Sugar Hill U-Pick

3358 County Road 59
Verbena, Alabama 36091
205-351-1480

Penton Farms is a fourth-generation family-owned farm in Verbena, Alabama, about 45 minutes south of Birmingham. Penton Farms does more than just strawberries—they have other fruits and veggies for sale, too. There is also a playground and lots of open space for kids to let loose all of their pent-up energy! U-Pick strawberries are $12 per gallon bucket and pre-picked berries are $13 per gallon bucket. They are open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. They are closed on Sundays. Check their Facebook page for weather-related and other updates prior to your visit!

Jerry Marsh Farms

234 Marsh Cutoff Rd.
Cleveland, AL 35049
205-681-8514

Jerry Marsh Farms is located in Cleveland, about 45 minutes northeast of Birmingham. This year, the strawberry u-pick opens April 7th, and gallon buckets are $12 for u-pick and $15 for pre-picked berries. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. They accept cash and checks only. Check their Facebook page for weather closures before your visit! 

DeLoach Farms

171 Co Rd 468
Vincent, AL 35178
205-249-1297

DeLoach Farms is located in East Shelby County, and they now have a u-pick strawberry option! The farm has been around since 1820, and their website has more information about their history. They update their Facebook page to let everyone know their plan for each day, so check there before heading out. Their hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. They are open on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

J Durbin Farms

Sunshine Farms U-Pick Strawberry Field

11728 County Road 37
Clanton, AL 35045
(205) 280-0242

Sunshine Farms U-Pick Strawberry Field is located in Clanton, about an hour south of Birmingham. While their Facebook page notes they are a bit later than usual opening the fields for u-pick this year, the time is coming! When they open for the season or if they run out of strawberries for the day, they’ll post it on Facebook, so keep an eye on their page before planning your visit!

 
If you need to cool off after a hot day of picking berries, check out one of these great local spots for frozen treats!

The Ultimate Guide To Ice Cream and Frozen Treats :: In & Around Birmingham