Spring and summer are the seasons for fresh fruits and veggies. From farmers markets to sites offering pick-your-own fruit, fresh is best. Like us on Facebook for updates from local farmers markets, orchards, and farms and choose farm fresh for your family!
Farmers Markets
Lynchburg Community Market has offered local fruits, veggies, eggs, and meats to the community since 1783. Open all year, Saturday market hours are 7 AM - 2 PM.
Forest Farmers Market offers local fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meats during the outdoor season from May to October. In addition, Forest Farmers Market hosts a monthly Winter Market on the second Saturday of the month from November through April. Opening day for the 2022 season is April 30. Market hours are Saturdays from 8 AM - 12 PM.
Bedford Farmers' Market offers locally grown fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meats at the Bedford Centertown location at 220 W. Washington St., under the market pavilion. Opening day for the 2022 season is May 7 and the season will run through October 8th. Market hours are Saturdays, AM -12 PM. In addition, Bedford Farmers' Market holds a monthly Winter Market on the third Saturday of the month from November through April.
Amherst Second Stage Farmers' Market offers locally grown produce and goods to the community from May to October. Opening day for the 2022 season is May 19. Market hours are Thursdays from 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM.
Orchards and Farm Stores
Hours may vary at local orchards and farms due to weather, limited supply, staffing, or other concerns. For most recent updates, check website or social media feed before you leave home.
Morris Orchard, located at 226 Tobacco Row Lane in Monroe, offers pick-your-own blueberries from mid-June to early July, pick-your-own blackberries from mid-July to late August, and pick-your-own pumpkins from late September until Halloween. In addition, you can purchase pre-picked peaches from mid-June - mid-August, sweet corn and summer vegetables from mid-July to late August, and many varieties of apples from late July through late October including limited pick-your-own Red Delicious and Granny Smith apples in season. Morris Orchard is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Morris Orchard is also open some Sundays in season.
Yoders' Farm, located at 1134 Browns Mill Road in Rustburg, offers pick-your-own strawberries, starting in late April or early May. In addition, Yoders' offers hydroponic tomatoes from late fall until mid-summer, and a pumpkin patch and corn maze in the fall. You'll also find jams, jellies, apples, and seasonal baked goods at the Farm Store. Yoders' Farm is open Monday through Saturday. Hours are 8 AM - 5:30 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; 8 AM - 7 PM on Tuesday and Thursday; and 8 AM - 4 PM on Saturdays.
Dark Leaf Farms, located at 2870 Mud Street in Appomattox, will offer pick-your-own and pre-picked blackberries and pumpkins in 2022. Blackberries are available in June and July, and pumpkins are available from late September through October. Opening date for the 2022 season hasn't yet been announced. Stay tuned as we await updates!
Saunders Brothers Orchard and Farm Market, located at 2717 Tye Brook Highway in Piney River, offers a variety of fruit including: cherries from late May to early June, peaches from June to September, pears from mid-August until October, and apples from August to November. Saunders Brothers Farm Market is open from mid-April through November and there's also a Christmas tree farm from late November to mid-December. Saunders Brothers is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM - 5 PM.
Silver Creek and Seamans' Orchard has two locations: Silver Creek Orchard, located at 5529 Crabtree Falls Highway in Tyro and Seamans' Orchards, located at 1040 Dark Hollow Road in Roseland. Silver Creek and Seamans' offers a variety of apples in September and October, including some pick-your-own days. In addition, you can pick-your-own pumpkins during October and enjoy the annual Apple Butter Making Festival, with festivals scheduled on Oct. 1 and Oct. 15 in 2022. Pick-your-own hours vary by location, so check the website before you go. Silver Creek & Seamans' Orchard is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Drumheller’s Orchard, located at 1130 Drumheller Orchard Lane in Lovingston, offers a variety of peaches from late June to mid-September and a variety of apples from early July to early November. Drumheller's will open on June 8 for the 2022 season. Apple Festivals are scheduled for Sept. 24-25 and Oct. 15-16.
Johnson's Orchards, located at 1218 Elmos Road in Bedford, offers nearly 200 varieties of apples at their family owned and operated farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Johnson's Orchards is open daily from noon to 5 PM from April to December and weekends from noon to 5 PM from January through March. Apples are available from August through October. The Horse and Hound Wine Festival, back for 2022, is scheduled for July 9.
Gross' Orchard, located at 6817 Wheats Valley Road in Bedford, offers pick-your-own or pre-picked cherries in late May, pick-your-own or pre-picked peaches from mid-June to Auguest and pick-your-own or pre-picked apples from mid-June to late September. The farm store also sells jams and jellies, country ham, bacon, cider, and a variety of other items. Gross' Orchard is open year-round Monday through Saturday from 8-6.
Dickie Brothers Orchard, located at 2685 Dickie Road in Roseland, has been in operation as a family farm since the 1750s. Dickie Brothers offers peaches, nectarines, plums, blackberries, apples, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and more. Dickie Brothers opens for the 2022 season in late June. Products include raspberries, blackberries, nectarines, and a variety of apples, including many varieties of pick-your-own, which are available from late July to early November.
The Chiles Family Orchards include Carter Mountain Orchard, located at 1435 Carters Mountain Trail in Charlottesville; Chiles Peach Orchard, located at 1351 Greenwood Road in Crozet; and Spring Valley Orchard, located at 3526 Spring Valley Road in Afton. Each location specializes in specific fruits. Spring Valley offers cherries, Chiles Peach Orchard offers strawberries and peaches, and Carter Mountain Orchard offers peaches and apples. The Chiles Family Orchards offer pick-your-own peaches from mid-June to mid-September and pick-your-own apples from mid-August to late November. In addition, there's a wide variety of pre-picked fruits including: cherries from mid-May to late June, peaches from mid-June to mid-September, nectarines from late June to late August, apples from mid-August to late November, and pumpkins and gourds from mid-September to late November. The Chiles Family Orchards are open daily from April to late December. Daily hours vary, so check the hours at each venue before you head out.
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Why settle for store bought fruits and vegetables? With so many farmers markets and local orchards, fresh is best!