2024 southwestern Florida Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in southwestern Florida in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for tomatoes that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have tomatoes orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

Lee County

• 31 Produce and Mining Co - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, apples, broad beans, broccoli, cucumbers, eggplant, grapefruit, herbs or spices, lemons, melons, onions, oranges, peas, peaches, peppers, persimmons, summer squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, school tours, group reservations, events at your location (call for info)
  18500 Street Road 31, Alva, FL 33920. Phone: 239-313-8213. Email: 31produce@gmail.com. Open: Everyday 9 am to 5:30 closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Easter. Directions: 1 Mile North of the Lee County Civic Center on State Road 31. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  31 Produce and Mining Co Facebook page. . Apples June Strawberries: November to April, Florida Sweet Onions December thru May Tomatoes October to July. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Mining for Gems, Fossils and Sharks Teeth available during business hours. Cracker Shack Cafe is our indoor market store offering field to table lunches 11-3 Monday to Friday and Barbecue on the weekends. Farm Tours must be booked in advance with groups of 15 or more. We offer some of the most succulent strawberries and tantalizing tomatoes in Southwest Florida. Come enjoy our Incredible farm fresh country cooking, Ice cream and pies in the Cracker Shack Cafe! Pan for precious stones and fossils at our very own Gem panning station! ​Family owned and operated since 2008
• Biggar Farms - U-pick tomatoes and prepicked produce
  8751 Gladiolus Dr. across from The Shoppes @ Paddle Creek, Ft. Myers, FL 33908. Phone: 239-482-5010. Email: GCMULCHINC@AOL.com. Open: Monday to Friday,7am to 5pm, Saturday 7am to 4pm pumpkin patch mid October, U-pick Tomatoes mid November including other produce, U-pick Strawberries in December. Directions: I 75 exit 131 is Daniels to; left on six mile cypress, changes into Gladiolus Drive; straight through lights at US 41, Summerlin, Winkler. We are located on the southwest corner of Gladiolus & Winkler. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Biggar Farms . Crops are usually available in January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December. Mulch, Sod, Palm trees.
  Comments from a visitor on March 03, 2010: "Biggar Farms no longer sells pumpkins, or strawberries. Only U-pick Tomatoes. Gulf Coast Mulch moved to 9571 Cypress Lake Drive tele:239-482-5010. Corner of Cypress and McGregor Blvd.
• Farmer Mike's U-Pick - strawberries, tomatoes, corn maze
  26049 Morton Ave, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. Phone: (239) 498-4576. Email: farmermikesupick@gmail.com. Open: Re-opens in November; then hours will be Saturday from 8 am-5 pm. Directions: See their website. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Farmer Mike's U-Pick Facebook page. . . Annual Haunted and Non-Haunted Corn Maze. This year's theme and opening dates will be announced in the coming weeks so stay tuned for details. Birthdays, Weddings and Special Events! Looking for a truly spectacular venue or location for your upcoming event, birthday, wedding or luncheon? Farmer Mike's could be the destination for you next event! The newly renovated Freshly Harvested Cafe is Now Open for Breakfast and Lunch - Breakfast: Friday and Saturday 8am to 11am, Sunday 9am to 11am, Lunch: Monday - Sunday 11am to 3pm, We pride ourselves on bringing the freshest products from the field to your plate. We are known for our delicious Strawberry Shakes but word around town is our fresh from scratch made pies are pretty awesome as well. (UPDATED: April 6, 2021 JBS)

 

Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok.

During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.

Tomato Varieties

In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water.  But you can use any type you can get hold of.  You may just have to cook them down longer to boil off excess water.  See our Master list of tomato varieties

Growing tomatoes

• Master list of tomato varieties
• Master List of Heirloom Tomato Varieties
• How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Yard or Patio - Everything you need to know
• Detailed directions to starting tomatoes from seed
• Master List of Roma and Paste Tomato Varieties for the Home Garden
• Master list of disease-resistant tomato varieties
• Tomato plant diseases

Canning, Freezing, Drying, Preserving Tomatoes and more!

Below are links to pages with easy and reliable directions about how to can, preserve, freeze and make other goodies from tomatoes.  Some of these require a Pressure Canner to prevent potential spoilage and food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food.  For others, you can use a water bath canner OR a Pressure Canner.  I've noted what's required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!

And don't miss: Answers to common tomato canning problems and see this page about what to do with your unripe green tomatoes!

Prepping tomatoes

• How to quickly and easily remove tomato skins

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )

• How to can tomatoes using a water bath canner - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Bruschetta - W
• Tomato sauce - W
• Tomato paste - W
• Barbecue sauce (BBQ sauce) - W
• Chili sauce from your own tomatoes and peppers - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Tomato Preserves- W
• Tomato salsa - W
• Spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
• Spiced Green tomatoes- W
• Pickled Green Tomatoes - W - another pickled green tomato recipe, this one sweet
• Ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
• NEW! SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe - W
• Salsa from your unripe, GREEN tomatoes! - W
• Tomatillo salsa - W
• How to make roasted tomatoes, boiling water bath canner version - W

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

• Canned tomatoes using a Pressure Canner - P
• Baked  Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
• Canning your own chili con carne (with meat) - P
• How to make roasted tomatoes, pressure canner version - P
• Spaghetti sauce - with meat  - P
• Stewed tomatoes - P
• Tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - P
• Tomato sauce - P
• Tomato juice - P
• Tomato juice, like V8 - P

Freezing Tomatoes

• How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
• Space-saving prepping and freezing extra tomatoes from your garden to can later

Drying tomatoes

• NEW! How to make Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Food drying basics and principles
• How to dry your own herbs
• Food Dehydrators - models, specs and pricing information

Ripening green tomatoes in your garage or basement

If you want to bring your green tomatoes indoors before a freeze in the Fall, and ripen them, see:

• How to ripen your green garden tomatoes indoors in the Fall and Winter.

And if you'd like to start you own tomatoes from seed (you can save a small fortune and grow the heirloom varieties you like) see this page for easy directions for growing your own tomato plants from seed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canning, Freezing and Preserving Tomatoes

• See this page for answers to many common questions about tomatoes.

 

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers