the fruit and berry patch

the fruit and berry patch印象

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  djalyv

  We had a great time picking strawberries and peaches. Strawberries were nearing the end of picking season, but peaches were looking great! We also bought some apple butter and barbecue sauce. We went on a very hot day but it was still fun. My only peeve was the homemade barbecue sauce had high fructose corn syrup among the ingredients. I wish I would've asked why that was included but I didn't realize it until I left.

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  AlyC549

  We arrived, my teenage daughter and two younger sons, grabbed baskets and headed out to start picking. A couple guys came out and yelled that we'd be better off with buckets if we were planning on picking berries. We didn't actually have a "plan" but we grabbed a few. We hit the blueberries first. The front was a bit picked over but the middle was rich with berries that were perfectly ripe. Next, we found the blackberry field. It's almost too late in the season to expect blackberries, but there were quite a lot of huge ripe berries left. We picked a gallon of them, though sometimes we had to wrestle a junebug or two for the berry. My youngest son wanted peaches so my daughter took him off to pick peaches while I finished up with the blackberries and my middle child sat in the shade, picking berries that were close to the ground that didn't require walking. I was also impressed that all of the blackberry bushes are thornless! My first haul of blackberries came from my grandparent's and we ended up with more scratches, cuts, and pulled clothing than we did berries. We forgot to bring drinks so I sent my daughter down with a handful of ones, and she brought back ten bottles of water. Turns out, they have water for 50 cents a bottle, and it's icy cold too. We finished up then went back to pay for our haul and as I was handing over the fruit, I noticed that the kids didn't get peaches. They got apples. The fact that they didn't even realize they were picking apples tells me I need to get them out to the country more. The man weighing up our loot was great to talk with. He's very knowledgeable and I stayed chatting with him until the kids were tugging on my arm asking to leave. Plus, I couldn't believe how cheap all of our fruit was! We had a wonderful time and will definitely be returning soon! The only thing I would warn anyone about is USE SUNSCREEN. I'm burnt crispy now.

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  rusha_sams

  Check out my blog on a serendipitous drop-in that turned out to be a great berry picking experience! Dr. Fox is personable, knowledgeable, and, as it turns out, persuasive -- we hadn't even expected to pick berries, but we're so glad we did! Beautiful farmland, huge areas devoted to blueberries and blackberries, and neat little country store. Get a fried pie and some apple cider! http://wp.me/p2l4j8-iEhttp://ohtheplaceswesee.com

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  MusicRoadResort

  We weaved around the berry bushes to find the sweetest, plumpest ones we could find. So many different types of fruit trees and bushes and so cheap! We took home buckets for hardly anything. Oh and try their homemade personal pies. Delicious :)

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  MelissaC447

  We picked more blueberries, blackberries, and peaches than we possibly needed. I just couldn't stop picking blueberries since it was so easy to find ripe, delicious fruits. So excited to make some muffins and waffles with these! Amazing prices and great stories from the talkative owner, too!

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  Mary_Frances_From_TN

  Eating locally and seasonally is something important to me, and the best way to do learn is to do it yourself. That's why I love visiting the Fruit and Berry Patch in Halls (Northeast Knoxville). They have strawberries, sour cherries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes, peaches, apples, and pumpkins. My family visits several times from May until fall to pick all of our own fruit. Admittedly, we have to get creative with packing our freezer, but the prices are very reasonable and it is a fun activity, especially with those with children.My kids love visiting the Fruit and Berry Patch, and they look forward to it. Not only that, it has given them firsthand experience in agriculture and know when several local fruits are in season (the arrival of strawberries is something they heavily anticipate all winter and spring). By bringing the kids, we are able to harvest more quickly. The prices are based on weight, so please be mindful of how much you are picking (or your kids, in my case) if you are working on a budget.I highly recommend calling the location before visiting to make sure that there are items to pick. It is disappointing to drive out and find out that there isn't anything ready to pick. When it is harvest time, load up! I heavily recommend visiting when they first open or in the evening to avoid the heat of day and crowds (on Saturdays it can be hopping). Also, this is a farm. Please be prepared to drive on bumpy dirt roads and encounter with insects. The sight of a bee can send my kids into a tizzy, and you may well encounter them. Also, be sure to wear sunscreen.You pay for your items after picking. Take some time before you start to pick to talk to the owners. They have always given me good hints on the best place to pick on a certain day. They also have great stories and are happy to help you. I also find after a hot picking session one of their fruit slushes (I like the peach mango) very refreshing.If you are only in Knoxville for a day, I wouldn't make this a "must visit place" unless you are into agri-tourism. I would more suggest the Fruit and Berry Patch for locals who are interested in getting back in touch with the earth, getting fresh fruit and very reasonable prices, and doing something fun and different with their kids.

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  willowsbluff

  Pick what you want, take home, freeze, or just eat. Lots of FUN for the whole family!

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  racingdiva

  We have been to the Fruit and Berry Patch many, many times. It is such fun to pick berries, apples, and whatever else is growing. The pies and honey are delicious. My grandson loves to walk around and see the animals, and pick the fruit. Then we go home and make our own pies. A must visit place in Knoxville.

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  joshlawn

  Just be careful on hot days. Take an umbrella to shield yourselves from the sun, drink plenty of fluids and wear lite clothing. The kids always enjoy picking fruits with us, and of coarse eating them too. There are a few farm animals to see out there too. Very cheap prices on what you pick. Try some Alfalfa Honey, it's the best honey I have ever eaten. I only buy Alfalfa honey now, and I haven't found it anywhere else.

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  TuckerH

  Me and my wife saw this place was number 2 on here for Knoxville, so we decided to try it out. When we pulled up there was a little shack with a few people sitting around, and some maintenance guys working on a refrigerator. We walked up and a nice lady told us about what the place was and explained to us about the fruit picking. I was expecting that they would take us out there, show us around, and help us with the fruit picking, but instead they told us where the peaches were and which rows to go to. Me and my wife drive out there and there are a few trees with peaches and half of them have been taken by other insects. And a word of warning: Beware of Bee's. Bee's and wasps are every where be careful when picking a peach because it may have a swarm of bee's in it. We left with some peaches, but they didn't look too promising. I'm hoping we just came on a bad day and this place is a lot better then we experienced.