点评:February is strawberry picking season at Southern Hill Farms, a u-pick fruit and vegetable farm in Clermont that is outside Orlando.
Southern Hill is not a small roadside u-pick farm. There were at least 100 cars in the unpaved parking lot during our weekend visit. The farm is huge - it is a long walk (paved path) from the parking lot to the very large strawberry and vegetable fields. Free parking and no entry fee is charged.
Learning from the pros that we saw that weekend: bring a wagon for your young kids to ride to the fields and to cart back your strawberries and other produce to a covered pavilion where you pay per pound (no cash accepted), wear comfortable shoes that will get dusty with dirt, bring a water bottle and wear a hat and sunscreen. Wagons are available for rent ($8).
During the weekend we went, strawberries were $6/lb, kale $3/lb, bibb lettuce $3/head, spinach $10/lb, broccolini $6/lb and huge onions $1.99/lb. At noon, the line to weigh and pay for your produce was a very long line - easily a 45-minute wait. Everything is u-pick - there are no stands selling already picked fruit and vegetables.
There is a large covered pavilion with food trucks and food stands. We dropped by the bakery: strawberry shortcake ($6.50), strawberry shake ($6) and strawberry donut ($1.60). Get the delicious shake but skip the baked items: no hint of strawberries in the plain donut and the plain cake was topped with a few tasteless strawberry slices and canned whipped cream.
Near the food pavilion was a large area with amusement park rides including a large carousel (IDK if a fee is charged for the rides). There was live music entertainment at the food pavilion. Honey, homemade jam, herbal teas, soaps and small gifts were also available for sale.
Depending on the month, you can also pick your own blueberries and peaches. Southern Hills also hosts a fall festival (fee charged).
翻译:二月是 Southern Hill Farms 的草莓采摘季节,Southern Hill Farms 是位于奥兰多郊外克莱蒙的一家自摘水果和蔬菜农场。
Southern Hill 并不是一个小型的路边自摘农场。我们周末参观时,未铺砌的停车场至少停了 100 辆车。农场很大 - 从停车场到非常大的草莓和蔬菜田需要走很长一段路(铺砌的道路)。免费停车,不收取入场费。
向那个周末我们看到的专业人士学习:带一辆马车让您的孩子骑到田地,然后将您的草莓和其他农产品运回有顶棚的亭子,按磅付费(不接受现金),穿舒适的鞋子,以免沾满灰尘,带上水瓶,戴上帽子和防晒霜。可以租用马车(8 美元)。
我们去的那个周末,草莓 6 美元/磅,羽衣甘蓝 3 美元/磅,比布生菜 3 美元/头,菠菜 10 美元/磅,西兰花 6 美元/磅,大洋葱 1.99 美元/磅。中午时分,称重和付款的队伍非常长,很容易就等了 45 分钟。所有东西都是自己采摘的,没有摊位出售已经采摘的水果和蔬菜。
有一个带顶棚的大型亭子,里面有食品卡车和食品摊。我们去了面包店:草莓奶油蛋糕(6.50 美元)、草莓奶昔(6 美元)和草莓甜甜圈(1.60 美元)。点了美味的奶昔,但不要点烘焙食品:普通的甜甜圈里没有一点草莓的味道,普通的蛋糕上放着几片无味的草莓片和罐装鲜奶油。
食品亭附近有一个很大的区域,里面有游乐园的游乐设施,包括一个大型旋转木马(我不知道这些游乐设施是否收费)。美食亭有现场音乐表演。还有蜂蜜、自制果酱、花草茶、肥皂和小礼物出售。
根据月份的不同,您还可以自己采摘蓝莓和桃子。Southern Hills 还举办秋季节(收费)。