U-pick strawberries in the Midlands

Fresh fruits make the spring season even sweeter.

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Grab a bucket and pick your strawberries at Cottle Farms. | Image via @daniswinda

Strawberries and stamps? Yep, berry season in the Midlands is more than just fresh fruit. It’s also a chance to explore SC’s growing agritourism scene.

From wagon rides through strawberry patches to hands-on farm festivals, many local farms offer more than just U-pick; they offer an experience. Did you know? The SC Agritourism Association even has a 2025 Passport Program that lets you collect stamps as you visit participating farms, with prizes like Certified SC items at the finish line.

Here are eight U-pick strawberry farms that are just a short drive from Columbia — plus one more spot where the berries come pre-picked, but the experience is still worth the trip.

🍓Pick ‘em

Clinton Sease Farm | 426 Olde Farm Rd., Lexington | Try the Strawberry Pick and Play option that includes a wagon ride to the strawberry patch, pick-your-own berries, a visit with the farm animals, playgrounds, and more.

Cottle Strawberry Farm | 9560 Garners Ferry Rd., Hopkins | Fresh. Sweet. Local. Cottle Strawberry Farm, a local family-run farm for over 50 years, offers U-Pick and is a great fit for group visits and family outings.

Lever Farms | 5057 SC Hwy. 34, Pomaria | Reconnect with the land by picking your strawberries, and then stop in the farm’s market to pick up some homemade Five Pepper Strawberry Preserves to complement your next appetizer or breakfast dish.

Lucas Ridge Farms | 7668 Edmund Hwy., Pelion | Prices start at $15 for U-pick and $18 for pre-picked baskets.

McCurley Farms | 8839 Salley Rd., North | This family-owned farm offers strawberries at $2.75/lb and a wide variety of other seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Lush Acres Farm | 1875 W. Maple Street Ext., Clinton | The farm’s Spring Festival is coming up on Saturday, May 4, featuring a gallon of u-pick strawberries for $15 along with a local artisan market, a new jump pad, and a corn cannon.

Not U-pick, but worth the drive

Strawberry Hill USA | 3097 Hwy. 11 W., Chesnee
This family-run farm is the largest strawberry grower in SC. While they don’t offer U-pick, you can still enjoy fresh berries, seasonal produce, ice cream, and baked goods at their café and market. It’s a Passport Program stop and a staple of the SC agritourism experience.

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