MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Spring brings not only warmer weather, but also fresh produce, making a trip to a “u-pick farm” a great way to spend the day in a family-friendly, wholesome environment, with food you pick that will be part of a nutritious meal on your table.

“They’re fresh, the freshest you can get when you pick them yourself as you’re able to pick them at a riper stage, than the ones in the grocery store were picked at and they have a better flavor and they’re sweeter,” said Mary Beth Locke of Back Road Berries in Oxford. “Granted, they won’t last quite as long sometimes, because you’re picking them riper. But they definitely taste better.”

For many, it’s a family affair, as multiple generations visit the u-pick farms as a rite of passage during the spring.

“I have grandparents that come out who bring their grandkids,” said Locke. “We want them to know that the grocery store doesn’t grow these. We want them to see where it came from and how it’s grown.”

Back Road Berries is located at 13578 CR 103 Oxford, FL.  For more information, you can access their website at backroadberries.com or call 352-303-3213.

The opportunity to go to a u-pick farm, enjoy fresh, quality produce, while forming experiences that will leave an indelible impression, are reasons to go to area produce farms and orchards, while bringing home delicious and nutritious food.

“The number one reason to go to the local farms, is not only is it a great outing for you and your family,” said Mary Graham, Graham Farms, Umatilla. “It’s a great time away to get back to nature and to experience rural Florida, especially if you’re in a more metropolitan area. You get produce that is tree ripened. There’s nothing like picking a peach, blueberry or strawberry or whatever you’re eating, right from the plant, ripe and ready to go, and taking a bite out of that. That will be one of the best memories that you can give your kid or one of the best things you can do for your parent that are older and may not have the memory like it should be. It’s going to bring back memories from their childhood.”

Graham Farms, founded in 1918, has a long tradition, and was established by Mary Graham’s husband’s family. It had been in citrus for years, but the greening disease transformed the operatio; they’re now concentrating on peaches and blackberries. There are also sunflowers and wildflowers for picking.

“My kids are currently helping with the farm, they’re fifth generation, my grandkids live here on the farm as well,” said Graham. “Believe it or not, even the five and three-year-olds do things to help around the farm. We have six generations for Grahams working on the farm. Our goal is to eventually get citrus back in again.”

Graham Farms is located at 14803 Lake Yale, Road, Umatilla, For more information, you can call 352-636-3821 or access their website at grahamsupickfarms.com.

Sweet Berry Farms in Williston is a family-run business and has been in operation for six years. It’s Bill McGinn, his wife and sister primarily, with some occasional outside help.

“We pride ourselves in being a family-owned business,” said Bill McGinn. “Me and my wife are also veterans’ and we donate to veterans causes. We have a relationship with Phillips Farms that goes back to high school, with Steve and Amy Phillips. They are our produce supplier. They’ll set up when we have events, starting on March 28, with the spring festival. They bring produce out here. They bring a lot of watermelons out here.”

The farm’s season for blackberries on the u-pick side goes from mid-April to the end of June and sometimes into July. Next year, the farm will offer peaches, providing a wider variety of options, and this fall the operation is planting blueberries, however, it takes about two years once you plant a new crop, said McGinn. The farm has a strong social media presence. The facility hosts a number of events throughout the year, featuring about 35 vendors and food trucks, who come from as far away as Jacksonville and Tampa.

Sweet Berry Farms is located at 4851 NE 190th Ave, Williston. You can access their farm’s website at sweetberryfarmsllc.com or call 352- 278-2819,