Florida Agritourism Destinations for Every Season
In partnership with: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
As one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the nation, Florida has a seemingly endless supply of ag-focused activities to go around. in fact, it’s now easier than ever to find these agritourism hot spots with the free Florida Agritourism app, which features an interactive map that can sort destinations by location, season and type of activity. Here are examples of activities you’ll find on the app – inspiration for agritourism adventures throughout the year.
Cut Your Own Christmas Tree
Choosing and chopping your own Christmas tree isn’t just for those in snowy states. Bavarian Christmas Tree Farm, located in Tallahassee, offers a wide variety of trees to choose from, including Carolina Sapphire, Fraser Fir, Arizona Cypress and more. From Thanksgiving Day to Christmas Eve, the farm is open to families who want the experience of cutting their own tree with all the necessary supplies provided. For Franco Camacho, who runs the tree farm with his wife, Sigrid, it’s all about tradition.
“We have customers who have been coming since the beginning who now bring their kids,” he says. “It’s a tradition for them, and we love being a part of that.”
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Spring Farm Tours
Ever wanted to see what it’s like on a real-life farm? Discover a new appreciation for your food and where it comes from by taking advantage of You Farm’s Farm Tour Wednesdays, which provide an overview of farm life, as well as the chance to harvest newly laid eggs and pick fresh greens. If you want a more immersive experience, you can book a private two-hour farm interaction, which includes mingling with goats, horses, chickens and more.
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Summer Wine Tastings and Vineyard Tours
Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a novice, you can’t go wrong with a vineyard tour and wine tasting. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and flavorful wine at Bunker Hill Vineyard & Winery in Parrish. Bunker Hill is a certified Florida Farm Winery that places environmental responsibility at the core of everything they do. From the solar energy that drives the irrigation system to the locally sourced, recycled bottles they use for their wine, sustainability is paramount. They offer wine tastings and vineyard tours Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an optional hors d’oeuvres tray if you want to indulge. Buy a bottle or two to take home with you, because as Bunker Hill promises, “Handcrafted wine is our trademark; exceptional taste is our pledge.”
Fall Festivals and Crop Mazes
Amazing Grace Family Farms knows how to celebrate the best parts of autumn, all while providing a fun environment for families. Co-owner Kelly Mosley, who runs the farm with her husband, Justin, says that their annual fall festival attracts thousands of people every year. They encourage families to come and enjoy green space instead of screen space. “We see that a lot of families are really excited to be out in the country – most of the activities are things that the families can do together, and folks really enjoy that,” Mosley says.
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The festival, which runs every Friday and Saturday in October, features wagon rides, farm animals, pumpkin picking, a sorghum crop maze and more. There are activities for all ages, from the barnyard ball zone with footballs, baseballs and basketballs galore to the corn crib, which is essentially a huge sandbox filled with corn kernels instead of sand. Bring the whole crew and start a new family tradition.