The new U-pick: Organic fruits and vegetables at their finest

BY VICTORIA MARTIN

In a community, there are many common items which can be found such as houses or small neighborhoods. Broward County seems to have something special within one of its towns: a farm. While finding a farm might not be much of a surprise in Davie, this new addition to Broward stands out from the rest. This farm is a U-pick.

Named Family Farms, this new U-pick is located at 14950 SW 14th St. A U-pick farm is a place where people can come and pick their own fruits or vegetables for purchase. Within Family Farms, some fruits and vegetables which can be picked are kale, tomatoes, peppers and the staple fruit of the farm— strawberries.

Visitors can drive up a dirt road to reach the main parking area which goes one of two ways. On one side of the farm, people can be seen picking different fruits and vegetables off of the numerous rows of plants which fill up most of the property. On the opposite side lies a small and covered area in which people can grab their buckets to begin picking or where customers come to weigh the goods which they collected. This farm is strict when it comes to payment, as they only accept cash for their products.

“I think the U-pick is beneficial to the community because it’s a great way for families with children to have something fun and different to do,” visitor Mercy Espinosa said.

“It’s a great way for families with children to have something fun and different to do.”

As the name “Family Farms” suggests, this U-pick is a great place for families as it has many activities to keep both adults and children occupied. Some might not think that picking their own fruits and vegetables is any fun, but Family Farms offers a lot more than just the choice of fruits and vegetables. The farm offers $5 hayrides to customers over 5 years old, while those under the age of 5 can ride for free. The farm even offers to grill some of the vegetables for the customers.

“I think it is good for families to come out and do stuff together,” frequent customer Darby Staub said. “It’s better than being on social media … it allows for a family to be a family, instead of being separate.”

The farm is not just filled with fruit and vegetable plants, but it also has animals on the property. Chickens, a dog and a couple cows can be found on the farm. The cows are fenced off, but the chickens and the dog are free to roam the area with the customers. Visitors are also allowed to interact and feed these animals roaming around, including the cows, which seems to be a big hit— especially with the younger children.

Even though this U-pick is almost brand new to the community of Davie, it is now considered one of the two U-pick farms left within the town. With the experiences and benefits that Family Farms offers, it seems as if the U-pick is going to be staying within the community for a while.

Photo by Alexa Jaspan