Yancey's Blueberry Farm

Yancey's Blueberry Farm is the oldest commercial blueberry farm in Marion County, Florida. Founded in the 1960s by Robert W. Yancey, the farm spans 22 acres along SE 1st Street Road in Silver Springs, about ten minutes east of downtown Ocala. For over six decades, the farm has operated as a U-pick destination where visitors walk the rows and harvest their own blueberries during the spring season. The operation is deliberately simple: there are no hayrides, play areas, or gift shops. What Yancey's offers is direct access to acres of blueberry bushes and the chance to fill your own containers with fresh fruit straight from the plant.

The farm's location in eastern Marion County places it in a part of Florida well-suited to blueberry cultivation. The sandy, acidic soils in this area of the state provide the low-pH growing conditions that blueberry plants require. Central Florida's warm winters and early springs also allow Southern Highbush blueberry varieties to produce fruit earlier than farms in more northern states. The result is a picking season that typically begins in April and extends through June, giving visitors a roughly three-month window to pick fresh berries. During the season, the farm is generally open daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, though hours and availability can shift depending on weather, crop conditions, and how quickly the berries are being picked.

Pricing at Yancey's Blueberry Farm is straightforward. U-pick blueberries cost $4 per pound, while pre-picked berries are available at $5 per pound for those who prefer not to do their own harvesting. The farm operates on a cash-or-check-only basis, so visitors need to plan accordingly before arriving. Guests are also expected to bring their own picking containers. Buckets, baskets, bowls, or any other clean receptacle will work. This bring-your-own approach is part of the farm's no-frills character and keeps the focus on the blueberries themselves rather than retail infrastructure.

In addition to fresh blueberries, Yancey's sells blueberry plants for home gardeners. Given the farm's long track record of growing blueberries in the Marion County climate and soil, the plants sold here are varieties that have been proven to thrive in local conditions. For residents interested in establishing their own backyard blueberry patch, purchasing plants from a farm with decades of growing experience in the same region is a practical starting point.

Yancey's Blueberry Farm is part of a broader tradition of agricultural tourism in Marion County. While the county is best known for its horse farms, the area also supports a range of produce farms that attract visitors during their respective growing seasons. Other blueberry operations in the area include Abshier Blueberry Farm in Belleview and Seiler Farms, each offering their own take on the U-pick experience. The Ocala Downtown Farmers Market is another outlet where local farm products are available throughout the year. For visitors looking for seasonal outdoor activities in the area, blueberry picking at Yancey's is a reliable spring activity in Ocala that has drawn locals and visitors alike for more than half a century.