By Marissa Potts
Blueberries, sunflowers, and food trucks, oh my! Southern Hill Farms in Clermont has something to offer everyone, from the plant lover to the foodie looking to escape the city side of Orlando for a while. What started as a commercial farm selling produce to grocers and the like, Southern Hill Farms is now a farm that the community can enjoy. They offer U-pick fruits and veggies, sunflower fields, food trucks with freshly baked goods, and so much more! Since it is sunflower season, it was the perfect time to visit and see what makes Southern Hill Farms such a treat.
Sunflower Fields
The sunflower fields are by far one of the most popular places to visit on Southern Hill Farms property. It is massive and filled with rows upon rows of sunflowers. Happy bees buzz along to pollinate the seemingly endless supply of flowers. People flock to the fields to take photos and pick flowers for their vases at home.
It’s $6 for ages 10+ to enter the fields, where you can spend as much time as you would like. The price also includes a sunflower you get to take home with you. One of the employees also mentioned that the sunflower fields are a popular spot for people who love plants. The sunflowers yield seeds that can be planted to grow your own sunflowers once you return home.
Adjacent to the sunflower field there is also a zinnia field, which are beautiful bright flowers that can be used to create a unique and colorful bouquet.
U-Pick Fruits & Veggies
Another popular offering at Southern Hill Farms are the variety of fruits and veggies they have to pick yourselves. The produce is less expensive than you would traditionally find in a grocery store. It’s also an activity that gets everyone outside in the sunshine, and something fun to do all together.
Perhaps the most popular fruit they offer to pick are blueberries, with many fields to choose from. These berries are also used on the farm to create treats for sale like cookies and muffins. The produce offerings do change by the season, so be sure to check before you go. Other options throughout the year to choose from are peaches, strawberries, squashes and more.
Food Trucks
In between the blueberry fields and the sunflowers is a large pavilion showcasing three food trucks. At the first one you’ll find baked delicacies made fresh on the farm, many using blueberries grown on the property. I chose a gluten free blueberry and white chocolate chip cookie, a classic chocolate chip, and a blueberry muffin – all were incredible. It seemed from looking around me that the donuts were also a very popular treat.
At the second truck, sandwiches and other savory offerings were sold. This truck featured a blueberry gouda grilled cheese that is definitely on my list the next time I visit! The cheese steak sub and beef hot dogs also seemed to be popular at this stop.
Lastly, the third truck offered alcoholic beverages made with some of the ingredients from the farm as well. Local craft beers and wines are showcased on the menu, as well as cocktails like blueberry mimosas and spiked peach slushes. I went for the Frozen Blueberry Smash which had blueberry lemonade and sauvignon blanc mixed and frozen together for the perfect summer beverage.
Other Activities
There were so many other things to do at Southern Hill Farms it’s hard to include them all! Fire pits with marshmallows for purchase to make s’mores were a fun addition, as well as plants and trees available for purchase to plant at home. A store in the middle of the property offers local treats and goods like candles, bath salts, jams, honeys, and more. There are also corn hole games to play, and a small carnival area which is open on the weekends. If you are in a hurry or don’t wish to pick anything yourself, they also have baskets of produce that are pre-picked.
Overall
Southern Hill Farms has so much to offer that I can’t wait to go back to try more foods, and purchase more goods from their store! It is also a great place to relax and unwind if you need a break from the hustle and bustle of Central Florida. Have you ever been to Southern Hill Farms before? What activities would you partake in?
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