Our family orchard
Small farm, big variety: a family-run u-pick fruit tree farm and nursery, just 5 minutes from downtown Crystal River.
Our story
Crystal River Orchard is a small, family-run U-pick fruit tree farm and nursery on N. Virginia Road, just 5 minutes from downtown Crystal River. The orchard was planted in 2016, and we (Laura & Steve D.) have been running it since 2021. Longtime visitors may know it as Hatfield’s Orchard. Same orchard, a new name.
We’re modest in size, about 5 acres, but we like to say small farm, big variety. There’s nothing like picking tree-ripened fruit right from the source.
What we grow
Blueberries
Rabbiteye blueberries (Krewer, Alapaha and Brightwell) follow from late May to late June.
Peaches & nectarines
The season starts with nectarines in April, then Tropic Snow and Tropic Beauty peaches from the end of April into May.
Pears
Our Asian sand pears ripen in July. They’re crisp, juicy and great for fresh eating.
Muscadines, sugar cane & more
Muscadine grapes come in August: Southern Home, the University of Florida’s own hybrid, and the bigger, red-bronze Florida Fry. They’re great for fresh eating, jelly, juice and making award-winning wine. From mid-October through November it’s sugar cane U-cut time, and the cane is good for planting, too.
Elderberries ripen mostly in May and June, with a few surprise crops through the year. We have four apple trees too, ripe in May when the squirrels leave us any, and mulberries show up when they please, so ask what’s ripe.
Our nursery offers blueberry bushes, mulberry trees and elderberry trees in 3-gallon pots, ready to take home. In the shop you’ll find our homemade jams and preserves. Our regulars are blueberry, peach, nectarine, pear butter and Southern Spice pear butter, and seasonal jams & jellies rotate with the harvest.
Visiting the farm
We provide the buckets and bags. Pick what you like, and we’ll weigh it in our front shop. Kids are welcome; please keep them within eyesight. The orchard is walk-in only, and we’re sorry, but no dogs or pets (service animals welcome). Veterans and active military get a free jar of jam with ID, as our thank-you.
Field trips and group events: we can host them on request, so contact us to plan. Questions? Call or text Laura at (352) 794-1176.
Looking ahead
We’re giving the front shop a fresh renovation, ready for next season. We’ll share the progress on Facebook, and we hope you’ll stop by to see it.
As featured in: Discover Crystal River. Find us in the Discover Crystal River directory.
Around the orchard
