Miccosukee farm and orchard, Jubilee Orchards, located at 12008 Miccosukee Road, has officially kicked off this year’s u-pick blueberry season.

The 210-acre plantation celebrated its ninth season on April 21. 

The plantation, which was purchased in 1990, is owned and operated by former United States Senator and Florida Governor Lawton Chiles’ oldest son, Bud Chiles, and his wife, Kitty. 

Jubilee Orchards offers 50 acres of picking space for you and the family to enjoy.

For the last four years, the farm’s been all certified organic in their blueberry orchards.

This year’s season was delayed because of all the cold and rain, according to Chiles.

Fortunately, this means that the orchard will have fruit all the way through the end of June.

“We’re late,” noted Chiles. “But we have a good crop.”

According to Chiles, visitors can expect to pay less per pound if they pick during the week.

He explained, “The weekends are more expensive.”

You can bring your own picking buckets and bags if you’d like, but the farm also provides them free of charge.

Chiles advised that visitors to the orchards should come prepared, wearing closed-toed shoes, and watch for ants in the orchards.

“Because of safety reasons, we’re not allowed to have any pets,” Chiles adds. “No food or smoking in the fields.”

In 2020, the farm started offering pre-picked berries for purchase.

You can purchase pre-picked three pounds or five pounds worth of berries. “We’ll deliver them to their house or they can pick them up at the farm or pick them up through their Red Hills connections,” said Chiles. “We want people to know about that.” 

The on-site log cabin that’s now home to an organic farm store was made famous in Chiles’ second inaugural speech when he noted the overreach of government regulations in relation to the cook shack.

Today, you can purchase blueberry-inspired treats, such as berries, jellies and baked goods, at the store after your pick. 

There are also other vintage cabins to stay in at the farm.

“The vintage cabins are available this spring for people to have a picking weekend and stay over at the cabins, and they can find about that on the website,” Chiles said. “That’s a new thing for us.” 

You can visit Jubilee Orchards from April 21 through June 15 this season.

Their operating hours are as followed, but you can call them at (850) 385-7800 before you head over to ensure they’re open for picking.

Monday: Closed

Tuesday - Thursday: 4 - 7 p.m.

Friday: 8 - 11 a.m., then  4 - 7 p.m. 

Saturday: 8 a.m.  - 6 p.m.

Sunday: 1 - 6 p.m.