“Going a little further we came into a plat of
ground full of fine and beautiful Strawberries,
four times bigger and better than ours in England.”
—Historian George Percy, April 26, 1607 (shortly after making landfall at First Landing)
As the quote above indicates, strawberries were one of the first American crops to be savored—and eventually shipped back, as a delicacy—by English settlers. Today, thanks to our famously mild temperatures and rich, fertile soil, Virginia Beach produces nearly 400 acres of strawberries per year. Most of these crops are grown on family farms in Pungo, a delightful agricultural region just south of Sandbridge, and many can be enjoyed right off the vine. Here’s a quick roundup of how to maximize your harvest during our celebrated strawberry season.
Cullipher Farm
Pick Your Own Adventure
The Cullipher family has been farming for six generations spanning nearly 200 years, with a history of planting everything from peanuts, cotton and tobacco to the fruits and vegetables that are their focus today. Thanks to their sustainable rotation practices, the farm’s crops and cattle support one another—the former providing healthy food; the latter providing natural fertilization.
Cullipher’s pick-your-own strawberry season runs from April–June, but if you’re visiting Virginia Beach outside this window, be sure to check the farm’s calendar—you can harvest your own blueberries, peaches, nectarines, blackberries, apples and pumpkins at other times of the year. No matter when you’re visiting, there’s a complimentary play-and-picnic area and a welcoming committee of Highland cattle, burros and other farm animals.
Even if you’ve had a successful day of strawberry picking, be sure to stop at Cullipher Farm Market on your way out for additional produce as well as bold, flavorful honey from the farm’s hives, fresh-baked treats maybe even some wholesome, hormone-free Hollow Tree Branch Beef—raised onsite and 100% sustained by the farm’s own grass, grains and vegetables.
Side Quest: Nearby Back Bay Market & Deli is an excellent sandwich spot for eating in or taking out; we’re big fans of the Pesto Panini, served with balsamic reduction on grilled ciabatta bread.
Flanagan Farm
Acres of Family Fun
The Flanagan family has been farming Pungo Ridge—the area’s most fertile ground—for five generations. Today, Roy and Jeannie Flanagan and their five children work their ancestral land year-round, with you-pick strawberries starting in April. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself at Flanagan Farm during strawberry season, you’re in for even more farm-to-table goodness as you overlap with green pea, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, sweet corn and melon seasons. Autumn visitors can also enjoy a you-pick pumpkin patch, corn and straw mazes and wagon rides.
Side Quest: If you’ve got kiddos in your crew, nearby Jerassic Park (just outside the Military Aviation Museum) is a mandatory add on! Hit the way-way-back button at this free, beautifully landscaped park populated by a realistic metal dino menagerie featuring a brontosaurus, velociraptor, stegosaurus, triceratops, pterodactyl, woolly mammoth and saber-toothed tiger.
Henley Farms
Deliciously DIY, May–December
Three generations of the Henley family run this charming operation, and their 40-year farming heritage is evident—both in the lush, green rows of produce and the beautiful white farmhouse in the distance. In addition to affordable strawberries April–June, Henley Farms offers a variety of other you-pick fruits and veggies throughout the year. There’s also a well-stocked farm stand selling plants, herbs, ornamentals and other goodies, plus a you-pick pumpkin patch with free hayrides in the fall and cut-your-own Christmas trees in December. Bring your own containers.
Side Quest: No longer quite a “locals’ secret,” but definitely beloved by all, minutes-away Blue Pete’s Restaurant serves hearty brunches and dinners with unparalleled waterfront views. Plan your picking around a morning meal, if only to experience the decadent Redneck Bennie: shrimp, chorizo, peppers and onions topped with two eggs, sunny-side up.
Salem Berry Farm
The Ripest Berries in Pungo
Reviewers call Salem Berry Farm a “hidden gem,” and we could not agree more. This small, family-run operation offers seasonal you-pick strawberries plus a farm stand selling a variety of fresh produce and wonderful homemade preserves. Be sure to check their Facebook page if you’re planning a visit; they’re incredibly communicative about the ripeness of their crops and often close down to give the berries an extra day to get ready for their close-ups.
Side Quest: After you’ve filled your berry baskets with Salem’s bumper crop, take them to nearby Stumpy Lake Natural Area for an al fresco meal—in addition to nearly 1,000 acres of forested wilderness, there’s a quiet picnic shelter near the canoe and kayak launch.
The Flip Flop Farmer
Berry Tasty in Three Locations
With two locations offering you-pick strawberries and other fresh produce, the Flip Flop Farmer also has an on-site farm store and a relatively regular pop-up market at Bayside Library. We don’t know of a better Virginia Beach souvenir than their locally made jams, jellies and dressings.
Side Quest: If you’re at the Flip Flop Farmer’s New Bridge Road location, you’re just a stone’s throw away from Margie & Ray’s Crabhouse. Grab a deliciously gut-busting lunch, then walk it off at Lotus Garden Park: a hidden gem, just across the street, brimming with butter-yellow lotus flowers and bright-green lily pads.
Share this post
- Pick Your Own
- Pungo
- Spring
- Summer
Written by Staci Amend
As a Californian living in Colorado, writer Staci Amend takes a “why not both” approach to the whole mountains vs. oceans debate. She covers travel, nature, beauty and fashion for a variety of publications and brands — and is happiest when surrounded by hand-painted tile, struggling to pronounce her next meal. A Huntington Beach native and longboarder, she tries to time her Virginia Beach visits with the East Coast Surfing Championships.
