By: Kara Franker
The lush, tropical landscape in Homestead and Florida City is full of local farms and nurseries to explore. Skip the line at the grocery store and take a scenic drive to score a bounty of fresh produce and flowers to flavor (and color!) your Miami getaway.
Shopping at Local Farms & Farmstands
Ready for some fresh air – and fresh produce? The Miami area’s popular farms let you pick your own berries or shop for seasonal fruits and vegetables for a great picnic to go.
Knaus Berry Farm
If you’re in Homestead between the months of November and April, a visit to Knaus Berry Farm is a must. Famous for gooey cinnamon rolls and delicious strawberry milkshakes, this farm and bakery is a Miami staple among the locals. What started as two brothers setting up a small fruit stand back in 1956 has grown into a full family business where you can pick your own produce while enjoying baked goods, ice cream and more.
Robert is Here
Also in Homestead, Robert is Here is a popular fruit stand and farm that has been around since 1959. Since then, the business has expanded into quite the attraction, selling a range of locally sourced (and hard to find!) exotic fresh fruits and vegetables like carambola, mamey, lychee, atemoya, papaya and, of course, mangoes. Robert, who still mans the store today, also has plenty of delectable homemade jellies, preserves, key lime pies and his famous fresh-fruit milkshakes. An animal farm, play area, picnic tables and live music during winter weekends add to the appeal. The farm is part of the National Food & Beverage Foundation's National Culinary Heritage Register, a prestigious list for establishments that are at least 50 years old.
The Berry Farms
With a mission of “bringing a piece of the country to Miami,” The Berry Farms (formerly Burr’s Berry Farm) has been a fixture in the Redland Farm community northeast of Homestead for some 70 years. Offering acres and acres of the best strawberries around, a crop of new harvest and holiday festivals also celebrate the area’s bounty.
Visiting Local Nurseries
More fun awaits beyond the farm as well. Check out these visitor-friendly nurseries offering gorgeous flowers, plants, pottery and more.
R.F. Orchids
When you walk into the nursery at R.F. Orchids in Homestead, you’ll not only be greeted by a tropical garden offering a dizzying array of beautiful flowers, but also a cool tropical refreshment as well. Talk about a welcome! Tours of the gardens are also offered on weekends, weather permitting.
Isaac Farms
The owners of Isaac Farms just north of Homestead travel the world to find the most exotic plants, succulents and cactus species that will thrive in the Florida climate. Visitors are welcome to come see them all, along with impressive collections of pottery and wood art to enhance your own landscape back home.