The 7 Mississippi Farm Markets Where You Can Fill A Bag For Under $20 This Fall

Sun-warmed grapes, sweet corn husks, and dirt that just took a good rain. That is what fall smells like at farms across Mississippi, where the gates open every autumn and somebody hands you a bucket without much ceremony.

Twenty dollars still stretches a surprising distance out there. Kids run the rows while grandparents point out which fruit is actually ready, and everybody comes back to the car with sticky fingers and more than they meant to pick.

Filling a bag here costs less than a fast food run for four, which is the sort of math that makes the drive out feel less like a trip and more like an errand you happen to enjoy.

1. Ricky Joe’s Farm – Morton

Some farms make you feel like a customer. Ricky Joe’s Farm makes you feel like a neighbor who wandered over to help with the harvest.

The muscadines here run around $10.00 to $12.00 for a gallon bag, which means a twenty covers your haul with money left for gas. Sweet, musky, and juicy enough to require napkins, the fruit rewards patience.

Their season starts early, opening in June and running strong through the end of September. That makes it one of the first stops on a Mississippi fall fruit tour and a favorite for folks who cannot wait for October.

Find the farm at 1189 Rushing Road, Morton, MS 39117, out in Scott County where the pine trees start crowding the road. Call ahead near the end of the season, since a busy weekend can clear the vines fast.

Muscadine trivia worth knowing: the grape is native to the Southeast and has been growing wild here for centuries. Long before anybody planted a vineyard, people were picking these off riverbanks.

Wear closed shoes and bring a hat. The rows get warm even when the calendar insists it is autumn.

Leftover grapes make an unbeatable syrup for pancakes. That alone justifies the drive. Muscadines grow in bunches rather than tight clusters like table grapes, so picking goes faster than you might expect.

Bring your own container if you have a preference, though buckets are usually available. Scott County sits close enough to Jackson that the drive runs under an hour on Highway 80.

Rain the day before softens the ground considerably, which makes boots the smarter footwear choice.

2. Pearl River County U-Pick Farm – Pearl River County

Bargain hunters, this one is for you. Pearl River County’s u-pick field runs a deal that sounds almost like a typo.

Picking costs $7 per gallon, and if you commit to four gallons, the whole load runs $20. Four gallons of fruit for the price of a pizza is the kind of arithmetic that makes a person grin the entire drive home.

South Mississippi soil suits berries and grapes well, and the fields down here soak up sunshine that keeps fruit sugary. Mornings are the sweet spot for picking, before the heat convinces you to quit early.

Deep South Mississippi weather can turn humid fast, so pack more water than you think you need. A cooler in the trunk keeps your haul from turning to mush on the ride back.

Four gallons is a lot of fruit, so have a plan before you fill up. Freezer bags, cobbler pans, and a couple of willing neighbors all help.

Kids tend to eat as much as they collect, which every farmer expects. Consider it a tasting fee.

Check the farm’s hours before you head out. Small operations open when the crop is ready and close when it is gone. Pearl River County sits close to the Louisiana line, drawing pickers from both states during peak weeks.

The four gallon deal only makes sense if you have freezer space waiting, so clear a shelf before you drive out. Rows stay narrow enough for kids to manage without wandering off.

Cash often moves faster than cards at smaller operations, so bringing a few bills saves time at the checkout table.

3. Mitchell Farms – Collins

Peanuts, pumpkins, and a corn maze big enough to lose an uncle in. Mitchell Farms has been a Covington County fixture for generations, and autumn is when the place really hums.

The farm grows blueberries, sweet corn, peaches, and a pumpkin patch that turns the field orange every October. Prices shift by crop and by season, but filling a bag with produce here rarely dents a twenty.

You will find the gates at 605 Leaf River Church Rd, Collins, MS 39428, about an hour southeast of Jackson. The drive winds through pine country that looks like a postcard once the light goes golden.

Beyond the picking, there are hayrides, farm animals, and a country store stocked with boiled peanuts. The family has farmed this land for well over a century, which explains why everything runs so smoothly.

Weekends in October draw crowds, so an early arrival buys you elbow room. School groups often fill weekday mornings.

Pick a pumpkin with a sturdy stem still attached. It lasts longer on the porch and looks better in photos.

Fair warning: the boiled peanuts are dangerously good. Budget an extra few dollars for a bag before you leave, because willpower rarely survives the parking lot. The corn maze changes design each year, which keeps returning families guessing.

Admission covers the activities separately from the picking, so ask about pricing at the gate rather than assuming a single fee. Covington County roads run rural, meaning cell service can thin out on the approach. Fall temperatures in this part of Mississippi stay warm well into October, so dress lighter than the season suggests.

4. Cherry Creek Orchards – Pontotoc

North Mississippi does not get enough credit for its orchards. Cherry Creek Orchards quietly proves the point every single fall.

Rows of fruit trees stretch across the property, and the farm stand fills with seasonal produce as the weather cools. Apples, peaches in their season, and other harvest goods rotate through depending on what the trees decide to give.

The orchard sits at 4660 MS-345, Pontotoc, MS 38863, a short hop from Tupelo for anyone making a day of it. Hill country back roads make the approach genuinely pretty.

Crisp air and crisp fruit go together like biscuits and butter. A bag of apples here runs well under twenty dollars, and the flavor beats anything shipped in from three states away.

Ask the staff which variety is peaking. Different apples ripen at different weeks, and the tart ones bake far better than the sweet ones.

Storage tip worth remembering: keep apples cold and away from other produce. They release a gas that ripens everything nearby too quickly.

Pack a blanket and eat lunch in the parking area before heading home. Orchard air has a way of making sandwiches taste better than they have any right to. Pontotoc County sits in the hill country, which gives the orchards slightly cooler nights than the Delta gets.

That temperature swing matters for apple flavor considerably. Varieties ripen in waves across several weeks, so calling ahead tells you what is ready. The farm stand carries jams and baked goods alongside the fruit, which rounds out a trip nicely for anyone who would rather buy than pick.

5. Pecan Hill Farms – Raymond

Pecans are Mississippi’s quiet superstar, and Pecan Hill Farms treats them with the respect they deserve.

Fall is prime time out here, when the nuts drop and the farm store fills up with seasonal goods. A bag of fresh pecans makes a gift that people actually use, which is more than most souvenirs can claim.

The farm operates at 19470 MS-18, Raymond, MS 39154, an easy drive west of Jackson on Highway 18. Hinds County traffic thins out quickly once you clear the city limits.

Cracking your own pecans takes patience but pays off in flavor. Store-bought halves have usually been sitting around for months, and the difference is obvious the moment you taste a fresh one.

Freshly harvested pecans keep best in the freezer, where their oils stay from turning. They will hold for a year without complaint.

Pie season and pecan season overlap for a reason. One bag covers Thanksgiving dessert and still leaves enough for snacking.

Bring a sturdy tote, since nuts get heavier than you expect. Your grocery bag handles will thank you.

Call ahead in late fall to check what has come in. Harvest timing shifts a little every year depending on the weather. Pecan harvest typically runs from October into December, later than most fall picking.

Shelled and unshelled options are usually both available, priced differently. Hinds County keeps this an easy trip from the metro area, and Highway 18 stays uncrowded outside rush hour. Ask about cracking services, since some operations will handle the hard part for a small fee and save your hands considerable work.

6. Cedar Hill Farm – Hernando

DeSoto County has an autumn playground, and Cedar Hill Farm wears the crown without much argument.

The farm transforms every fall into a pumpkin-filled wonderland complete with hayrides, farm animals, and a patch where kids sprint between the gourds. Families from Memphis pour across the state line for it.

Set at 8 Love Rd, Hernando, MS 38632, the property sits close enough to the interstate that the trip is painless. That convenience makes it a popular first stop for people new to farm outings.

Pumpkins come in enough sizes to fit any budget, and small ones stay cheap enough that a twenty buys a whole porch display. Pie pumpkins cost less than the big carvers and taste far better.

Barnyard animals hold court near the entrance, and the goats have zero shame about begging for feed. Bring quarters for the dispensers.

Weekends in October get lively, so arrive early or aim for a weekday afternoon. Parking fills up faster than most people expect.

Wear shoes with real tread. Farm fields do not care about your fashion choices, especially after rain.

Save room for a caramel apple on the way out. It is a fall tradition worth honoring properly. DeSoto County draws heavy Memphis traffic during October weekends, which fills the parking area by midmorning.

Weekday visits run considerably calmer with the same activities available. Admission and activities are priced separately from pumpkins, so budget accordingly. The property covers real acreage, meaning a stroller handles the packed paths better than the grass.

Restrooms and food stands sit near the entrance.

7. Sandy Run Farm – Purvis

Triple threat alert. Sandy Run Farm grows blueberries, blackberries, and pumpkins, which covers just about every craving a Mississippi autumn can produce.

Berry picking here happens in tidy rows that even small kids can navigate. Blackberries carry a deeper, wilder tang than blueberries, so grab both and let your kitchen decide the winner.

The farm sits at 1092 Brooks Rd, Purvis, MS 39475, in Lamar County just south of Hattiesburg. Pine forests line the route and make the drive feel longer than it actually is.

When the pumpkin patch opens, the field turns into a photo backdrop that costs almost nothing. Smaller pumpkins keep the total well under twenty dollars, even with a few extras.

Blackberry canes have thorns, so long sleeves are a smart call. A little scratch is a fair trade for cobbler filling.

Pick berries that slide off with barely any tug. If you have to yank, it is not ready yet.

Freeze your extras the same day you pick them. Berries lose their snap faster than most fruit, and a day on the counter costs you flavor.

End the trip with a stop for a milkshake in Hattiesburg. You earned it out there in the rows. Berry season and pumpkin season do not overlap, so check which crop is running before you plan the trip.

Blueberries generally peak in early summer while pumpkins arrive in fall. Lamar County keeps the drive from Hattiesburg short, under half an hour on most routes. Morning picking beats afternoon by a wide margin once summer heat settles in across south Mississippi.