Mississippi Families Pick Berries Here In Summer And Come Back In Fall For Pecans Off 150-Year-Old Trees
Turning off a quiet Mississippi highway, you might expect nothing more than a farm stand and a few trees. Instead, you find rows of old pecan trees, berry bushes, and flower beds stretching out under a wide sky.
Families can pick berries and flowers in early summer, then come back in fall for bags of freshly harvested pecans. It is the kind of place that turns a simple snack run into a day your kids will talk about for weeks.
Pecan Country on Highway 18
Roughly 30 minutes from Jackson, Pecan Hill Farms sits at 19470 Highway 18 in Raymond, Mississippi. The drive itself is part of the fun, with city traffic giving way to open fields and long rows of trees.
Kids in the back seat usually start pointing at the orchard before the car even stops.
Here is the key thing families should know up front. Pecan Hill Farms is the home of Bass Pecan Company, a working commercial pecan operation.
Because of that, the pecans are harvested by the farm, not picked by visitors.
So where does the U-Pick part come in? Each early summer, the farm opens its berry rows and flower beds to the public, letting families fill buckets and cups by hand.
Then in fall, the retail store fills up with pecans pulled straight from the surrounding orchard.
That two-season setup actually works well for families. You get a hands-on picking trip when school lets out, plus a reason to return when the weather cools and holiday baking begins.
Knowing which season offers what helps you plan a visit that matches your kids, your schedule, and your pantry list.
Orchard Roots Dating to 1870
Picture a pecan tree planted around the time your great-great-grandparents were kids. That is roughly how old the orchard in Raymond is, with its beginnings traced back to about 1870.
Some trees out here have watched more than a century of harvests come and go.
Bass Pecan Company joined the story in 1906, building a name around Mississippi pecans. Decades later, the current owners stepped in to revitalize the orchard in 2002.
Four years after that, in 2006, they acquired Bass Pecan Company itself, tying the land and the brand together again.
For kids, this history makes a great talking point on the drive. Ask them how tall a tree gets after 150 years, or what the farm might have looked like before tractors.
Questions like those turn a shopping stop into a mini history lesson.
Parents will appreciate that the farm feels lived in rather than staged. Over time, the owners have expanded into livestock and tree sales, but the old pecan trees remain the heart of the property.
Standing among them, you get a real sense of how farming families in Mississippi have worked the same ground for generations.
This Year’s Crop at the Retail Store
Fresh pecans taste different, and the farm store is where you find out why. From mid-October through December, the Pecan Hill Farms retail store sells nuts harvested from the orchard just outside its doors.
Only the current year’s crop makes it onto the shelves.
Shoppers can choose from three styles. In-shell pecans are great for families who enjoy cracking them at the kitchen table.
Almost shelled and fully shelled options save time when you have pies, pralines, or granola on the baking schedule.
Kids tend to love the in-shell bags most. Cracking pecans becomes a cozy evening activity, and little hands get busy sorting halves from broken pieces.
It also teaches them where their holiday treats actually come from.
Timing matters during pecan season. The store opens Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm, based on the latest posted fall hours.
Arriving earlier in the season gives you the widest selection before holiday shoppers stock up.
Bringing a cooler or sturdy tote makes the trip home easier. Fresh pecans keep best when stored cool, and many families freeze extra bags so the harvest lasts well past the new year.
Blueberry and Blackberry Rows
About 20 rows of blueberry bushes line one side of the field, with roughly 20 rows of blackberries on the other. That layout makes it easy for families to split up, compare buckets, and meet back in the middle.
Visitors often single out the blueberries as some of the best they have tasted.
Picking season usually runs from late May to early July. Each guest gets a 1-gallon bucket, and the rule is simple: you pick it yourself.
The farm does not offer pre-picked berries or a we-pick service.
Early birds have the advantage here. Guests recommend arriving soon after opening, since late arrivals can spend more time hunting for ripe fruit to fill a bucket.
Morning air is cooler for kids, too.
One update matters for planning. A hard freeze in March 2026 hurt the blueberry crop, so the farm switched to pop-up picking days as berries ripen.
A full regular U-Pick season is expected to return in June 2027.
Following the farm’s Facebook page is the best way to catch those pop-up dates. They can be announced on short notice, and spots in the rows go quickly.
Flower Cups and Garden Shears
Not every kid gets excited about berries. For those who would rather gather something colorful, the flower beds at Pecan Hill Farms offer a sweet alternative during the same early summer window.
Guests receive shears and a cup at check-in. From there, it is up to you to wander the rows and choose stems that catch your eye.
Visitors describe a mix of bright blooms and wildflowers, which makes every cup look a little different.
Younger children may need help with the shears, so plan on staying close. Older kids usually enjoy the independence of picking their own bouquet.
Many families let each child fill a cup to give to a grandparent, teacher, or neighbor.
Cups cost $8 each, which keeps the activity affordable even for larger groups. That price also makes flowers an easy add-on after a round of berry picking.
Fresh-cut blooms do best with a little care on the ride home. Tucking a damp paper towel or a jar of water in the car helps stems stay perky.
Once on the kitchen table, they make a cheerful reminder of a morning spent outdoors together.
Shade, Water, and Simple Comforts
Mississippi summers get hot fast, and the farm plans for it. Cold water is available for pickers, and a shady pavilion gives everyone a covered spot to rest between rows.
Visitors mention appreciating that place to sit when little legs start dragging.
Picnic tables add another reason to linger. Packing sandwiches and snacks turns a quick picking trip into a relaxed family lunch.
Kids can compare their buckets while parents catch their breath.
Porta-potties are on site, which is a relief for anyone traveling with young children. They are basic, but they make a longer stay much more doable.
Clothing choices make a real difference. Comfortable outfits that can get a little stained are smart, since berry juice has a way of finding shirts.
Rubber boots are recommended for early morning visits because the grass stays wet with dew.
Sunscreen and hats round out the packing list. Even with the pavilion, much of the picking happens in open sun.
Leave pets at home, though. Animals are not permitted anywhere on the property, so plan ahead if your family usually travels with a dog.
Farm Store Extras Beyond the Nuts
Recent visitors have been talking about more than pecans and berries. According to guests, the farm store offers a good selection of fresh vegetables and meat, and shoppers are urged not to skip the ice cream.
That variety reflects how the farm has grown. Over the years, Pecan Hill Farms has expanded into livestock operations, adding another layer to what families can bring home.
A single stop can cover dinner ingredients and a cold treat for the ride back.
Gardeners will want to note another option. From October through March each year, the farm sells pecan trees along with other tree varieties.
Planting a young pecan tree at home can be a fun long-term project for kids, who can watch it grow alongside them.
Picking out a tree also connects nicely with the orchard’s long history. Your backyard sapling shares roots, in a sense, with trees that have stood in Raymond since the 1800s.
Store offerings can shift with the seasons, so checking the farm’s Facebook page before you go is wise. That way you will know whether ice cream, produce, or trees are available on your visit day.
Easygoing Fun for Every Age
Grandparents, toddlers, and teenagers can all find something to enjoy here. Guests often describe berry picking at Pecan Hill Farms as an activity young and old can share, without anyone feeling left out.
The setup helps. Visitors say the farm is well organized, with good crowd management even on busy days.
The area stays clean, and staff are frequently described as friendly and attentive, with a family-run feel.
Early mornings carry a calm, peaceful mood among the trees, and the land offers gorgeous views across the property. Some families prefer evening outings instead, when the light softens and the heat eases.
Teachers and homeschool groups should know the farm has welcomed school field trips. Seeing how berries grow on the bush, or how a commercial pecan farm operates, gives students a hands-on science lesson.
Small kids may tire before the bucket fills, and that is fine. Splitting a bucket between siblings keeps everyone engaged without pressure.
For date-style outings, couples enjoy it too. Still, the farm truly shines as a family stop, where kids can taste fruit straight from the bush and learn that food does not start at the grocery store.
Hours, Prices, and Payment Basics
Budgeting for this outing is refreshingly simple. Blueberries cost $10 per gallon, blackberries run $20 per gallon, and flower cups are $8 each.
Those prices make it easy to plan for a family of four without surprises.
Payment options have improved over the years. The farm now accepts cash, checks, and credit cards, so you no longer need to hit an ATM on the way.
Berry and flower season typically runs from late May into early July. Because of the 2026 freeze, expect pop-up berry days rather than a fixed schedule until the regular season returns, anticipated for June 2027.
Pecan shoppers follow a different calendar. The retail store sells the current crop from mid-October through December, open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm as of fall 2026.
Tree sales run October through March.
Getting there is straightforward from Jackson, about a 30 minute drive. Plug in 19470 MS-18, Raymond, MS 39154, and watch for the orchard rows.
Questions about dates or stock can go to the farm at 601-488-7675. Calling ahead is especially helpful during pop-up berry days, when availability changes quickly.
Two Seasons, One Rewarding Farm
Summer buckets and fall bags make a pretty great pair. Families who visit Pecan Hill Farms in both seasons get two very different experiences from the same patch of Mississippi land.
In early summer, the draw is hands-on picking. Kids crouch between bushes, sneak a berry or two, and proudly carry their bucket back to the pavilion.
Flowers give the non-berry fans their own mission.
Come autumn, the pace changes. The orchard that has stood since around 1870 delivers its harvest, and the retail store fills with fresh in-shell and shelled pecans.
Baking season suddenly feels more meaningful when you know exactly where the nuts grew.
Setting expectations is the only real trick. Visitors cannot pick pecans themselves, since this is a working commercial farm, and the berry schedule is still recovering from the 2026 freeze.
Checking the Facebook page before each trip prevents disappointment.
With those details in hand, the farm delivers simple, wholesome fun. Friendly staff, fair prices, shade to rest under, and food your kids helped gather add up to a memorable outing.
Many families end up marking both seasons on the calendar.