Tucked away off of U.S. 301 in Lawtey (Bradford County) Florida is a farm full of strawberries ripe for the picking. Welcome to Crawford Farms. As you drive down a gravel road, you will be able to park just feet away from the rows upon rows of strawberries. As you begin your adventure with bucket in hand, you likely will be greeted by Rod Crawford and his family.
You will be directed to a good area on the field and only asked to have a good time. Rod Crawford and his family have owned this stretch of land for over 100 years. Prior to COVID-19, flats of strawberries would go straight to farmer markets and festivals. Once COVID-19 changed commerce and demand, Rod opened the fields up to the public as a true gem for those looking for ripe and ready to eat U-Pick strawberries. With an i-Phone or GPS onboard, the farm is easy to find. It is only the last quarter mile or so that is a gravel road.
Lawtey is a small town located in Bradford County Florida. The county hub is Starke which is roughly between Jacksonville and Gainesville. In this town of less than 1,000 residents, there are a couple of lights and restaurants. Also, be prepared to slow down when entering the city because speed limits are strictly enforced. A quick trip to Lawtey is certainly a nice break from the hustle and bustle of work and family commitments. It is also nice to get out into the fresh air and into the small town with friendly folks like Rod and his family.
As you walk down the rows of strawberries, your only major decision will be which wonderful strawberries to pick and bring home with you. During our recent trip to Crawford Farms, we loaded up two full buckets of strawberries. One of the buckets is shown in the photo above along with a nice photo of Rod Crawford - farm owner, strawberry expert, family patriarch, and, yes, a big time Florida Gator fan.
Here is the address and phone number for Crawford Farms:
Crawford Farms
21175 N.W. 43rd Avenue
Lawtey, Florida 32058
(904) 545-5687
Here is a link to the Facebook Page for Sweet Berries of Craword:
The Good Deed Brigade salutes Rod Crawford and his family for opening up the farm to the public and for providing fresh strawberries and friendship to the Lawtey community and all visitors ready for a sweet adventure.
Remember, wherever you see the Good Deed Brigade, it's all good.
