Winter Fruit Stands Near Miami

In south Miami-Dade county, there are three renowned, seasonal fruit stands famous for their fruit shakes.
 
I already reviewed one, Robert is Here, in this thread:
 
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/tm.aspx?m=390662 
  

Burr’s Berry Farm
 
Burr’s Berry Farm is open from Christmas to Mother’s Day.
 

 
The stand is in front of the strawberry field.
 
 
  
It is just a simple building, with take-out only.
 

 
As one might imagine, the specialties of the house are anything strawberry. They also offer some other local vegetables, and canned salsas, pickles, jams and jellies.
 

 
After confirming that the strawberry shakes were made from the strawberries picked from the field in back, I ordered a “small”. They make each one in a blender - no commercial “shake machine”.
 

 
This was very good. I got brain-freeze from sucking it down too fast.
 
Next stop, about two miles further down US-1 and five minutes west… 

Knaus Berry Farm
 

 
This stand is open from mid-November to late April. It is owned by the Knaus family, who belong to a German baptist sect sometimes known as Dunkers. I wasn’t sure whether they have proscriptions against being photographed, so I abstained. The women wear bonnets, and the men have beards and wore straw hats.
 
The building is a little bigger because it houses a bakery.
 

 
As you can see, it is busy, even on a weekday. On Saturday, expect long lines.
 
In addition to milk shakes, they are well-known in the area for their baked goods.
 

 
They produce excellent cinnamon rolls, pecan rolls, pies and other baked goods. Here are some of the pies:
 

 
Like the other stands, they offer some local produce from other farms:
 

 
And, of course, strawberries!
 

 
At this one, though, you can pick your own strawberries and tomatoes:
 

 
I got a strawberry shake, and a cinnamon bun.
 

 

 
 
I’m glad I only got one bun. I could have inhaled about a half dozen. Warm, soft, sticky, yeasty goodness. Very much worth a detour.
 
As far as the shakes go, I think that the Burr’s Berry used more strawberry, although both were excellent.
Neither business has an official web site, although the baker at Knaus Berry Farm has this web site and blog:

http://www.tiffanyblitz.com/knausberryfarmmenu/
A regional self-tour web site has these pages:

http://www.redlandriot.com/Burrs.html

http://www.redlandriot.com/Knaus.html
 
Burr's Berry Farm 12741 Hainlin Mill Drive (SW 216 Street), Gould's, Miami-Dade County, FL (no phone)
 
Knaus Berry Farm 15980 Coconut Palm Drive (SW 248 Street), Redlands, Miami-Dade County, FL 305-247-0668
 
(Call if you are looking for a specific item other than the cinnamon or pecan rolls)
  
 

Oh MAN.  Fresh strawberries and baked goods.  I would set up a tent in their parking lot.

Unrelated story.  In 1987 I was expecting my son and for some reason I was possessed with an insane craving for watermelon--I was calling local restaurants, anything, because there is not one to be had this time of year, right?  Or at least there wasn't then.  So in March my dad had to go to Florida for a work thing and he comes back with a watermelon in the car that he had bought for $5 from a stand--and this was a big big deal because he was Mr. 99 cent watermelon.  So he brings it to me and I ate myself stupid on that thing.  God bless Florida and my dad.

This is simply a fantastic report! A lot of work went into this one along with Don's other post on Robert is Here. Thank you very much, Don! Maybe one day I will make it to one of these places.....oh wait....I've been to all of these AWESOME places a bazillion times and can't wait to go back!

Great photos Don!  No surprise, the shakes especially caught my eye.  All those little flecks of strawberry in there look wonderful.  I would definitely get brain freeze too, from drinking it too fast!

Oh those strawberries...a strawberry's the closest thing to Ambrosia....I'm soooo hungry right now!

We have u-pick strawberries at a few places around here as well as grapes and blueberries.  I'd LOVE to have u-pick tomatoes though!

come on now Don-we are dying for fresh fruit an vegetables here...Thanks for posting!