In between Tampa and Orlando on Interstate 4, there’s a little town of about 40,000 people called Plant City. The land is extremely fertile around the area, boasting 8,000 acres of strawberries. In fact, when most of the country is lingering in the coldest of winter weather, Plant City is busy growing and producing those luscious strawberries we all enjoy come Valentine’s Day.

In addition to strawberries, Plant City is also home to several blueberry farms, and last weekend a few friends and I traveled to Plant City to enjoy a day at Keel Farms. Originally, the farm began as a plant nursery before transitioning to blueberries about 40 years ago. Then in 2003, the owner decided to make a batch of blueberry wine. Craft beer and ciders followed, with the winery reaching statewide distribution in Florida grocery stores a couple of years ago.

I was on hand to enjoy the wine tasting and some cider flights while taking in the overall family fun last weekend.

Our tasting guide, Dana, walked us through eight different fruit wines, ranging from Wild Berry Pinot Noir to Dry Blueberry. We also sipped on a four-fruit Sangria, Peach Chardonnay and, my personal favorite, the Strawberry Riesling (which Dana perfectly described as “Girls just wanna have fun” in a glass).

Once our tasting was complete, we casually walked throughout the farm and sampled a few blueberries directly off the bush. The farm was gearing up for a large blueberry festival the next day with games, food trucks and you-pick blueberry buckets for visitors to enjoy. Although we were a day early and didn’t experience the full festival, we did play a round of cornhole and then stopped to say hello to about a dozen chickens and a couple of goats who were named Lucy and Dezi.

Shortly thereafter, we sat down to enjoy a flight of ciders before dinner. My personal favorites included the Elderberry Cider, Pirate Punch and Watermelon Cider. I happily sipped between each of my three glasses while the table debated whether or not the bright blue color of the Blueberry Lemonade Cider reminded our 10-year-old selves of a blue raspberry popsicle or cough syrup.

We also ordered dinner while listening to an excellent live musician on the outdoor covered patio. I enjoyed Beef and Cheese Empanadas, the California Flatbread, and Blueberry Cheesecake for dessert, just as the sun set and a light breeze filled the air.

My time at Keel Farms was a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of what feels like an endless sea of tourists right now in Florida. It was good to walk between the blueberry bushes, remember the sound of a goat, and taste something new. It was grounding and fun.

I have a feeling I’ll think a bit differently about my handful of blueberries the next time I add them to my breakfast yogurt or waffle. And perhaps all of those good feelings will resonate once more when I break open a bottle of blueberry wine. I suppose that’s the beauty of connecting with places that produce rather than places that consume.

My thanks to Plant City and Keel Farms for the timely reminder.

— Carrie Cox, account executive