If you drive south past the suburban sprawl of Princess Anne, the strip malls basically vanish. The air starts to smell less like salt spray and car exhaust and more like damp earth and ripening fruit. This is Pungo. It’s a part of Virginia Beach that most tourists—and honestly, a lot of locals—never actually see because they’re too busy fighting for a parking spot at the oceanfront. But if you know where to look, specifically at Henley Farm Virginia Beach VA, you find the literal soul of the city’s agricultural history.
It isn't a theme park. It’s a working farm.
Most people think of Virginia Beach as just a beach town, but the Henley family has been proving them wrong since the 1960s. When you pull onto Charity Neck Road, you aren't just visiting a "pick-your-own" spot; you’re stepping into a legacy that Fred Henley started decades ago. It’s gritty, it’s beautiful, and depending on the month, your shoes will absolutely get ruined by mud.
The Reality of Picking at Henley Farm Virginia Beach VA
Let’s be real: u-pick farming is hard work. People show up in white sneakers thinking it’s a photo op. Within twenty minutes, they’re sweating and realization hits that strawberries grow on the ground, not on convenient eye-level shelves. But that’s the charm of Henley Farm Virginia Beach VA. It’s authentic. You grab a carrier, you head into the rows, and you hunt for the berries that haven't been touched by the sun yet—those are the ones that taste like actual candy.
The season usually kicks off in late April or May with strawberries. These aren't those giant, hollow, watery things you buy at the grocery store in January. These are small, deep red, and they stain your fingers for three days. The farm follows the rhythm of the Virginia climate, which means if we had a late frost, the harvest might be thin. If it’s been a rainy week, the fields are a swamp. That’s farming.
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What’s actually in the dirt?
It’s not just berries. Throughout the year, the lineup changes constantly.
- Sweet corn that people literally line up for in the heat of July.
- Tomatoes that actually have a smell (if you know, you know).
- Peaches that are so juicy you have to eat them over a sink.
- Pumpkins and Hayrides once the humidity finally breaks in October.
The Henley family also runs a farm market, which is great for people who want the farm-to-table experience without actually getting dirt under their fingernails. They sell their own produce, but they also stock local honey and jams. Honestly, the honey is worth the trip alone. Local honey is supposedly great for allergies, but mostly it just tastes better than the processed stuff.
Why the "Pungo Heritage" Matters
There is a lot of pressure on land in Virginia Beach. Developers are always looking at those wide-open spaces in the southern part of the city and seeing neighborhoods or shopping centers. When you support a place like Henley Farm Virginia Beach VA, you’re essentially voting for the preservation of the Green Line. This is the city's informal boundary that separates the urban north from the rural south.
The Henleys are one of the cornerstone families of this movement. They’ve been at it for generations. Bruce Henley and the rest of the crew aren't just selling cabbage; they’re maintaining a buffer zone that keeps Virginia Beach from becoming one giant parking lot. It’s a lifestyle choice. They could have sold out years ago, but they didn't.
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The logistics of a visit
Don't just show up. That is the number one mistake people make. Because they are a working farm, their hours depend entirely on the crop and the weather. If a field is picked clean by 11:00 AM on a Saturday, they’re closing the u-pick.
- Check the Facebook page. It sounds old school, but that’s where they post daily updates on what’s ripe and what’s closed.
- Bring your own containers? Sometimes they prefer you use their baskets for measurement accuracy, so check the signs when you walk up to the shed.
- Water. It’s Pungo. It’s 95 degrees with 90% humidity in the summer. There is no shade in a cabbage patch.
Beyond the Berries: The Farm Market Experience
The Henley Farm Market is a bit of a local hub. It’s located at 3484 Charity Neck Rd. If you’re coming from the North End or Chesapeake, it feels like a trek, but the drive down Princess Anne Road is actually pretty therapeutic once you get past the courthouse area.
They do a lot of "picked-this-morning" produce. This matters because the sugar in things like sweet corn starts turning to starch the second it’s pulled from the stalk. If you buy corn at a supermarket that was shipped from three states away, it’s already "old." When you get it at Henley’s, it’s essentially a different vegetable entirely.
Seasonal Shifts you should know about
The farm isn't a year-round carnival. It follows the earth.
In the spring, it’s all about the rush of the strawberry. It’s frantic. Families everywhere.
In the summer, it slows down into a humid crawl of blackberries, peaches, and nectarines. This is when the serious cooks show up to buy bushels for canning.
Fall is the peak for "agritourism." The pumpkin patch at Henley Farm Virginia Beach VA is a staple for local schools. They do hayrides that aren't overly produced or "Disney-fied." It’s a tractor and a trailer full of hay. It’s perfect.
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Common Misconceptions About Local Farming
People often think farm-fresh means cheaper. Not always. You aren't paying for the efficiency of an industrial monoculture; you’re paying for the lack of pesticides (or the responsible use of them), the manual labor of a local family, and the fact that the food hasn't been gassed to stay "fresh" during a 1,000-mile truck ride.
Another thing: the produce isn't always "pretty." A Henley Farm tomato might have a weird bump or a scar. A grocery store tomato is a perfect, flavorless red sphere. Choose the ugly one. It’s the one that actually grew naturally.
Making the Most of Your Trip
If you’re planning to head down to Henley Farm Virginia Beach VA, do it early. Like, 9:00 AM early. The sun in Virginia Beach is brutal by noon, and the best fruit is usually gone by then anyway.
Dress like you’re going to do yard work. If you show up in flip-flops, you’re going to have a bad time. The ground is uneven, there are bugs (it's a farm, get over it), and you’re going to get dusty. But when you get home and bite into a strawberry that’s still warm from the sun, you’ll realize why people have been making this drive for sixty years.
Practical Steps for Your Visit:
- Call ahead or check social media: Crops fail or get over-picked. Don't waste the gas without confirming they are open for u-pick.
- Cash is king: While most places take cards now, having cash makes the small transactions at the farm stand way faster.
- Bring a cooler: If you’re planning to hit the beach afterward, your berries will turn to mush in a hot car. Bring a cooler with an ice pack to keep your haul fresh.
- Respect the rows: Don't jump over plants. It kills the root systems. Stay in the designated paths so the farm stays productive for everyone else.
- Explore Pungo: Since you're already down there, stop by the Pungo Pizza or the local ice cream shops. Make a day of it.
Supporting Henley Farm Virginia Beach VA isn't just about food; it’s about keeping a piece of Virginia’s history alive in a world that’s increasingly paved over. It’s honest work, and it’s an honest experience. Just remember to wear your old boots.