Wait until they turn blue. Often there are great berries in the center of the bush, or down low, which is perfect for your little ones! You don’t realize all the bending over and sunshine catches up with you! Ask the type of payment they prefer. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to pick right after they sprayed that morning or even if they sprayed the day before and it hasn’t rained. Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. One of the foods at the top of that list is blueberries. The fields can be far away from the parking area and some orchards are removing the tractor rides this year to reduce patron’s exposure. These are products and services I recommend because I use or trust them. First off, don’t rush to pick the berries too soon. There are three types of blueberry: highbush, lowbush and hybrid half-high. Drink it often! We’ve rounded up all the blueberry U-Pick farms within 2 hours of Chicago. Freeze your blueberries: It is better to freeze blueberries without washing them so they do not get icy. Bring masks for check-in and check-out. Sign up on our email list or start looking here in April. Now onto my home state. People are looking to eat foods that contain a high level of nutrition in hopes of fighting off diseases like cancer. Don’t wear nice clothes or shoes. A shady picnic spot and proximity to the Warren Dunes have made this a fun day trip in past years. One Maine wild blueberry farm is Peace & Plenty Farm. Bring wipes and hand sanitizer, too. Fruit picking is this summer’s hottest family activity! Slowly stir in the corn starch mixed with 1/4 cup of water. Stir to combine. If you have a bucket or coffee can with a rope tied to it, you can hang it around your neck to allow the berries to fall into the container as you pick (much faster). B & B Farms 250 South Mannheim Ave., … Blueberry season is projected to begin mid July and will likely last through early August. Especially with kids, you almost always get blueberry juice on your clothes… which is really hard to get out! This farm offers many different fruits and vegetables for purchase and picking. Many ask patrons to wear a mask during check-in and check-out, hand sanitize before picking, and use different payment methods. Open six days a week from 7:00am – 6:00pm, closed Tuesdays. Harvesting blueberries is a simple process but, even so, there are a few things to keep in mind. You don’t need to peel, pit, core or cut plus they freeze, can or dry for long-term storage if you don’t make short work of them as a pie, cobbler or just a snack. COVID-19 precautions were still in the works at the time of publishing. She is a former teacher and now stay at home mom of three adorable kids. So, this holiday season, we created a giving campaign for two of our favorite non-profits who are working to help put food on the tables of hungry families across the U.S. and around the world. Just be sure to call ahead before going. Note that some of these farms may be in a different time zone (Indiana), so please keep that in mind when you plan your trip. Then Texas makes an appearance before a sizable crop from New Jersey hits the stores. Blueberries are partially self-fertile, so planting more than one varietal can extend the harvest season as well as inducing the plants to produce more and larger berries. When harvesting blueberries, choose those that are blue all the way around the berry – white and green blueberries do not ripen further once they are picked. ), Copyright © 2020 Eat Like No One Else on the Foodie Pro Theme, When Are Blueberries In Season? The portion around the stem turns color last, so don’t pick berries that are just blue on the bottom. Some farms charge for containers or don’t supply them at all, so plan for that, too. Blueberry picking generally starts in mid-July and runs approximately 3-4 weeks. Hi! We’ve got tons more outdoor activities to do with your family this summer! Berries with any blush of red are not ripe, yet may ripen further once picked if kept at room temperature. Central Florida’s Blueberry U-Pick Season. While you'll find some berries in July, August is the prime season, and the berries disappear in September. If you bring a baby, I would recommend a big bucket hat or set up a blanket with an umbrella in the middle of the row and make sure your little one is in the shade. Tailgates and blueberry guacamole. The term “superfood” has been playing a large role in our vocabulary. Please tag us on Facebook or Instagram with #mykidlist. 2020 Blueberry Picking Season: U-Pick Berries Near Chicago. Expected to open mid-July. Mention @eatlikenooneelse or tag #eatlikenooneelse, « Spring Flame Peaches & A Word About Peach Breeding, Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting », http://www.extension.org/pages/29236/early-season-blueberry-varieties. So it’s no surprise that more and more places are growing them. . Once you are done harvesting the blueberries, you can use them immediately or freeze them for later use. The Texas Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches, TX runs in early June and has been going on for over 20 years. The blueberries we eat today are a more or less recent invention. Happy holidays from all of us at Gardening Know How. Hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays only from 8:00am – 2:00pm (or picked out). Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. But some growers are able to get a crop even early such as Family Tree Farms out of Reedley, CA. However I am noticing that more and more blueberries from many different states are arriving on my local grocery store shelves. Because every season is blueberry season! I was excited to hear someone trying to grow and preserve the native varieties. A little while after the Georgia crop you will start seeing North Carolina grown blueberries. Stir in the lemon zest and cardamon if using. They are working on a new website for updates. Not only absolutely delicious, of the full range of fruits and vegetables, blueberries are ranked number one in terms of their antioxidant benefits. We like to freeze them and throw them straight from the freezer into smoothies, but however you decide to use them, you can be assured their amazing nutritive properties are well worth an afternoon at the berry patch. Blueberries can keep for months in the freezer! Dress lightly, bring sunscreen and bug spray. Cherries also available late June; social distancing, required masks, and limited numbers of visitors in effect. The season usually lasts July 4 through Labor Day; call for updates. Please comment below so we make sure to add it. After it rains, sometimes the mosquitos linger. Seasonal Produce in Illinois in July - What You Need to Know. Both these states have a crop to offer just after the Georgia crop. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hours may also change as the season winds down or the supply begins to run low. Each farm has different precautions this summer to ensure your family and their staff stay safe. Around the middle of June, New Jersey grown berries start to dominate the market place. Water! All forms of payment are accepted; no pets. Where To Go. Learn how your comment data is processed. I found a nice list of varieties that are grown in Missisippi that you can check out here: http://www.extension.org/pages/29236/early-season-blueberry-varieties. Prior to the 1900’s, only North American natives utilized the berry, which, of course, was only found in the wild. Don’t wash your blueberries until you are ready to eat them. You can enjoy fresh blueberries year-round! If you have never seen wild blueberries before check out a video of their farm and see how these berries are harvested. Home » At the Store » Fruit & Vegetables » When Are Blueberries In Season? Fresh flowers and fresh blueberry salads. Bring your own containers or purchase some from the farm store. and the only question is when to harvest blueberry bushes? I dispense the syrup using the Ergo Spout (play 30 second video below). Make sure you buy local during your state’s season. Michigan leads the nation in the production of high bush variety berries. You will get dirty, but that’s half the fun, right? Check the website for up to date information on what is available. We appreciate your support and hope you had as much fun as we did. Hop’n Blueberry Farm (Black Mountain, NC) are raising native North Carolina Mountain blueberries. The following spots for u-pick blueberries are within about two hours of Chicagoland.