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Ditch the supermarket and go for the real deal at a berry farm

Luscious and lovely, blueberries are truly the crown jewel of summer fruit; their shape even mimics a crown. Whether baked into a pie or devoured by the handfuls, these irresistible indigo berries are a winner.

With the exception of the Desert States, blueberries are grown across the nation and peak at this time of year. Michigan and southern New Jersey are the country's main locales where these antioxidant-packed berries are commercially grown, and most states offer a pick-it-yourself harvest.

As a crop, native to the United States, only birds and kids are attracted to blueberry bushes, says Blake Slemmer, founder of Pickyourown.org. "As far as pesticides go, blueberries are one of the safer fruits," adds Slemmer, "so blueberry-picking is an ideal farm outing for grandchildren." Unlike strawberries, which are heavily sprayed, blueberries require few or no pesticides. If this matters to you, contact your local farm to find out about its pesticide use.

Blueberry bushes grow between five and eight feet tall. The berries start a foot off the ground, making them a good height for little grandchildren. And, since the berries grow upward toward the top of the bush, grandparents can pick the higher berries. This way, you don't have to bend down unless deep-knee bends are part of your daily exercise routine.

10 Tips For Blueberry Picking

1. Aim to pick the plump, ripe berries that are a deep, inky-blue color. Once picked, berries don't ripen; stay away from small ones that are tinted red or lavender.
   
2. Remember the all-important rule of blueberry picking: the plumper and riper the berry, the sweeter the taste.
   
3. If you use plastic bags to gather the blueberries, as tempting as it is to fill a bag to the brim, don't overstuff. Without adequate circulation, the berries will soften and bleed before you've even left the orchard.
   
4. When picking, position the bag out of the sun to keep the berries moisture-free.
   

   “Picking fruit with your grandchildren is something they always will remember.”

5. Since blueberries grow in clusters, consider bringing a light, fold-up chair or compact stool. Even if the grandchildren want to get down and dirty, you can sit and pick, moving the chair or stool as you work your way down the rows of bushes.
   
6. Make sure to call ahead to see if the orchard provides cartons or plastic bags for collecting the berries. Some provide free containers; others charge an additional fee. It's a good idea to bring a bunch of buckets. This way, the grandchildren can spread out among the bushes without having to regroup at the main bucket every time they collect a handful of berries.
   
7. Find out if the orchards collect the cartons or bags at checkout. If so, make sure to bring storage containers to transport the berries.
   
8. At home, clean the berries by delicately pouring them into a colander. Using your hands, gently roll them around, removing stems and dirt. Do not wash the berries unless you will use or eat them immediately. If the berries are rinsed and then stored, the skin will toughen and may create fungus.
   
9. To maintain freshness, refrigerate the unwashed berries in open plastic bags or containers that provide air circulation.
   
10. To freeze for later use, spread the cleaned, unwashed berries on a cookie tray and freeze overnight. Once frozen, transfer the berries to a sealable plastic bag where they will keep for many months.
    

"Picking fruit with your grandchildren is something they always will remember," says Slemmer. "People always tell me that they take their grandchildren blueberry picking because they remember doing that when they were kids. They want to pass on the memory to the next generation."

Have you ever gone berry-picking with your grandchild?   25 Answers Yes, and we had a great time.    56.0% Planning on it!    20.0% No, we farm via the supermarket.    24.0%

Have you ever gone berry-picking with your grandchild?   Yes, and we had a great time. Planning on it! No, we farm via the supermarket. Select your answer to see the current poll results.

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