You Pick and PrePicked Blackberries

If you grew up in Mississippi you may well remember the thrill of picking fresh, wild blackberries. Here at Bolin Grove Farms, we offer the thornless Arkansas Travelers type of ripe, juicy blackberries that will have immediately remind of those good times. Our warm, sunny summers provide the absolute best growing environment for blackberries, and, by mid-June our blackberry rows are already producing bushels of these sweet, tasty treats that are full of vitamin C.  Blackberries also promote good digestive and bone health and contain cholesterol-lowering pectin. So, eat them straight, spread on your cereal, make jam – or, even better, some vanilla ice cream, and enjoy!

Preparing for your Farm Visit

Now let’s say you are ready to visit the farm and it is a beautiful sunny day. Keep in mind that you are visiting a farm and not a park. You may need to do some walking to get to the picking field and the ground may be wet and muddy despite the sunny weather. Wear comfortable walking shoes that can get dirty. Consider the weather and dress appropriately, again with clothes that may get dirty or snagged on branches. Depending on how much fruit you want to pick you may end up in the farm field longer than you anticipated.  It is easy to get carried away and pick way more fruit than you originally planned. You should have an idea of what you will do with your fresh produce when you get home: do you plan to freeze or can some of it, make jam, share with friends, or just happily eat it all fresh until it is gone.

• Dress comfortably with good walking shoes that may get dirty
• Consider the weather and the time you may want to spend picking
• Gather your containers and plan how much produce you want to bring home
• Be prepared for what you will do with your harvest bounty when you get home

PICK-YOUR-OWN BLACKBERRIES

We are looking forward to seeing you and your families for another great blackberry picking season! Please check our social media and website for updates on opening day – berries are usually ready for picking by early July.

BLACKBERRY PICKING TIPS…

• For your picking pleasure… All of our blackberries are delicious, THORNLESS varieties. So, no worries about children or others getting pricked and scraped while picking! AND, our unique trellis system keeps berries off the ground and growing on one side of the canes — making picking a breeze…NO BENDING OVER TO PICK FRUIT!

• Pick only berries that are fully black with a brown leafy “cap”. A ripe blackberry is a deep, dull black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug. If the berry is red or purple, it is not ripe and should be left on the cane for another day. (Berries will not ripen further after being picked.)

• Avoid placing picked blackberries in the sunlight for any longer than necessary. For best results, berries should be placed in a cool, shaded area until you can refrigerate.

• Don’t overfill containers or pack the berries tightly.

Mother Nature is an unpredictable force that may change a farms normal picking schedule and we try to frequently update our customer u-pick information with current conditions and times.

WHEN YOU GET HOME…

• Wash the blackberries only just before you are ready to eat or freeze . Washing will soften the berries and make them more prone to spoiling.

• Ideally, use a shallow container to avoid smashing while refrigerated.

• If handled properly, locally-sourced blackberries will remain fresh much longer than those purchased from grocery stores, which often ship their berries in from long distances and are purchased by you many days after picking.

• As with all berries, blackberries should be cooled as soon as possible after picking. Even under ideal conditions, blackberries usually will only last for a week or so in the refrigerator. For best flavor and texture, eat or freeze the berries as soon as possible after picking.

• Frozen blackberries will last many months for future use in baking, jams, jellies, smoothies, and endless other uses. For freezing, gently rinse the blackberries in cool water and allow to air dry then spread the blackberries out on a cookie sheet (preferably lined with parchment paper) in a single layer and place in freezer. Once frozen, transfer the blackberries to a freezer bag or other freezer-safe container of your choosing

Blackberries

Blackberries are very similar to raspberries, and you pick them the same ways. Blackberries are always black when ripe and are solid berries to the stem. While raspberries can be red or black, depending on the variety, they are hollow on the inside. The brambles can be thorny or thornless depending on the variety. Pick only ripe berries, blackberries and raspberries will not ripen after they are picked. Ripe berries are large, plump, deeply colored, and easily slip off the stem.  If you have to pull, the berry isn’t ripe. Gently place your berries in a shallow plastic container. Raspberries and Blackberries are a fragile fruit and need to be handled carefully. Do not overfill your container and pack down. Look closer, often the best berries are deep within the brambles, and you may need to reach a little to find the best fruit.

Keep you berries in the shade and get them to the fridge or cool location as soon as possible. They will keep a few days and possible up to a week in the refrigerator. Don’t wash them until right before you are going to use them.  To wash, rinse in cold water sorting out any mushy or rotten ones. The berries freeze best if they are dry and not washed. If you do wash them make sure to drain the water then lay out on absorbent terry cloth to dry. Place the fruit in a single layer on a rimmed cookie sheet and place the tray in the freezer keeping it level. The berries will freeze in less than a day. Avoid leaving them uncovered in the freezer for more than a couple days. Place your frozen berries in freezer bags or freezer containers. The blackberries and raspberries are best if used within 6-8 months.