Blueberry picking

August 7, 2010

The berries this summer are all mixed up. Actually, not true, everything is just really early. Strawberries in June. Raspberries done by the middle of July.

And now this. Blueberries picked out by the first week in August. First week in August?

Finding blueberries has proven difficult this summer. Apparently they were ready two weeks early. In addition many farms experienced un-timely frost, storms and pest problems which has further limited the supply. In years past I would start picking early August and finally give out in September, though often berries remained on the bushes.

This year was to be a different story. Because of other family commitments and priorities for July I wasn't able to go picking. Until today. After calling four farms earlier this week I was finally able to find a u-pick with a few berries left.

We may get in one more picking next week. But this could be it.

I will be freezing most of them tomorrow (I use a similar method to this) and we'll be eating some fresh. We'll do our best to enjoy these without thinking of all that we missed out on.

Afterall, the freezers are still full of strawberries and raspberries from the late June/early July frenzy of berry picking.

Are you picking any berries these days?

nicola@which name? on Aug. 7, 2010, 4:18 a.m.

In my mind, that is a lot of berries! We tried to go u-picking yesterday and what we wanted to pick was done for the season, also. Sigh... So much of being frugal and sustainable hinges on being organized. REALLY organized. Nicola

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Cindy on Aug. 7, 2010, 12:12 p.m.

Here in Rica, it cost $6 for a one-cup container of fresh blueberries... It was going to cost $60 to make a pie!!! But now, fortunately, we can get frozen ones... When we return to the states we fill up on fresh blueberries, corn on the cob, kale, collards and turnip, all of which we can't get here. However, the other fruits and veggies here are amazing and so low in cost.

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Hillary on Aug. 8, 2010, 1:13 a.m.

We are not picking berries this year as we don't have any hands free to pick! But, we were just at Farmers Market and bought two pints and ate them instantly. So good! Your buckets looked deliciously full :)

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Rana on Aug. 8, 2010, 1:29 a.m.

Your blueberries look good. I'm hoping we can still go to a U pick.

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Francesca on Aug. 8, 2010, 5:35 a.m.

That looks like a huge amount of blueberries to me. Our berry season is over. It amounted to 10/20 strawberries:( We didn't freeze them:)

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Naomi Kilbreth on Aug. 8, 2010, 11:39 p.m.

I've been looking forward all year to hiking Streaked Mnt. to pick blueberries with my family. Unfortunately the picking was horrible and we didn't find anything but a few teeny tiny wild blueberries, and some "bush blueberries" as my mother-in-law calls them. Disappointed for sure! By the way, would you know what "bush blueberries" really are? They are dark and look like a variety of blueberries but they taste a little crunchier. Not really sure how to describe it. The grow on low bushes but higher than the wild blueberries. Anyway, here's to better picking next year!

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- renee on Aug. 9, 2010, 1:17 p.m.
  
  Yesterday we hiked a high mountain near the Cold River AMC camp, Bald Face or something like that. Anyway, way up there the picking was amazing. We grabbed handfuls by handfuls. We wanted to get down to the Emerald Pool (literally) for swimming so we didn't stay long (we still had to hike another 2 hours to reach the water) but if we had stayed we could of picked pounds of berries i'm sure. Where we would of put them is another matter!
  
  But yes, I've heard Streaked Mtn. was poor picking this year. Yes, I know what you are talking about - those "bush blueberries". I haven't yet found out what they are but we do eat them. I should look it up since I am curious...
  
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  - Naomi Kilbreth on Aug. 10, 2010, 10:45 p.m.
    
    We figured it out! Glen found someone who knew what they were, they're huckleberries!
    
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    - renee on Aug. 10, 2010, 10:56 p.m.
      
      Yes! I goggled images for huckleberries and the photos look like what we're talking about. This is good to know. Thanks for coming back to add that.
      
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Imene on Aug. 9, 2010, 12:43 a.m.

We are actually!! Got it on my calendar for next week. This summer was busy in weird way. I am sure so berry picking will do us good

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