By Bonnie Scott



The blueberry crop in the Suwannee Valley is almost ripe and picking season is only a few weeks away. The ripening crop is significantly improved over last year’s when the drought and bee colony collapse adversely affected blueberries and other area crops that depend on pollination. Several farms in Wellborn will be opening for blueberry U-pick toward the end of May. Area blueberry farms commercially grow their berries for shipment throughout the United States and world markets. The recent soaking rains and cooler spring temperatures have hopefully combined to ripen the berries into big, sweet morsels soon ripe for picking.

For those who are new to our area or have never gone “berry pickin’,” we invite you to visit one of our local U-pick farms and enjoy a pleasant and nutritious experience. Blueberries in North Florida are the high-bush variety, taller than the low-bush berry bushes often seen in New Jersey, Maine and other northeastern states. Picking the high-bush variety is consequently much easier on the picker’s back. It is also easy and permissible to pull down the higher, pliable branches for the plump, sun-drenched berries at the top. One picker I know uses her cane to snag the out-of-reach branches to pull them down to her level.

To make your U-pick experience more enjoyable, it might be helpful to take a few extra minutes to plan your visit. Shoes and socks are a necessity and safer than sandals or flip-flops as these expose the picker to roots and those pesky ants, who become very annoyed when one inadvertently disturbs their mounds. A hat or sunshade is a must as well as sunscreen for protection against the hot summer sun. Many experienced pickers wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to protect their limbs from insects as well as vines and briars growing within and around the bushes. Large clusters of berries are frequently found in the interior of the bush. Many pickers also wear a wet handkerchief or hand towel around their necks to help keep them more comfortable then resoak them periodically with water from a canteen or water bottle they carry with them. Most farms do have water available, but carrying a bottle of water with you is prudent. Also do use insect repellant because the mosquitoes are more of a problem in the more comfortable cooler morning and evening hours.

The farms have buckets available for picking, but some people like to bring their own containers. After picking the berries, they are weighed and priced by the pound. With a little advanced planning, whether alone or in a group, berry picking can be an enjoyable experience. Some pickers wear earphones and enjoy music while picking. Children like to sample berries within their reach plopping them into their mouths and turning lips and tongues blue (yes, adults do, too). It is satisfying to pick a bucket of berries, and then decide all the delicious things to do with them when you get them home. Because they are easy to freeze and freeze well for long periods of time, many folks return again and again to fill their freezers for use throughout the year.

Blueberries will be available at the Wellborn Blueberry Festival on June 5 and 6. Activities for children and adults, a parade, entertainment, crafts and food vendors, and all things blueberry will be available at the country store. We look forward to seeing you in downtown Wellborn for the festival and the blueberries.