2024 Western Virginia Blueberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org
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Blueberry U-Pick Orchards in Western Virginia in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for blueberries that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have blueberries orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!
Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!
PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.
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Carroll County
Deer Haven Blueberry Patch - blueberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available 118 Raven Ridge, Hiwassee, VA 24347. Phone: 276-730-4047. Email: info@deerhavenblueberrypatch.com. Open: Thursday to Saturday 8am to 4 pm from mid June to late August; we anticipate opening the last week of June or the first week of July. Directions: From Hillsville take US221 North to highway 100 turn left go approx. 4.8 miles to Deer Ridge, County Road 753, turn right then take then turn right on Mitchell\'s Crossroads, go 4.8 miles to Windsong, turn right to Raven Ridge, across from Dry Pond Church, patch is on right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate Phone: 704-904-5571. . From Hillsville take US221 North to highway 100 turn left go approx. 4.8 miles to Deer Ridge, County Road 753, turn right then take then turn right on Mitchell's Crossroads, go 4.8 miles to Windsong, turn right to Raven Ridge, across from Dry Pond Church, patch is on right.
Grayson County
Pine Mountain Trail in Mount Rogers National Recreation Area - blueberries Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Troutdale, VA . Phone: . Directions: I-81 South to Marion, VA. At Marion take VA 16 South \(Buchanon Highway\) to Trout Dale. From there head west on VA 603. In 2 miles make left onto USFS 613. After about 2.5 miles go through gate and park within fenced campingparking area. Trailhead is marked as Appalachian Trail, just beside camp host trailer. . Click here for a map and directions.
Russell County
Nathaniel Ball Blueberries - U-pick blueberries, 461 Lumber Lane Big A Mountain, Honaker, VA 24260. Phone: . Open: permanently closed. Click here for a map and directions.
Smyth County
Hayes Valley Farms - SQE Organic, blackberries, blueberries, elderberries,
asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, you-dig carrots, sweet corn, pickling cucumbers, slicing cucumbers, garlic,
kale, lettuce or salad greens, you-dig potatoes, you-dig sweet potatoes, Cell service cell phones work here, CSA,
petting zoo, farm animals, milk a real cow, goat walk, No dogs allowed except for service animals, birthday parties,
weddings and wedding parties, school tours, group reservations 1341 Matson Drive, Marion, VA 24354. Phone: (276)
299-3747. Email:
Hayesfarmlife@gmail.com. Open: Monday through Saturday from 1 pm to 6 pm; Closed on Sundats. Directions:
Click here for a map and
directions. We use natural organic practices, and are subject to the NOP small quantity exemption. Payment:
Cash, Debit cards, All credit cards, SFMNP Vouchers, SNAP Vouchers.
Hayes Valley Farms Facebook page.
Hayes Valley Farms Instagram page.
Hayes Valley Farms twitter page. (ADDED: September 03, 2024)
Salt of the Earth Farms - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, blueberries, school tours 261 Gillespie Hollow Road, Saltville, VA 24370. Phone: (423) 914-4130. Email: saltoftheearthva@gmail.com. Open: Call for more information or. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. June- blueberries July- Blackberries. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. Visit the farm and enjoy picking tame, thornless blackberries with your family and friends. Located next to the river, it's a piece of heaven on earth! (ADDED: July 11, 2018)
Wythe County
Henley Mountain Berry Farm - blueberries, Honey from hives on the farm 879 Matney Flats Road, Wytheville, VA 24382. Phone: 941-661-7401. Email: wlbgaucho@gmail.com. Open: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 5pm, from the middle of June to the middle of September. Directions: From downtown Wytheville, follow Main Street \(US Highway 21\) south approximately 8 miles to the four-way intersection with Highway 690 \(Cripple Creek Road\). Turn left and go 1.9 miles to Matney Flats Road. Turn Left on Matney Flats Road and go 1.3 miles to the mailbox at 879. Turn right up the hill one quarter mile to Henley Mountain Berry Farm. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate Phone: 941-286-8435. . From downtown Wytheville, follow Main Street (US Highway 21) south approximately 8 miles to the four-way intersection with Highway 690 (Cripple Creek Road). Turn left and go 1.9 miles to Matney Flats Road. Turn Left on Matney Flats Road and go 1.3 miles to the mailbox at 879. Turn right up the hill one quarter mile to.
Hope Blueberry Farm - blueberries, 148 Mudlick Rd, Wytheville, VA 24382. Phone: 276-228-8527. Email: Hopeblueberryfarm@gmail.com. Open: Monday through Sunday, 7 am till 8 pm Open June 13 through August. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . . From Wytheville truck stop drive 1.9 mile on Peppers Ferry Road towards n Max Meadows direction, turn left onto Mudlick Road. Less than 100 yards, the first house on the right. (ADDED: May 24, 2015)
Blueberry
Blueberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
Blueberries are one of the easiest fruit to prepare and serve.
There's no peeling, pitting, coring or cutting. They have few natural pests,
(other than birds), so pesticides are generally unnecessary! This year's crop is
fantastic (see
related news story), thanks both to the weather and to
more farms planting more blueberry bushes due to increased consumer demand
over the past few years as more studies proclaim the anti-oxidant and other
health properties of blueberries.
If you are looking for information about a similar
berry, the saskatoon (also called the June berry or Serviceberry)
see this page about
saskatoons.
Picking
tips:
Select plump, full blueberries with a light gray-blue color. A berry with any
hint of red isn't fully ripened.
Ripening AFTER picking?
First, it is key to know that once picked, blueberries will NOT become any sweeter, nor will the flavor improve. The only change that occurs
is the color. They will APPEAR to ripen, but it is only a color change, from white to green to rose to red to pale blue to fully blue. So, white and green colored blueberries will not
"ripen" after they are picked; while blueberries that have already turned purple,
red or blue-ish usually DO change color after they are picked (if they are kept at room
temperature to "ripen").
As the blueberries ripen ON THE BUSH, the flavor goes from tastless to bitter to tasteless tart to tart blueberry flavor to sweet blueberry flavor.
Grocery stores sell blueberries that are tart, not sweet because they had them picked unripe by machine so they are very firm and can handled being
bumped around in shipping. They may look good, but are not as tasty as those picked when actually ripe.
So, the key is, PICK ONLY RIPE BERRIES!
How to pick blueberries
Since blueberries hang on the bushes in bunches a but like
grapes do, the easiest and fastest way to pick them is hold your bucket under
them in one hand and with your other hand, cup a ripe bunch and gently rub them
with your fingers. The ripe berries will drop into your bucket, while the
unripe ones will remain attached to the bush.
When the bushes are at peak, I can easily pick 2 gallons per
hour (if I'm not being distracted by the kids and the sun isn't too hot!).
A newbie might do 1 gallon per hour.and at the beginning or end of the season it
takes more time as the berries are not as plentiful nor concentrated
in clusters.
Tips for storing blueberries after harvesting:
Once picked, don't place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a
closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form
in the container.
Don't wash berries until just before using, to prevent berries from
becoming mushy.
Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. Store
your fresh blueberries in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home,
without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If
refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep 10 to 14 days.
Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep
the skins from toughening. Place berries one layer deep. Freeze,
then pour the frozen berries into freezer containers. Because unwashed
blueberries freeze individually, they can be easily poured from containers
in desired amounts. Remember both frozen and fresh berries should be
rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries
in cold water.
Blueberry Measurements and Conversions
Keep in mind that blueberries vary considerably in density and moisture
content, so these ranges are approximates.
1 gallon of blueberries weighs about 7.5 lbs or (4
liters of blueberries is about 3.5 kg)
1 pint of fresh blueberries weights about 3/4 of a pound. (1
liter of blueberries is about 700 grams)
1 pound of fresh blueberries is usually between about 2 and
3 cups
of berries.
If you have trouble with blueberries settling to the bottom of muffins and
blueberry breads, try one or more of these tips:
Coat them with flour before adding to the batter. Just gently shake the
blueberries in a bag (plastic or paper) with 1/2 cup of flour, then dump
them mix in a sieve to remove excess flour.
It may just be that your batter is too thin. try making the batter a
little thicker!
Fill the muffin cups or baking pan up to 1/4 full with batter (which
hasn't had blueberries added to it yet); then stir the blueberries into the
remaining batter, and continue to fill the muffin cups or bread pan. The
blueberries will start off higher in the mix!