Be sure to make time this summer to visit local farms for your fill of berries: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries—and the lesser known but no less delicious currants and gooseberries. All of these farms sell berries pre-picked, and some allow you to get out in the fields and pluck them from the bush yourself. Jam-packed with essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, fresh berries are the ideal summertime food. Vibrantly colored and mouth wateringly delicious, our valley plays host to endless farms to satisfy your hankering for fresh whipped cream and berries, berry pie, preserves, vinaigrette, lemonade, and so much more.
Strawberry
Vibrantly red and wonderfully juicy, locally grown strawberries are refreshing and naturally sweet, making the perfect snack. Embrace the occasional dribble onto your shirt, because there's really no stopin' it. Try these luscious berries chopped roughly with diced garden mint, honey, and a dollop of freshly made whipped cream. These juicy snacks will be ripe in late June until July.
Blueberry
Packed to the brim with antioxidants, fresh blueberries are both delicious and fun to munch. With a wonderful burst of blue juiciness, you won't be able to resist a whole handful, and that’s exactly what makes picking blueberries such slow work. Blueberries are ready to pick in early July.
Currant
Fresh currants are available from late June to early August. This red berry, with its smooth and glossy skin, is best used in jams and jellies or other cooked recipes. Currants can also be easily dried and used in any recipe that calls for raisins.
Gooseberry
Related to the currant, the gooseberry is packed with nutritional benefits—phytochemicals to prevent cancer and inflammation, immune-boosting vitamin C, and lots of minerals. These tart, astringent quality berries are delicious in fish, poultry, and meat dishes, but can also be eaten as a table fruit or used in desserts. Look for these berries in July.
Raspberry
This bright, crimson berry is comprised of sweet, juice-packed flavor capsules. Perfect in tarts, sauces, vinaigrettes, and by the handful, raspberries are wonderfully healthy and feature a bright, sprightly, and refreshing flavor. These berries are ready to be enjoyed in mid-July and again in mid-August.
Blackberry
Similar in composition to a raspberry, blackberries feature a deep and full-berry flavor that provides the perfect amount of depth for a deliciously rich, slightly warm pie served with a hearty scoop of vanilla ice cream. These tasty delights will be ripe in mid-August.
a few local Pick-Your-Own Farms:
Strawberries: Kelder's & Saunderskill
Blueberries: Kelder's, Saunderskill and Hurd's farms
Blackberries: Jenkins Lueken and Kelder's farms
Raspberries: Jenkins Lueken, Saunderskill, Kelder's, and Hurd's farms
Get your fill of them while you can, because the season is far too short!
