School is out! So, what can we do as a family this summer? Berry picking has always been one of my favorite summertime activities. Everyone in the family can pick and everyone can enjoy this delicious healthy fruit.
No matter your age or size, berry picking is for everyone. I have such wonderful memories of picking berries with family and friends. We picked a few, ate a few and threw a few; all in good fun.
To locate a u-pick-em, check the newspapers and community boards for u-pick-ems in your area. Many local u-pick-ems are listed online. Do a google search for MarketMaker, Local Harvest or Pick Your Own; these websites are free to producers and many producers list their farms on the site.
In northwest Louisiana, Hillcrest Blueberry Farm is the largest blueberry farm in all of Louisiana! Located in DeSoto Parish just a mile south of Gloster, they are a family owned farm specializing in fresh fruit sales. They have 139 acres of blueberries and two acres of blackberries.
Hillcrest Blueberry Farm is a certified agritourism business. Certified agritourism businesses in the State of Louisiana complete a plan of operation listing the hazards on their farms and how they will mitigate those hazards; only farms whose plans have been approved by the Louisiana Department of Ag and Forestry are listed as a certified agritourism business.
Below are a few tips: