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Remember to call for picking conditions. Blueberries were early this year, getting near the end of their harvest
SUMMER hours: Wednesday - Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm and Sunday 9:00am - 6:00pm CLOSED Saturday Our self serve** hours will again be available this year. Our self serve** hours are Sunday - Friday, 7:00am - 1/2 hour before sunset*. Closed all day Saturday. During self serve hours you must pick in pre-measured containers and it is best if you have been to the farm during full service hours so you are familiar with picking locations. If you come during self serve hours we will be working on the farm somewhere and you can either follow the written instruction, use the provided radio to contact us or beep your horn and we will try to come help you as quickly as possible.
**This is only recommended for those who pick here regularly and know where to find the best fruit on their own. *Self service is NOT available on Saturdays.
Varieties available to pick (approximate dates):
Early season July 12 - July 30
Mid Season July 25 - August 25
Blueberries are a native berry to North America and were used extensively by the Indians (Native Americans). Since the blueberry season was so short, they would dry the harvested blueberries for use throughout the year until summer once again blessed them with a new supply. The fresh or dried blueberries were added to meat, stews, soup and other foods to add extra flavor. In the early 1600's Samuel de Champlain observed Indians along Lake Huron harvesting blueberries, which were dried, beaten into a pulp/powder and combined with cornmeal, honey and water to make a pudding called Sautauthig. One of the first meals explorers Lewis & Clark shared with the Indians was venison that had wild blueberries pounded into the meat and then was smoked and dried. The American Indian held the blueberry in very high esteem, due to the fact that the blossom end of each blueberry forms a five-point star. It was believed that the "Great Spirit" sent these star berries to relieve the hunger of their children during times of famine. Indians also made a strong aromatic tea from the root and used blueberries for medicinal purposes. It was used as a relaxant during childbirth. Early medical books relate that this same tea was recommended for the wives of settlers during labor, that the juice was used for "old coughs," and that tea made from blueberry leaves was believed to help purify the blood. The cultivation of blueberries is a recent development. At the turn of the century, a New Jersey botanist, Frederick Colville, began to cross different varieties of wild blueberries. He wanted to create an easily grown blueberry for home gardens and farms. Today, most cultivated blueberries are highbush plants, growing to 10 to 15 feet for easy hand or machine harvesting.
© 2010 George Hill Orchards |
We begin picking blueberries the first week in July and continue picking till the end of August.
Late Season August 15 - nets removed