We begin picking blueberries the first week in July and continue picking till the end of August.

Remember to call for picking conditions.

PYO Blueberries are fantastic this year!

Come and enjoy one of the best fruits for your health,

The Blueberry.

Pick Your Own hours

Sunday, 9am - 6pm

Tuesday - Friday, 9am - 6pm

Varieties available to pick:

Early season July 6 - July 30
Earliblue, Fruit size is medium to large with average quality. Upright growing plants have good winter hardiness and ornamental appeal.
Collins
Patriot

Mid Season July 20 - August 25
Blueray, The fruit is large, medium- to light blue, flavorful, and resistant to cracking
Bluecrop, The fruits are large, light blue, firm, and resistant to cracking. Their dessert quality is good. 
Duke
Bluehaven
Berkeley produces medium-large fruit but inconsistent yield. Bush is vigorous with spreading growth habit and attractive as an ornamental landscape plant.
Jersey, The plants are vigorous and hardy, producing heavy crops of large, light-blue berries of good quality
Herbert

Late Season August 15 - nets removed
 Coville is of good dessert quality, but quite tart until fully ripe. It is a very large berry, deep blue, firm, and resistant to cracking.
Lateblue

Some Blueberry History

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. 

© 2008 George Hill Orchards
P.O. Box 1181
582 George Hill Road
Lancaster, MA 01523
Phone: (978) 365-4331
Directions to George Hill Orchards