Put down that “blueberry” muffin and enjoy Daniele’s post about getting your hands dirty and discovering where real food comes from. –Leslie
A couple of weekends ago, I went blueberry picking with friends at Sunhillow Berry Farm in Pearl River, LA. I got a gallon (a gallon!) of berries for $10 and have been eating them daily ever since. Mostly I have been mixing them into my morning oatmeal and sprinkling them on salads. I froze the majority of my blueberries to use later in smoothies and cooking/baking projects.
But I’m not writing today to share blueberry recipes. Instead, I want to encourage you to get out into the country and pick your own food. I really think it is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. First off, it’s something fun to do with your friends or family. For those of us who live in the city, visiting a berry farm is a good excuse to go to the country and get a change of scenery for the afternoon. Most importantly, picking your own fruit can be a meaningful learning experience.
Concern for where and how one’s food is cultivated is an increasingly mainstream issue. In recent years, books and films have turned a critical eye on the food industry. There is a growing interest in supporting local food producers. Visiting the farm where your food is actually grown is one of the best ways to learn about where your food comes from.
Getting out in the field and picking fruit straight off the bush gives you a deep appreciation of what it really takes to harvest that food: It’s hot. It’s physical. There are gross bugs. But along with all of that discomfort comes the satisfaction of tasting a juicy, sun-warmed berry that you picked yourself while you’re still standing in the field where you picked it.
Blueberry picking season ends July 15th at Sunhillow Berry Farm, so you’ll have to get out there soon if you want to pick some. If labor in the hot summer sun isn’t your thing, you can wait until fall to visit. Some of the area’s berry farms will also have pumpkins to pick in October.
Sunhillow Berry Farm does not have a website. The following information was found at PickYourOwn.org/LA.htm:
Sunhillow Berry Farm – blueberries, mayhaw, muscadines
33510 Magee-Mahner Road, Pearl River, LA 70452. Phone: 985-809-8082. Fax: 985-809-0604. Email: billmagee@bellsouth.net. Directions: From the intersection of Hwy. 435 and Hwy. 41, go east on Hwy. 41 1/4 mile take a left on Jim Parker Road; then take every fork to the right until you reach the gate of the farm. Open: Daylight til Dark 7 days a week Click here for a map. Seasons: Mayhaw: Mid April to Early May; Blueberries: Memorial Day until July 15; Muscadines Mid August to Mid September Payment: Cash, Check.
