Pre-Ordering Bulk Blueberries

Two farms in Heath, The Benson Place and Burnt Hill Farm, are taking pre-orders for blueberries in 5-, 10-, and 20-pound boxes. The Benson place also offers u-pick options starting later this month. Call ahead if you want to pick on a weekday; on weekends you can start picking from 8:30am to 2:30pm. Both farms grow lowbush "wild" blueberries rather than the highbush varieties typically found in stores and farmers markets. Lowbush berries are smaller than highbush berries, and the flavor is slightly different.

Blueberries are super easy to freeze--just wash them and load them into freezer bags. They can be dried but it's probably not worth the bother (for me, anyway!) because they require pre-treatment ahead of time. And, of course, blueberry jam is always an option. Frozen berries can be used later in pies and crisps. They also work well in smoothies if you either tray freeze them first or manage to spread them out in their bag so that they don't all stick together in a big clump.

Snow's ice cream (part of Bart's) will also be offering blueberry ice cream made with berries from the Benson Place for a limited time--keep an eye out for it at local stores.

Update: Thanks to the reader who pointed out that the ice cream, which is called CISA Berry Local Ice Cream, has berries from Burnt Hill Farm as well as The Benson Place.