BERRY GOOD FUN
Local blueberry farm offers sweet treats, family time
The Texarkana Blueberry Patch kicked off berry pickin’ season Monday by opening its gates to the public.
The farm, where people pick their own berries, is just outside the Arkansas-side city limit at 9000 Tennessee Road, and if GPS leads people astray, the route is well-marked by signs to help them find their way.
Blueberries cost $2 a pound at the patch, which has more than three acres of blueberry plants just starting to ripen.
Monday morning there were several families walking the property, happily filling their buckets with the tasty, sweet, indigo-colored treats. Among them, Becky Shaw was picking berries with her 9-year old son Grant Shaw.
“This is a fun day. It’s peaceful and it’s a beautiful day today,” Becky said.
For about $20, Becky was able to bring home close to two gallons of berries, a bargain compared with most grocery store prices.
“These berries have more flavor and taste better than the ones you buy in the store,” said Becky, who grew up in this area but now lives overseas. “We’re here visiting and they don’t have blueberries where we are, so we’re making jam to take back with us. I picked berries for about an hour and I have almost two gallons, but I also have little helpers.”
The Texarkana Blueberry Patch is open from 7 to 11 a.m. and from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Picking season usually last about a month, owner Michelle Armstrong said.
“It depends on the temperature. If it’s super hot they ripen faster,” she said.
The drive out to the blueberry patch is peaceful and once people pull into the parking area, they’re offered a beautiful view of the well-tended land. It’s clear that Armstrong and her family have put a lot of work into maintaining the property so that people who visit don’t only enjoy the berries but also the pristine setting.
“Blueberries take a lot of weeding, upkeep, water and sunshine,” Michelle said.
Although there’s no
exact science to picking berries, Armstrong advised going for the fattest and darkest, for those are usually the ripest.
Gina Perrusquia and her 3-year old son, Elijah, tasted some of their berries at a picnic table on the property where patrons can sit in the shade and take a rest.
“We really had a good time today,” Gina said. “I would’ve liked to have gotten here earlier when they opened but it really hasn’t been too hot today. There was a breeze so that made it nice.”
To keep up with what’s going on, follow The Texarkana Blueberry Patch on Facebook.