Posted on 07/25/2008 10:20:32 AM PDT by mainestategop
Summer is half over. Know why? Because Maine's blueberry harvest is underway.
And blueberry growers are expecting a pretty good crop this year.
University of Maine experts expect an average or slightly above average yield of 80 million to 100 million pounds of berries, thanks to adequate rain in May and June.
Blueberry specialist David Yarborough says the hot, humid, but largely dry first few weeks of July stressed crops to some degree. But he says recent showers are refreshing them.
Love to head out and pick the little blue bubbles of yummy, juicy goodness?
If you are in southern Maine, there are probably a number of pick-your-own stands. Next week the blueberry harvest should begin in the mid-coast area and the first week of August in the extensive blueberry barrens Down East.
DID YOU KNOW: Maine is the nation's top wild blueberry producer? Last year's harvest came in at 3 percent above the 2006 crop.
Try it. You’ll like it! :)
Jersey had its first harvest a few weeks ago. Most of the blueberries in our supermarkets are from the Hammonton area (midway between Philadelphia and Atlantic City).
oh i cant wait! :D
I’ll look into it.........
OK - time to head out of here and head for the Lodge. Hubby has a toilet to fix down there and if I don’t get out of this hour I’m going to head straight for my pillow.
The bout with the food poisoning is finally over, but the aftermath of it is that I am absolutely exhausted.
I picked blueberries in the Hammonton area when I was a teenager. I ate more than I picked and was still able to pull in about $10.00 a day...(in 1973 that seemed like MONEY).
Reminder!
If you havent made a donation to Free Republic, please consider it! Monthly donations are painless! I promise!
:-)
Freepathon thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051397/posts
Donating to FreeRepublic won’t get the blueberry stains off yer teeth, but will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside”
(OK, I know that’s lame! But please donate!) LOL!
I was able to make quite a bit of jam and froze enough to keep us in pancakes until next year, but I've been ill and didn't get to make the blueberry syrup that I was determined to put up this year.
Right in the middle of fig season right now ... searching for a copycat recipe for Fig Newton cookies and hoping that they will freeze well. Fig and lemon preserves is my hubby's favorite.
Well head for blueberry picking in about 2 weeks. My friend and I take the kids about 2 weeks or so before school starts. We usually wind up with about 10 pounds of blueberries and 3 blue kids :)<<<
What fun, wish I could join you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.