U-pick Blackberries at Justus Orchard
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Traipsing off into the middle of nowhere for an afternoon of u-pick produce is a Moore family summer tradition, one that I carry out even myself these days out of a sense of nostalgia. I have such fond memories of doing u-pick blueberries with my parents and making questionably set jam in the kitchen with my mom afterward.
My husband, however, does not have these sorts of irrationally fond feelings towards picking his own food, and he's done after about 15 minutes (during which everything he harvests goes into his mouth and not the basket, bless him).
And while part of me understands where he's coming from, there's such a simple, fulfilling joy that comes from a day spent wandering fruit-bearing rows of vegetation under the hot summer sun. Nothing brings me peace like the sound of bees, watching the butterflies, and picking my way through to the most perfectly ripe fruits. It's all the sensory experiences I love about summer with an edible party favor.
Anyway, during a recent solo trip to the mountains, I detoured to Justus Orchard to harvest blackberries, and it was the loveliest, most tranquil way to pass a morning.
You'll find Justus Orchard along the winding roads outside Hendersonville at 187 Garren Road, marked by a handpainted wooden sign. The Justus family has been growing apples for over 100 years, and they redirected the farm from selling their apples to "big name" companies to agrotourism in 2006. The orchard is beautiful, with rolling hills and row after row of lush apple trees and thornless blackberry brambles, and the main building features a playground, farm store, bakery, and humorous picture-taking opportunities.
I definitely plan to go back for apple season, but the blackberries are a must-do activity. Justus Orchard grows thornless Navaho blackberries that are delicious and easy to pick, and it's wholesome fun for the entire family. I loved eavesdropping on all the multigenerational groups wandering the blackberry patch, listening to tiny children compete over who could find the biggest and best berry and old-timers talk about their prized family recipes.
Pick your fill (it's a fraction of the price of blackberries at the grocery store, and you're getting berries at the peak of their ripeness), wash your berries, and get to eatin'.
If you're new to u-pick blackberries, do remember that it's best to plan some recipes before you go so as not to feel overwhelmed when you survey your summer harvest in your own kitchen.
I hate food waste, so I usually get home and freeze about two-thirds of what I picked right off the bat to take some pressure off.
To freeze your blackberries for quick and easy recipes (and not wind up with an enormous solid block of blackberry slush), let your berries dry in the fridge for a couple of hours in a porous container like a colander or salad spinner basket after you wash them. Then spread them in a single layer on a metal pie pan or a metal baking sheet that will fit in your freezer, let them become solid, and then pluck them off the pan and store them in a Tupperware container in the freezer.
For the fresh portion, enjoy them plain on a warm afternoon on the front porch or throw a handful into your granola. I also love a blackberry cobbler, and there are plenty of recipes to help you work your way through your harvest, like this blackberry glazed chicken, or blackberry rose ice pops.
What you’ll need:
Reef-safe, organic sunscreen
Cookbook for recipe planning
Comfortable clothing
A cooler with ice packs to prevent early spoilage if you've planned other activities after your berry picking excursion
Have you done u-pick blackberries at Justus Orchard? Do you have a favorite u-pick farm? Drop it in the comments below!
