Some types are a bit tart, and there are some that are sweeter.
Self-pickers are given a bucket and can pick as many or few berries as they
wish. The cost is $4 per pound if you choose to pick them yourself, or if
you're just driving by and want to purchase some in a container they're also
available at $5.50 per pound.
This year, the farmers are about a month behind a typical season, and so
far they're not seeing as much fruit as last year, due to Hurricane Irma and
the February freezes.
Blueberries thrive in a certain amount of cold and then need heat to ripen
the fruit. Since February brought much warmer weather than usual, leading
into a cooler March, it affected the plants.
On a good year, one acre can produce anywhere from 3,500 to 5,000
pounds of berries.
"Last year we grew almost 130,000 pounds on the 28 acres," Jerod said.
Two full time workers hand-weed the farm throughout the year, "We do a
lot of caring for the crop to provide a high quality, fresh product," Jerod said.
Pictured here are the
blueberries in March.
The berries need warm
weather to ripen, so as
it gets later in the
season these bushes
will be full of fruit.
Down South Blues
owners Jerod
& Lisa Gross at
their farm.
30GASPARILLA ISLAND May/June 2018