Blueberries & the Taste of Summer: U-Pick Farms, Fun Facts, and a Juicy History

Article by: Janna Tamargo | Photography by Janna Tamargo | Published May 15, 2025

School’s Out, Blueberries Are In

There’s something deeply nostalgic about the first taste of blueberries each summer, tart, sweet, warm from the sun. They remind us of what food used to be: seasonal, fleeting, and worth chasing down a dirt road to find.

So as the school year ends and summer opens up, consider planning a weekend trip to a U-pick farm, trying a new recipe, or even just grabbing a pint from your local farmer’s market. Blueberries may be small, but they carry big stories and big flavor. Behind their bright burst of sweetness is a story rooted in Indigenous knowledge, American agricultural ingenuity, and a growing culture of seasonal celebration.

In this week's edition of AuthenticFood.com, we’re picking through the history of blueberries, highlighting some of the best U-pick farms across the U.S., and sharing a few fun creators on Instagram who know how to make the most of this small-but-mighty fruit.

A Very American Berry

Blueberries are one of the few fruits native to North America that have been cultivated on a large scale. Long before commercial farming, Indigenous communities, particularly the Wabanaki, Passamaquoddy, and other Northeastern tribes, were harvesting wild lowbush blueberries for both food and medicine. They dried them to preserve through winter and mixed them into stews or meat-based pemmican. In some tribal traditions, blueberries were seen as gifts from the Great Spirit, with the star-shaped blossom end of each berry symbolizing guidance and protection.

It wasn’t until the early 20th century that blueberries were domesticated. In 1911, a New Jersey botanist named Frederick Coville teamed up with a cranberry farmer named Elizabeth White to breed and commercialize the highbush blueberry. They selected wild varieties for flavor, size, and adaptability, and by 1916, the first commercial blueberry crop hit the market.

Today, the U.S. produces over 700 million pounds of blueberries a year, with major harvests coming from Michigan, Oregon, Washington, New Jersey, and Georgia.

Blueberry Season = U-Pick Season

There’s no better way to connect with the land and get your fingers stained in the process than a U-pick farm. It’s a quintessential summer outing. Most farms allow you to pick by the pound, and it's a great activity for kids just starting their summer break, leading to many cooking activities.

Here are a few standout U-pick blueberry farms across different U.S. regions:

Northeast

Emma Lea Farms – Sauvie Island, Oregon

Okay, this one straddles the line between Northeast vibes and Pacific Northwest beauty, but it's beloved for its sprawling fields, family-friendliness, and diverse berry options (including blueberries mid-June to late July). emmaleafarms.com

Southeast

Mercier Orchards – Blue Ridge, Georgia

Known for apples, Mercier also offers blueberry picking in June and July. Their scenic mountain backdrop makes the experience Instagram-worthy. They also make blueberry wines and ciders. mercier-orchards.com

Midwest

King Orchards – Central Lake, Michigan

Michigan is one of the top blueberry-producing states, and King Orchards offers a beautiful lakeside picking experience. Don’t miss their in-house bakery for blueberry pies and turnovers. kingorchards.com

Southwest

The Blueberry Farm – Quitman, Texas

With a mixture of Rabbiteye Blueberry varieties for you to choose from, The Blueberry Farm offers u-pick from late in May and continue for about 2 weeks into July if it doesn't get too hot. the-blueberry-farm.com

West Coast

Victoria Island Farms – Holt, California

This farm opens for blueberry picking May 17th! Their California varieties offer flavor you won’t find in grocery store pints. victoriaislandfarms.com

Fun Blueberry Facts

• Blueberries "bloom" white: The blossoms are bell-shaped and look a lot like cherry or plum flowers before they become berries.

• Antioxidant-rich: They contain anthocyanins, the pigments that give them their deep color—and their brain-boosting, heart-helping power.

• The state fruit of New Jersey: Fitting, considering the first cultivated blueberries came from there.

• They float! Perfect for summer drinks, ice cubes, or even in a fun science experiment with kids.

• Blueberries can “talk” to bees: Research has shown that blueberry plants communicate with pollinators through vibration frequencies, encouraging efficient buzzing and pollination.

Blueberry Love on Instagram

Want to see how blueberry lovers and makers are turning these little berries into big content? Here are some creators and accounts to checkout:

• @bakersroyale_naomi – Naomi’s gorgeous desserts often feature seasonal fruits like blueberries in tarts, galettes, and muffins.

• @thefeedfeed – Their seasonal roundups often include blueberry-focused recipes from home cooks around the globe.

• @Annebyrn – Anne Byrn's new cookbook Baking in the America South shares some blueberry recipes, like Alma blueberry bread and even blueberry buckwheat pancakes.

• @blueberrycouncil – Yes, this is the official account of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, but it’s surprisingly fun and full of creative uses (think savory blueberry salsa or BBQ sauce).

• @blueberryartisanbakery - If you are in North Florida check out this bakery that makes everything by hand, more than 45 European inspired desserts, including: truffles, brittle, pies, cakes, cheesecakes, pastries...

Beyond the Pie

Of course, we all love a good blueberry pie...but blueberries are incredibly versatile. Here are some fresh ideas to try this summer:

• Toss them with fresh mint and a drizzle of honey for a simple dessert.

• Freeze them and blend into smoothies or popsicles.

• Make a quick pickle with vinegar, sugar, and spices for a unique topping on salads or grilled meats.

• Mash with lemon juice and sugar to spoon over pancakes or toast.

• Infuse them into syrup or vinegar for cocktails or mocktails.

So as school lets out and summer begins to, maybe think of blueberries not just as fruit, but as a reminder of how food connects us to the land, to tradition, and to each other. Whether you're picking them fresh, baking them into a pie passed down through generations, or discovering new ways to use them on Instagram or your favorite new cookbook, blueberries invite us to slow down and savor the season. Because in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and AI, a ripe blueberry, sun-warmed, sweet, and just a little wild, is a reminder that the most nourishing things still come from the earth, not a machine.