Blueberries across Georgia are ripe for the picking, as the season approaches its peak heading into early July.
Laura Pallas, owner of Buffalo Creek Berry Farm in Lexington, said her blueberries were nice and sweet this year, but that extreme summer weather has significantly impacted her harvest.
“We started out having everything looking fantastic in regards to minimal frost,” Pallas said. “Then, I think that these afternoon storms have sent through almost hurricane force winds that’s knocked the harvest to the ground. I reckon we’re at half the harvest of what we had last year.”
According to the Georgia Department of Agriculture, blueberries are the No. 1 fruit grown in Georgia, with 18,328 acres planted in the state producing 39 million pounds of berries. In 2021, the University of Georgia valued the crop’s impact on the state economy at over $348 million.
In 2022, a devastating early spring freeze caused severe crop loss in the county, with one farm, Rhonda’s Blueberries, experiencing total crop loss when temperatures plummeted to 26 degrees in March.
Frost wasn’t a major issue for farmers this year, but rainy conditions have proved challenging.
At Buffalo Creek Berry Farm, in addition to crop loss, rain has caused larger-than-average fruit fly numbers, and since the farm is organic and pesticide-free, Pallas can’t rely on spraying as a solution.
She said the problem with fruit flies is that they can sting the berry, which in turn causes it to deflate like a balloon, degrading the quality of the harvest.
Though the berries impacted by the fruit flies taste great once they’re frozen, much of the work of harvesting goes into trying to achieve “that perfect pint for market.” What doesn’t sell at the market is then either frozen or made into preserves, meaning little goes to waste.
Though it’s been a challenging harvest season, Pallas said it hasn’t impacted the berries’ flavor.
“I think they taste amazing,” she said. “We have a lot of loyal customers who believe that we have some of the best-tasting blueberries around.”
Marcus Eason, 4-H agent at the Oglethorpe County Extension Office, has around 25 blueberry bushes and said his harvest is excellent this year. He said his berries might not be as sweet as other years due to the rain, but added, overall, this year’s crop has been good and flavorful.
“I’ve got them coming out of my ears,” Eason said. “I try to give them away to friends and family and freeze as much as I can.”
Alex Perri is a master’s student in journalism at the University of Georgia. She previously worked at the Transylvania Times in Brevard, North Carolina.
U-pick berries
Buffalo Creek Berry Farm (810 Stevens Grove Church Road, Lexington) and LongShot Farms (158 Wolfskin Road, Arnoldsville) are among the u-pick berry farms in Oglethorpe County. Buffalo Creek Berry Farm products are also sold at Earth Fare in Athens and at Freedom Farmers Market in Atlanta.