It was a warm summer day and I was driving down 1314 with my husband and two girls when we passed a sign that said “U-Pick Blueberries.”
I turned to my husband, “Can we please stop?”
I grew up on a farm in Oregon where we had Christmas trees (i.e. work all fall, winter, and spring) and blueberries (work all summer). Picking blueberries would be like a little bit of home.
We drove down a long dirt road to Moorhead’s Blueberry Farm and parked in front of the weigh station and checkout.
As the girls were excitedly getting their buckets and ready to pick, I asked the attendant, “What kind of blueberries are they?” Each variety of blueberry has its own distinct flavor, and I was wondering if they had any of my favorites.
“They’re blue.” The attendant replied.
I blinked at him.
“I mean, what variety are they?” I asked, “Are they Early Blue, Blue Ray, Blue Crop . . .?” and explained that my family had a blueberry farm in Oregon.
“Oh,” he stuttered for a moment, “These are Southern varieties. I didn’t mean to sound like you had asked a stupid question.”
I thought, “Sure you didn’t.”
But beyond that, it was a fun time and we all enjoyed a number of blueberry treats.
My goal this year is to visit as many U-pick farms as I can find. When I was growing up in Oregon, we would visit fruit farms almost weekly. We would start with strawberries in mid-May, then progress through raspberries, blackberries, marion berries, peaches, pears, and end the season in October with filberts. After experiencing fresh, vine-ripened fruit, it is hard to get excited about produce found in stores.
If you are looking for fun, healthy, and inexpensive activities to do with your children this summer, take them to one of the area produce farms
19351 Moorhead Road, off of 1314 between Conroe and Porter
888-702-0622 or 281-572-1265
Blueberries, Open 7 days a week, 7 am to 9 pm.
Season is usually the last weekend of May through mid-July. Call for actual dates.
11282 County Road 302, Plantersville, Texas 77363
936-894-2766
Strawberries – February through May
Blackberries – May through mid July
Figs – June through mid July
20010 Bauer-Hockley, Tomball
281-351-7676 or 281-467-9758
Blackberries – June
Asian pears – July through August
Asian persimmons – July through August
Jujube – July through August
Asian persimmons – October through November
Rudy’s Peach Orchard -
1737 Sawdust Road near Spring.
281-367-4578.
Blackberries and peaches
Carla Alvarez is the owner of Legacy Marketing Services, which provides marketing and business support services to local area businesses. She is also a writer and sponsor of The Kingwood Connection, an online Kingwood area resource.
