12/May/2008
Pickings a Thrill
On Blueberry Hill
By Pat Friedrich
Many families have found their thrill on the blueberry hills north of Zachary!
Berry Sweet Orchards in Ethyl, La., is Louisiana's first state-certified organic "you-pick" blueberry farm. With over 1,500 bushes spread across a two-acre farm, there are endless rows of blueberries.
Cliff and Susan Muller have owned and operated the place since 1990 and grow a wide array of certified organic varieties including Austin, Brightwell, Climax, Delite, Premier, Tifblue and Woodard. Blueberry season is June and July, so blueberries will be thriving soon.
At $2 per pound, you-pick berries define picking made easy. Customers are supplied with produce bags and picking buckets but should bring a good pair of socks and tennis shoes to protect their feet from the occasional insect, plus a hat to protect their head from the summer sun.
In 2005, the Mullers made the decision to make Berry Sweet Orchards the first organic "you-pick" blueberry orchard certified by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry as an organic producer. This means only all-natural fertilizers and soil builders are used. The Mullers also refrain from synthetic pesticides or herbicides on or near their blueberries.
To get to Berry Sweet Orchards take Highway 19 to Ethyl. Turn right on 955 and left on Brown Road. The Orchard is located at 5110 Brown Road. Hours are: Thursday-Saturday8 a.m.-1 p.m., 4 p.m.-7 p.m. No pets please. Indoor restrooms are available. For more information go to berrysweetorchards.com.
Blueberry Picking Tips:
Select plump, full blueberries with a light gray-blue color. A berry with any hint of red isn't fully ripened, and once picked, blueberries won't ripen and further.
Since blueberries hang on the bushes in bunches, the easiest and fastest way to pick them is hold your bucket under them in one hand and with your other hand, cup a ripe bunch and gently rub them with your fingers. The ripe berries will drop into your bucket, while the unripe ones will remain attached to the bush.
Once picked:
Don't place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form in the container.
Don't wash berries until just before using to prevent berries from becoming mushy.
Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. If refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep 10 to 14 days.
Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening. Place berries one layer deep. Freeze, then pour the frozen berries into freezer containers. Because unwashed blueberries freeze individually, they can be easily poured from containers in desired amounts. Remember both frozen and fresh berries should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries in cold water.
Health and Happiness
One cup of blueberries contains only 84 calories, and blueberries contain no cholesterol or fat.
Blueberries are high in dietary fiber, Vitamin A and niacin. They contain iron and other trace minerals and are a fair source of Vitamin C.
Anti-Aging - Blueberries are ranked No. 1 in antioxidant activity compared with 40 other commercially available fruits and vegetables. That means a serving of blueberries has more of the antioxidant power you need to fight aging, cancer and heart disease.
Research suggests that this delicious berry may help improve motor skills and reverse the short-term memory loss that comes with aging.
Cancer Prevention - The flavonoid responsible for giving blueberries their deep-blue color may also inhibit an enzyme involved in promoting cancer. Of the fruits tested, wild blueberries showed the greatest anti-cancer activity.
Urinary Tract Health - Research shows that blueberries help promote urinary tract health. It is thought that they contain compounds that prevent the bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections from attaching to the bladder wall.
Vision Health - Research indicates that Blueberries may help prevent a leading cause of blindness Wild Blueberries, like their European cousins, bilberries, have very high concentrations of anthocyanin, a natural compound linked with many health benefits including reducing eyestrain and improving night vision.
Recipes for the Fresh-Picked Blueberries
Blueberry Smoothie
Use fresh blueberries to make this luscious blueberry smoothie.
Ingredients:
1 - 4 oz. container blueberry or vanilla yogurt
3/4 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup milk - whole milk, 1% milk or 2% milk
6 to 8 ice cubes
Directions:
1. Place all the ingredients in the blender container.
2. Process on high speed until the ingredients are well blended, the ice is completely crushed and the drink is smooth and creamy.
Makes one large serving.
Delicious Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
3. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder.
4. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup.
5. Mix this with flour mixture.
6. Fold in blueberries.
7. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
To Make Crumb Topping:
1. Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon.
2. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until don
By Pat Friedrich
Many families have found their thrill on the blueberry hills north of Zachary!
Berry Sweet Orchards in Ethyl, La., is Louisiana's first state-certified organic "you-pick" blueberry farm. With over 1,500 bushes spread across a two-acre farm, there are endless rows of blueberries.
Louisiana's first "you-pick" organic blueberries ripen in June and July. Cliff and Susan Muller have owned and operated Berry Sweet Orchards since 1990.
At $2 per pound, you-pick berries define picking made easy. Customers are supplied with produce bags and picking buckets but should bring a good pair of socks and tennis shoes to protect their feet from the occasional insect, plus a hat to protect their head from the summer sun.
In 2005, the Mullers made the decision to make Berry Sweet Orchards the first organic "you-pick" blueberry orchard certified by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry as an organic producer. This means only all-natural fertilizers and soil builders are used. The Mullers also refrain from synthetic pesticides or herbicides on or near their blueberries.
Cliff Muller shows off his organic blueberries.
To get to Berry Sweet Orchards take Highway 19 to Ethyl. Turn right on 955 and left on Brown Road. The Orchard is located at 5110 Brown Road. Hours are: Thursday-Saturday8 a.m.-1 p.m., 4 p.m.-7 p.m. No pets please. Indoor restrooms are available. For more information go to berrysweetorchards.com.
Blueberry Picking Tips:
Select plump, full blueberries with a light gray-blue color. A berry with any hint of red isn't fully ripened, and once picked, blueberries won't ripen and further.
Since blueberries hang on the bushes in bunches, the easiest and fastest way to pick them is hold your bucket under them in one hand and with your other hand, cup a ripe bunch and gently rub them with your fingers. The ripe berries will drop into your bucket, while the unripe ones will remain attached to the bush.
Once picked:
Don't place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form in the container.
Don't wash berries until just before using to prevent berries from becoming mushy.
Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. If refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep 10 to 14 days.
Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening. Place berries one layer deep. Freeze, then pour the frozen berries into freezer containers. Because unwashed blueberries freeze individually, they can be easily poured from containers in desired amounts. Remember both frozen and fresh berries should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries in cold water.
Health and Happiness
One cup of blueberries contains only 84 calories, and blueberries contain no cholesterol or fat.
Blueberries are high in dietary fiber, Vitamin A and niacin. They contain iron and other trace minerals and are a fair source of Vitamin C.
Anti-Aging - Blueberries are ranked No. 1 in antioxidant activity compared with 40 other commercially available fruits and vegetables. That means a serving of blueberries has more of the antioxidant power you need to fight aging, cancer and heart disease.
Research suggests that this delicious berry may help improve motor skills and reverse the short-term memory loss that comes with aging.
Cancer Prevention - The flavonoid responsible for giving blueberries their deep-blue color may also inhibit an enzyme involved in promoting cancer. Of the fruits tested, wild blueberries showed the greatest anti-cancer activity.
Urinary Tract Health - Research shows that blueberries help promote urinary tract health. It is thought that they contain compounds that prevent the bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections from attaching to the bladder wall.
Vision Health - Research indicates that Blueberries may help prevent a leading cause of blindness Wild Blueberries, like their European cousins, bilberries, have very high concentrations of anthocyanin, a natural compound linked with many health benefits including reducing eyestrain and improving night vision.
Recipes for the Fresh-Picked Blueberries
Blueberry Smoothie
Use fresh blueberries to make this luscious blueberry smoothie.
Ingredients:
1 - 4 oz. container blueberry or vanilla yogurt
3/4 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup milk - whole milk, 1% milk or 2% milk
6 to 8 ice cubes
Directions:
1. Place all the ingredients in the blender container.
2. Process on high speed until the ingredients are well blended, the ice is completely crushed and the drink is smooth and creamy.
Makes one large serving.
Delicious Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
3. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder.
4. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup.
5. Mix this with flour mixture.
6. Fold in blueberries.
7. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
To Make Crumb Topping:
1. Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon.
2. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until don
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