Photo
courtesy of Nodaway Blues Blueberry Farm
|
Berries
near perfection amid llamas and cherries
By
Nino Marchetti
For Oregon.com
Nodaway
Blues Blueberry Farm, a U-pick operation at 24275 S.W. Nodaway Lane
on Wilsonville's outskirts, has llamas as neighbors and sits at the
end of a lane lined with cherry trees. Most recently in the hands
of Paul and Judith Newman, who have owned Nodaway Blues since 2004,
the farm is gearing up for another season of blueberry magic.
Nearly
three acres of round blueberries -- 2,075 or so bushes -- fill out
much of the Nodaway Blues property. While Paul Newman isn't exactly
sure how many blueberries that is, he does know the three types of
blueberries, out of more than 20 varieties, that make up the 44 rows
at his farm: "We have Earliblues, Blueray and Bluecrop."
Nodaway
Blues Blueberry Farm
24275 S.W. Nodaway Lane,
Wilsonville, OR 97070
503-638-4989
Hours
of Operation: Hours (until season ends in August):
8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday.
Cost: $1.25 a pound this year.
Tip: Blueberries are
full of antioxidants, according to the Oregon Blueberry
Commission. Many studies have called blueberries one of
the best fruits to put into one's body. |
|
Earliblues,
as the name implies, are the first ready for picking. That is evident
by the clusters of large, juicy berries hanging off branches throughout
the farm. Newman said many people find Earliblues to be the sweetest.
Following Earliblues are Blueray and Bluecrop, each coming ready for
harvest within a week or two of the other. Bluecrop is characterized
most by its more defined texture, while Newman describes Blueray
as somewhat of a cross between the other two.
"All three have a distinct blueberry taste," said Newman,
comparing them with the smaller, less sweet berries that come from
Chile during the winter.
Regardless of the type, the little blue balls are full of antioxidants,
according to the Oregon Blueberry Commission. Many studies have called
blueberries one of the best fruits to put into one's body.
At Nodaway Blues, more than 90 percent of the crop is dedicated to
U-pick. The Newmans plan to charge $1.25 a pound this year. They'll
have a few half-flats and full flats ready for those not wanting to
roll up their sleeves.
Speaking of rolling up one's sleeves, what is the proper way to pick
a blueberry?
"You put your hand underneath the clump," Paul Newman said
as he demonstrated. "You then use your thumbs to gently roll
off the berries. If your thumb can't roll it off, it's not ready yet."
To get the best blueberries possible, the Newmans follow as many sustainable
farming practices as they can.  No
chemicals are sprayed on the plants after they bud. All of the fertilization
is ground-based. The result is a blueberry that can be eaten right
off the bush.
With all the people who pass through Nodaway Blues, the bushes are
picked fairly quickly some days. One man last year picked around 260
pounds of blueberries over three days. He said he planned to freeze
them and eat them throughout the year.
It's mostly the children, though, gleefully running among the bushes,
who leave lasting memories.
"Kids love to eat berries right off the bush," Newman said.
"We see lots of purple mouths."
Story
by Nino Marchetti, a free-lance writer based in Lake Oswego, OR.
|
|
|
|
