Sandpoint, ID

We left from the Selle Valley area around 9:00 a.m. to make sure we arrived early at Riley Creek Blueberry Farm. Because it is high summer, we knew picking berries would be a lot more pleasant in the morning when it was cooler. My sister, my nephew and I drove the 13.5 miles on Hwy 2 through Dover to Laclede and turned right at the gas station. From there it is simply a hop, skip and a jump to the farm on the left. You’ll see the sign, and also around 5,000 blueberry plants.

As you arrive in the dirt parking lot and make your way to the U-pick area, you are greeted by a friendly girl and a very friendly black lab named Riley. The set-up is simple. Go to the tally shed and grab a red bucket or two, depending on how much energy you have. We thought we had a lot of chutzpah. When you start out, the buckets look small. Let me point out here that while some blueberries are quarter-sized, others are less than dime-sized in diameter. Pause for a moment and you’ll realize that it takes a lot of them to fill up a bucket. However, this is still a very fun time and you won’t be disappointed even if you don’t pick many.

So, we headed out with full hearts and empty buckets. Each bush is good-sized because they are several years old. In fact, blueberry bushes don’t yield much at all until they are over three. These bushes are in their prime, and it shows with every laden branch. The day we went was July 26, and this year, we hit the bushes at the beginning of the season. The bushes are literally bending with berries, some ripe, some green. In another week I think they will be in their prime. We picked for about two hours and then called it quits when we got too hot and when the youngest in our group decided it was time to do something else. In fairness to him, he was patient and spent a good long time in the dirt between rows building ant mansions, complete with delicious blueberries for food. During the time we picked, we talked amongst ourselves and with some nice folks intent on bagging berries for various purposes: canning, freezing, baking, you name it.

Our take? My sister got 9.5 pounds and I got 7.25. U-pick berries cost $2 per pound so it doesn’t take much math at all to see that these berries are well worth the labor involved. Plus, where else can you visit a family-owned blueberry farm where the owner greets you between rows and gives you advice on how to lighten the snow load on your own bushes at home? (Drive in three stakes around each bush and cover with chicken wire to give added support.)

If they are not sold out already, you can also purchase pre-picked gallons here, but if you can, take the time to really experience Riley Creek Blueberry Farm, a gem close to home.

http://www.rileycreekblueberryfarm.com/