Lack of rain not affecting one farm’s berries

By Miranda Baines

Published: July 16, 2008

Summertime … and the blueberries are ripe. Rockingham County farmers say the berries are faring well, rebounding from last year when a late spring freeze ruined the crop.

“I think it’s going to be a good fruit year,” Brenda Sutton, Rockingham County agricultural extension agent, said.

Rivers’ Finest lives up to its name this blueberry season. The family farm, owned by Steve Rivers, has more than 5 acres of blueberry plants.

“This is probably the best year we’ve ever seen,” Dixon Rivers, Steve’s son, said.

“They started coming in good last week. We’re usually still getting blueberries in late August, early September,” Anthony Vick, a worker at Rivers’ Finest, said.

Robin Drake of Summerfield was picking blueberries Tuesday afternoon. She is planning to freeze the blueberries and eat them with her cereal.

“I usually go to Costco and buy bags of organic ones, so I thought this would be a better way of doing it,” Drake said. The Rivers’ blueberries are organic.

Picking blueberries at the farm turned out to be cheaper, too. Rivers’ Finest charges $15 for blueberries if people pick them and $10 per gallon if you pick your own. The farm charges $21 by the flat1 ½ gallons, and $2.50 by the pint.

Marilyn Foster of Asheboro picked blueberries along with a cousin, Drake. “I love it. It’s beautiful,” she said.

The Rivers use honeybees to cross-pollinate the plants. Rivers said the farm has several varieties of Rabbiteye -smaller, sweeter -blueberries and several varieties of Highbush -taller bushes with bigger berries.

“You cross-pollinate them and you get sweet, big berries,” said Rivers.

The recent lack of rain has not affected the crop. Rivers said rain only helps blueberries when they first start ripening. After the blueberries ripen, too much rain can make them burst.

“They pretty much take care of themselves,” said Vick.

Rivers’ Finest has what Rivers claims to be “the only blueberry-packing machine in North Carolina.” The machine has a blower that discards debris such as sticks, stems and leaves and puny berries. The machine transports the berries to a conveyer-type platform. Three people stand on each side and pick out the bad fruit. Finally, the machine dumps the good berries into pint-size plastic containers that ready for sale.

Rivers’ Finest opens about 8:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday at 328 Blueberry Road in Reidsville. Turn onto Peach Tree Road across from Rockingham County High School, turn left onto Blueberry Road and drive all the way to the end.

James Moore, owner of Fairfield Farm, said he “can’t complain” about this year’s crop.

“Last year the Easter freeze froze everything. This year we’re having a good season. They’re in pretty good shape,” said Moore.

Fairfield Farm’s berries are just beginning to come in. Moore estimates they’ll be available until the end of August. The farm has close to 700 blueberry plants -about an acre. Moore planted the blueberry bushes in 1986 and has Southern Highbush, Garden Blue, Rabbiteye and Premier blueberries.

“You need a variety so they’ll cross-pollinate. Otherwise they won’t produce,” said Moore.

Fairfield Farm charges $8 per gallon and $2 per quart if you pick them and $12 per gallon and $3 per quart if they pick. The farm is open 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

To get to Fairfield Farm, turn right onto McCoy Road off Freeway Drive, turn right onto Fairfield Road and follow the signs. Fairfield Farm is at 226 Fairfield Road in Reidsville.

Bill and Rebecca Comer of Reidsville had fun picking blueberries at Fairfield Farm on Tuesday. Rebecca said she plans to make a blueberry pie and use the remainder of the two gallons of berries she and her husband picked for breakfast cereal and pancakes.

Mitchell Orchard’s berries came in Tuesday. Owners Bob and Kay Mitchell say the drought has affected the blueberries, but they’re doing much better than last year. While the blueberries aren’t as plump or plentiful as they have been in years past, the flavor is top notch.

“The quantity is not what I’d like. They don’t have the size, but they’re sweet,” said Bob. “Last year, the freeze got the blueberries and the peaches. Last year was a total loss.”

The Mitchells pick the blueberries and charge customers $3 per pint. Mitchell Orchard is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The orchard will have what Bob describes as “a good quality crop” of peaches available beginning Thursday.

Helen Tuttle, owner of D.L. Tuttle’s Berry & Vegetable Farm, said she has a “normal” blueberry crop this year, but the drought has hurt.

“They needed a lot more rain to make them grow,” said Tuttle.

D.L. Tuttle’s Berry & Vegetable Farm is at 163 Tuttle Road in Stoneville. The berry stand is on N.C. Highway 135. The Tuttle’s pick the blueberries. The farm is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Honey Sweet Blueberry Farm at 302 Unicorn Road in Reidsville also has the fruit. From Reidsville, turn left at Calvary Baptist Church and follow the signs. Customers have the option of picking their own. The farm is open all day Monday through Saturday.

Staff Writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35.