U-pick fruit is as fresh as you can get and it tastes better than anything you will get in a supermarket or ever from a fruit stand. Recently, James Saffell, referred to his evening pick at Bramble Creek Farms; “It’s like blackberry heaven,” as he popped one of the tasty fruits in his mouth.
As area children finish the school year, blackberries are plentiful for those seeking a healthy snack with fresh, sweet flavor. Making a visit to a local farm to pick blackberries is a great way to kick off the summer!
Blackberries are low-cal and high in antioxidants, making them a healthy choice for snacking and cooking. A single serving of blackberries has 8 grams of dietary fiber and more than 30 mg of vitamin C. You just have to find them.
Ann Altman of Bramble Creek Farms has been growing blackberries on their property since 2004. They started with a single row of thorny berries. Today they have an acre and a half of the thorn less variety. “We find them to be sweeter and more disease resistant. They also retain their structural integrity after picking better than the thorny ones did. I can keep them in the refrigerator for up to a week after picking and they are just as good.” 
The formal name of the blackberry is Rubus fructicosus, and there are more than 40 species. Blackberry plants have adapted to climates around the globe and all parts of the plant have been used in medicine, rope-making, cooking and landscaping.
Three species of blackberry are native to central Florida, growing wild throughout the area: Rubus cuneifolius (sand blackberry), Rubus pensilvanicus (sawtooth blackberry) and Rubus trivialis (southern blackberry). Blackberries are in the Rosaceae or rose family.
It is much easier to pay the price of a u-pick farm than it is to hunt for the wild berries in the countryside. Cultivated blackberries are available in several locations in Hernando County. U-pick farms allow you to choose the best of this delectable, healthy fruit and many u-pick farms grow thorn less blackberries.
Whenever you visit a u-pick farm, adhere to some basic safety rules, including driving slowly and parking in designated areas, avoiding posted “No Entry” areas, watching where you walk, and staying out of wet rows in the fields. Farmers can point you to the best location to pick for that day.
It is not appropriate to smoke or chew gum or tobacco in fields, and is always a good idea to wash your hands before eating. Pets should not be brought to the farm.
Most u-pick operations have portable toilets on site, and supply the tools for holding your produce while you pick and bags for taking it home after your selections are weighed and paid for. Some sell water and drinks to insure you stay hydrated while picking, but are fine with you bringing your own refreshments.
It is always a good idea to wear hats, sunscreen and clothing that fully covers you to protect against sun and bugs. You want to wear old shoes with closed toes to protect your feet and help reduce tripping from sandals or flip flops on uneven terrain.
Some farms have picnic tables and welcome you to bring a picnic lunch or enjoy your bounty while you are visiting, making it a fun family adventure. Others are more spartan, providing few amenities. Phone numbers are listed. It is recommended to call any farm before you venture out to ensure the produce you want is available that day and the experience is what you are expecting.
Joan Casey of JG Ranch says, “Our blackberries are thorn less and they are as big as your thumb. Blackberries get very soft in the heat after they are picked. We recommend farm visitors bring a cooler with ice to keep their bounty plump and full through the ride home. We have a corn maze and family festival each Saturday and Sunday through July 4. Guests are welcome to bring a picnic and make a day of it.”
Each farm chooses a type of blackberry to cultivate. Some blackberry varieties are thorn less and some have thorns. Different varieties ripen at different times in the season, so some farms have multiple varieties which lengthens the availability.
The farmer decides whether to grow his crop with pesticides and chemical fertilizers or to manage the plants organically. Some farmers use organic methods but do not take the time to be certified as an organic farm by the regulating agencies. Others utilize a combination of chemical and natural methods to produce the best berry they can. 
Robert Whitener of Bramble Creek Farms said, “I don’t use any synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilizers on my blackberries. The thorny blackberries tend to be a bit larger and juicier, but they are full of thorns. The Natchez variety of thorn less berries that I grow is comparable and we always send the children over to the thorn less bushes.”
Blackberries are best picked when the drupelets are plump and full of flavor. They should be fully black. Red areas on a berry are not ripe yet and will tart the berry’s flavor.
Hint: Freeze blackberries and then pull them out and pop them right in your mouth – mini blackberry popsicles!
To freeze blackberries, rinse them thoroughly in fresh water, lay them in a single layer on a cookie sheet to dry. When dry, place the cookie sheet in the freezer. When the berries are frozen, you can place them in a freezer bag or container to store for up to a year. The berries will lose flavor over time.
Here is a list of area farms we could find:
Bramble Bush Farm
27400 Old Trilby Road Brooksville, Florida, 34602 – (352) 799-5973
Email: sandyhillfarm@gmail.com
Hours: Friday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., closed Sunday – Monday. Open other days by appointment.
Thorny and Thorn less varieties. Cost per pound: $4.50
Bramble Creek Farms
23031 Hayman Rd, Brooksville, FL 34602 – (352) 796-5473
http://floridablackberries.com Email: gene-ann@bramblecreekfarmsfl.com
Hours: Saturdays 8 a.m. – noon and Tuesdays 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Thorn less only. Cost per pound: $5 u-pick/$7 pre-picked, cash only. Expect season to last through the end of July. Also available, locally grown honey.
J G Ranch
17200 Wiscon Rd., Brooksville, FL 34601 – (352) 799-0556
http://www.jgranch.com/
Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Corn Maze & Family Festival: Saturday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. until 4th of July – tire swings, sandbox, feed cows the leaves from the sweet corn. Welcome to bring a picnic and make a day of it.
Thorn less only. Cost per pound: Upick $4.00 – Pre-picked $6.00 – must call 1 day in advance for pre-picked
Seasonal Produce Available Year-round. Fall – pumpkin patch and another maze.
Sweetfields Farm, Inc.
17250 Benes Roush Rd., Masaryktown, FL 34604 – (352) 279-0977
http://sweetfieldsfarm.com/
Hours: 10 a.m. – noon Wednesdays and Saturdays
Thorn less only. Cost per pound: $4.50 u-pick
Gathered Produce Organically grown: Cucumbers, Cherry Tomatoes, Red Tomatoes Green Tomatoes, Banana Peppers, Bell Peppers, Japanese Eggplant, Large Eggplant, Spaghetti Squash, Yellow summer Squash, Zucchini, Scaloppini Squash, Fresh Cut Sunflowers, Watermelons
Whichever farm and experience you choose for your blackberry picking, get out there and do it before the season is over.