Raspberry and Blueberry picking @ Greig Farm in Red Hook, New York

So since I have never been to a real farm where I could pick my own fruit, we had to make a pitstop at Greig Farm in Red Hook, New York to pick blueberries and raspberries.

Having always just bought my berries at the farmers markets or the fruit stands, I did not fully appreciate what goes into bringing it from the farm to the table.

Now I know meat and poultry is a whole nother subject altogether on farm to table, but even getting your blueberries require a lot of hard labor!

After spending an hour in the mud picking raspberries and bluberries among the bees and mosquitos, I have a new appreciation for the effort it takes to get a perfect pint.

Especially for those fragile raspberries!  I will no longer protest the premium prices...

Each bush had a different sweetness requiring a quick taste test.  A ripened raspberry should be very easy to pull off and have a richness and depth to the color.  For red - deep red, for yellow - the more golden the better.

For blueberries it was much easier as the hit rate for good blueberries was definitely higher.  Nice and bouncy - nothing beats a fresh picked blueberry.

Greig Farm is located in Red Hook, New York in the heart of the Hudson Valley.  You can either buy pre-picked fruits or take a basket and pick them yourself (more fun that way!)

Open 7 days a week, 9am to 7pm for picking.

Approximate picking schedule for 2009:

Blueberries - July to Mid August
Apples - September to October
Fall Raspberries - September to October
Pumpkins - October

Greig Farm
223 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook New York
845-758-1234