INTERLACHEN, Fla. — “I believe some of the biggest gamblers in the world tend to be farmers,” said Tim Campbell, Walker Farms Florida Manager.
He’s in what he calls a risky business: blueberry farming. “It's such a costly business just to get it to this point and then to harvest it,” Campbell added.
It will take three full years for these young blueberry plants to blossom into full-grown bushes. Farmer Tim adds it's all for a harvest season that lasts a little over a month and happens only once a year.
“From the time that this year stops, we start growing for next year,” he said.
Although the blueberry season is early this year, he can start to see his risk turning into a reward. Seeing crowds pile into Walker Farms, formerly known as Miller Blueberry Plantation and Nursery, every day.
“Now agritourism is a big deal. I say 70 percent of our customers that come to this farm are coming from more than an hour away,” Campbell explained.
Tim says what will make or break the farm is the Bostwick Blueberry Festival on April 27th.
Last year he sold 800 pounds of blueberries, saying the risk paid off. Allowing him to grow new varieties of blueberries this year.
“Those extra dollars that come in from things like the festival and the U-Pick business and things like that, it takes all of the above to make this farm every year to go to the next year,” said Campbell.
If you need an excuse to get out on the farm, from now till May, Walker Farms in Interlachen will open their fields to anyone to pick their own blueberries, straight off the bush.
Families can see what it's like harvesting berries on the farm.
“And even the U-Pick business, when people bring their kids and teach them this is where your fruit comes from, it doesn't come from Publix or Walmart it actually comes from a bush and that's just a neat part of it,” Campbell added.
Best Places to Pick Blueberries
Jacksonville Beach Moms blog listed some of the top places for picking blueberries on the First Coast.
Abshier Blueberry Farm, 3960 SE 115th Street, Belleview, FL 34420
Amber Brooke Farms, 3250 NE 140th Avenue, Williston, FL 32696; 36111 N CR 44A Eustis, FL 32736
Aunt Zelma’s Blueberries, 21209 U.S. 301, Island Grove, FL 32654
Blu By U Farms, 5571 Long Branch Road, Jacksonville, FL 32234
Braddock Blueberries, 4136 Thomas Mill Road, Jacksonville, FL 32218
Clay Berry Ranch Farm, 1287 State Rd 100 Florahome, FL 32140
Dowless Blueberry Farm, 7010 Ricker Road Jacksonville, FL 32244
HNH Blueberry Farm, 130 Bostwick Park Drive Palatka, FL 32177
Kent’s Blueberry Farm, 14959 Thomas Mill Rd E Jacksonville, FL 32218
Morning Belle Farms, 762 Pine Drive Woodbine, GA 31569
Nana’s Blueberry Farm, 14289 Denton Road Jacksonville, FL 32226
The Blueberry Ranch, 852042 US Highway 17 Yulee, FL 32097
Towers Family Farms, 487 Millican Road, Palatka, FL 32177
May be closed – check back later in 2024 for an update! Williams Blueberry Farm, 2595 Stratton Road Jacksonville, FL 32221
Blueberries are not only good to you, but good for you
According to Mayo Clinic Health Systems, much of the power of blueberries lies in their colors. The deep-blue hue comes from anthocyanin, a phytochemical whose abilities may help protect the body from heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, offering cancer-fighting benefits, promoting gut health, and reduce inflammation. Research also suggests that regularly eating blueberries may improve memory and delay age-related cognitive decline.