A Tuesday morning field survey indicated that the blackberries are entering peak harvest. Experienced pickers should be able to take 8 or more pints per hour, with a total of 40-50 pints available for each U-Pick session.

Blackberry U-Pick will be open Wednesday 4PM-8PM and Thursday 7AM-5PM. The U-Pick price is $2.50/pint or $2.00/pint for 10 or more.

Due to the likelihood of heavy rain tonight and already muddy driving conditions up the hill, Blueberry and Blackberry U-Pick will be closed Thursday.

Instead, Blueberry and Blackberry U-Pick will be open Saturday from 7AM to Noon. We expect slow picking for both berries; consider staying home unless a pleasant experience and a few pounds of berries per customer will make the trip worthwhile.

It’s beginning to look a lot like summer here at Plow Creek Farm. Stop by Valley Flowers in Spring Valley Thursday 8:30AM - 1PM to select your favorite colors and flavors: Blueberries, Red Raspberries, Blackberries, Sweet Corn, Cherry Tomatoes, Cantaloupe, Green Beans, Peas, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Lettuce, Potatoes, Garlic, Herbs and lots of other veggies. Plus, Bread and Cookies from Plow Creek Bakery.

We picked some sweet corn for Monday lunch. Delicious! I will be bringing a small load of sweet corn to Princeton Farmer’s Market Tuesday. Market opens at 8:30. I will also have blueberries, blackberries, red raspberries, cherry tomatoes, muskmelon, fresh garlic, green beans and other vegetables, and Plow Creek Bakery goodies.

The blackberries are just beginning to bloom. We expect them to be ripe in early to mid-July, so one could pick blueberries and blackberries on the same visit.

We will have lots of watermelon and tomatoes at Princeton Farmers’ Market (8:30 - 2:00) and Peoria Riverfront (8:00 - noon) market. We also have sweet corn, Plow Creek Bakery goods, blackberries, red raspberries, muskmelon, red and green peppers, red and green cabbage, carrots, red and sweet onions, green onions, new potatoes, basil, beets, kale, leeks, cucumbers, eggplant, and swiss chard.

On Saturday, come behold and partake of our sweet and tasty muskmelon (a.k.a cantaloupe). Sizes range from 3 to 7 pounds, with fair prices accordingly. Find them along with tomatoes, blackberries, bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots and lots of vegetables at the Princeton Farmer’s Market from 8:30 to 2:00, at the Peoria Riverfront Market from 8:00 to Noon, and on Route 29 in Chillocothe Saturday afternoon. Also available at our Market Barn in Tiskilwa.

U-Pick Closed Saturday for blueberries, blackberries and Raspberries. Blueberry Hill Road is too muddy.

Look for a mid-summer selection Thursday morning (8:30-2) at Valley Flowers in Spring Valley and Thursday evening (4-7PM) in Wyoming. Blueberries, blackberries, sweet corn, muskmelon/cantaloupe, cherry and plum tomatoes, green and yellow beans, green pepper, cucumber, zucchini, onions and more. Spring Valley will also include bread and cookies from Plow Creek Bakery

The wait is finally over for fresh local sweet corn. Find it alongside blueberries, blackberries, cherry and plum tomatoes, cantaloupe/muskmelon, green peppers, green beans and a multitude of other vegetables Saturday at the Princeton Farmers’ Market, Peoria Riverfront Market and the Twin City Market in Sterling. The Princeton and Sterling markets will also feature bread and cookies from Plow Creek Bakery. Blackberry supply is limited this week and red raspberry supply very limited. Markets open at 8:00, Princeton at 8:30. We will also have sweet corn for sale in our Market Barn at the farm.

It’s beginning to look like summer in Spring Valley this Thursday morning, with the following colorful and delicious visitors in the Valley Flowers parking lot: blueberries, blackberries, red raspberries, cantaloupe/muskmelon, cherry tomatoes, green peppers, green beans, sweet onions and more. Bread and cookies from Plow Creek Bakery round out the food pyramid. Sorry, no steers today — grass-fed beef is by order only. This interactive show runs from 8:30 to 1PM.

Blueberry, Blackberry and Raspberry U-Pick is open Thursday 7AM-Noon and 4PM-8PM. Raspberry quantities are moderate in this early season, but blueberries are still plentiful and blackberries are coming on strong.