Published: June 03, 2009 04:57 pm      

Blueberries: Miss. research efforts bearing fruit

LUMBERTON — Blueberries found their way into Mississippi after Hurricane Camille in 1969 wiped out the state’s tung nut crop and farmers were looking for an alternative.

The first blueberry bushes were brought in from southern Georgia and northern Florida in the early 1970s.

Now, says Donna Marshall, a horticulturist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Southern Horticultural Laboratory in Poplarville, Mississippi has 2,000-to-3,000 acres of blueberries.

Marshall says the state’s timing is also unique. She says Mississippi’s berries ripen earlier than Northern states’ berries and after South America’s growing season has ended.

And the berries are readily available — at various festivals over the next couple of months to U-pick farms across South Mississippi.

At U-pick farms, customers provide the picking power at $6 to $10 per gallon.

“It’s gonna be a great season this year. Lots of berries,” said Amy Phelps of Pearl River Blues Berry Farm in Lumberton.

Those who sell their crops commercially for local grocers and national distributors also foresee a good year.

“Mississippi is about seventh in the nation in blueberry production, with about eight million pounds a year,” said John Braswell, Extension Service horticultural specialist for fruit crops, who has promoted Mississippi blueberries since the 1980s.

Braswell said 80 percent of the state’s blueberries are in the southeast corner of the state.

About one-fifth of those farmers open their crops for public picking, and Henry Turner of Vancleave is one of them.

After trying commercial growing with hired pickers and machines, Turner decided he enjoys the U-pickers best. His Spring Lake Berry Farm has 6,000 bushes.

“Once people taste a fresh berry picked right off the bush, they are hooked,” Turner said. “With all the new studies that show the health benefits, even more people are wanting to pick fresh berries.

Charlie Dabbs of Dabbs Farm in Saucier also advises calling in advance, whichever farm you choose, to check on crop availability, hours and directions.

One recent Sunday, Dabbs said he had so many pickers that “they practically stripped the bushes so I had to wait a few days for more to ripen.”

Crop abundance can vary from farm to farm, according to how many pickers have visited. The weather and time of the season, which generally runs from late May to mid-July, also affects which varieties will be available.

The USDA’s Marshall said a research team is trying to develop a larger and healthier blueberry, and the fruit is helping define Poplarville.

On June 13, the town will host the 26th annual Pearl River County Blueberry Jubilee. The downtown event that promotes the blueberry industry will feature arts and crafts, music, storytelling, a beauty pageant, an auto show, food booths and a 5K run.

Jubilee spokeswoman Tammy Krutzfeldt said about 200 vendors will be present.

“There are lots of blueberry products,” she said. “A blueberry queen will be crowned. For the first time, we will have a blueberry recipe contest for desserts and salads. Next year, we hope to expand it.”

Those who want to sample blueberries a little earlier can travel to Ocean Springs on Saturday to the fourth annual Red, White & Blueberry Festival.

Diane Claughton, co-founder of the Ocean Springs Fresh Market, said the market and Chamber of Commerce jointly sponsor the event.

“We will have about eight blueberry farmers and 40 booths,” she said.

Kenny Ward, owner of Kenny Ward’s restaurant in Ocean Springs, will show spectators how to cook a grilled, skinless duck breast with a blueberry and red wine reduction sauce, while Debbie Patout of Rene’s Quality Meats will create a blossom croissant with creme brulee and fresh blueberries.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Claughton said.