Blueberry U-Pick Orchards in New Orleans area of Louisiana in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for blueberries that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have blueberries orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

St. Tammany Parish

• Bachman Blueberries - Uses natural growing practices, blueberries, U-pick and already picked, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food
  79126 Crump Road, Bush, LA 70431. Phone: (985) 777-0024. Email: bachmanblueberries@gmail.com. Open: See our Facebook page for updates on current hours. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . The season typically begins at the end of May until early July;. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. Bring your own water, snacks, sunscreen and bug spray. (UPDATED: May 04, 2020). (ADDED: May 03, 2020)
• Big Branch Apiary - Blueberries, honey,
  61690 Bremerman Rd, Big Branch, LA 70445. Phone: 985-422-0880. Email: bigbranchapiary@gmail.com. Open: June, from 7 am to 4 pm every day in June for blueberry season. You can call or text at 985-422-0880 to check on the harvest. Big Branch Apiary celebrates their 3 Year Anniversary for the farm on May 22, 2024. We incorporated in February 2020 but purchased our lovely farm on May 22nd, 2020 which felt like the true 'beginning' of our adventure. (ADDED: April 6, 2024, JBS)
• Blue Harvest Farms - blueberries
  78495 HWY 21, Bush, LA 70431. Phone: . Email: contactus@blueharvestfarms.com. Open: See our website for current hours and schedule. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions.
• Ridemore Equestrian Center and Berry Farm - No pesticides are used blackberries, blueberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations, horse boarding
  22154 John T Prats Rd, Covington, LA 70435. Phone: (985) 875-1965. Email: Info@ridemorefarm.com. Open: starting mid to late May, Tuesday and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm, By Reservation Only. Directions: From Covington LA, take State highway 21 East for about 4.5 miles from stoplight at Covington fire station. Turn right onto State highway 59 toward Abita Springs and go about 12 miles \(Look for our U-Pick sign on the left\). Turn left just before the fire station \(gravel road\). Ridemore Ranch is about one quarter mile on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. From Covington LA, take State highway 21 East for about 4.5 miles from stoplight at Covington fire station. Turn right onto State highway 59 toward Abita Springs and go about 1/2 miles (Look for our U-Pick sign on the left). Turn left just before the fire station (gravel road). Ridemore Ranch is about one quarter mile on the right. See website for more detailed information;. We do not use pesticides on the crops. (UPDATED: June 07, 2020)
• SonLight Farm - Uses natural growing practices, blueberries, U-pick and already picked, restrooms
  83481 Whit Road, Sun, LA 70427. Phone: (985) 241-0910. Email: sunblueberries@gmail.com. Open: Typical season from late May to July 1st; In season we are open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm. Directions: Off Highway 16 in Sun, Louisiana at 83481 Whit Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. (ADDED: May 29, 2021)
• Sunhillow Berry Farm - blueberries, Mayhaw, Muscadines
  33510 Magee-Mahner Road, Pearl River, LA 70452. Phone: 985-867-9737. Email: billmagee@bellsouth.net. Open: Daylight til Dark 7 days a week Click here for a map. Directions: From the intersection of Hwy. 435 and Hwy. 41, go east on Hwy. 41 14 mile take a left on Jim Parker Road; then take every fork to the right until you reach the gate of the farm. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Sunhillow Berry Farm Alternate phone: 985-630-1916. . From the intersection of Hwy. 435 and Hwy. 41, go east on Hwy. 41 1/4 mile take a left on Jim Parker Road; then take every fork to the right until you reach the gate of the farm. Seasons: Mayhaw: Mid April to Early May; Blueberries: mid May until July 15; Muscadines Mid August to Mid September Sunhillow is a pick your own blueberry farm. We work off the "honor" system and you pay for what you take, including eat off the bush! $10 per gallon. Our hours are daylight till dusk.(UPDATED: May 13, 2012, by a visitor)

Tangipahoa Parish

• Loblolly U-Pick Blueberries - blueberries, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food
  1000 Andrew Bankston Road, Amite, LA 70422. Phone: 985-748-6843. Email: major.patterson82@gmail.com. Open: From Friday at the end of May, on Thursday through Sunday from 7 am to 6 pm We are open the month of June; Additional days May be available in May and July based on Mother Natures cooperation; Please contact us by phone before driving up if you have concerns about weather or accommodations; we will be happy to assist you. Directions: For a map to our farm, . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . . 2021 prices are $10.00 per gallon. They supply the buckets, and the take home packaging. Come enjoy 2 manicured acres of blueberries (1,200 plants) featuring 6 varieties to assure sweetness throughout the picking season. We also offer a shaded picnic area for those that may need to take a break from the heat along with clean restroom facilities. (ADDED: June 10, 2016). (UPDATED: June 10, 2016)

Washington Parish

• 3D Blueberry Farm - Uses natural growing practices, blueberries,
  41031 Highway 1056, Franklinton, LA 70438. Phone: 985-839-2987. Email: info@3dblueberries.com. Open: starting mid-May then Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 7 am to 4 pm, until the blueberry season ends typically July 4th. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate Phone: 985-516-6016. . starting mid-May then Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 7 am to 4 pm, until the blueberry season ends (typically July 4th). We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Washington Parish's Watermelons available (already brought in from the field) in late June.
• Choctaw Road Blueberries - blueberries,
  25046 Thomas Nelson Rd, Franklinton, LA 70438. Phone: 985-848-0548. Email: wayneandniki@yahoo.com. Open: Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm, closed on Sunday. Directions: from Franklinton, Louisiana take hwy 10 east about 7 miles turn left on Choctaw road go 2 miles turn left onto Melvin Thomas road go to next road to right, Thomas Nelson road, you are there. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . Click here for Mapquest map to our farm. (Note: use the "zoom" function on the map to zoom out to your area). Normally open Memorial Day weekend thru June.
  Comments from a visitor on May 30, 2012: "Amazing experience. Bright sweetest blue berries ever. So well kept. The lady that runs it is adorable!! Totally recommend!! "
  Comments from a visitor on May 30, 2011: "Amazing farm. Absolutely beautiful and well kept. The trees are all organic. Best largest blue berries I have had, EVER! She lady that runs it is so sweet! She have both if our children ice cream and we sat in the shade talking eating ice cream and having a nice cold glass of water. Absolutely delightful
• Country Fair Farm (aka, Bichkams) - blueberries, and prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area
  23671 Hwy 25, Franklinton, LA 70438. Phone: 985-839-8923. Email: bickhaminc@itsfast.net. Open: UPDATE for 2021, They may have closed; Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me, their last reported hours were May 27th to July 10th; Daylight to dark; call after July 10th. Directions: Easy to find. One mile north of Franklinton on Hwy 25. Look for Country Fair Farm sign. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Country Fair Farm (aka, Bichkams) Fax: 985-839-9305. . Clean and mowed rows. Easy picking. Plenty of blueberries. 15 acres.
• L and E Blueberries LLC - blueberries, U-pick and already picked
  27159 James Creel Road, Franklinton, LA 70438. Phone: 504-858-3086. Open: May 25 to July 15, 7 day a week, 7am to dark. Directions: Off Highway 436. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . We have a 10 acre manicured field which is kept free of weeds, No chemicals are used in our field. Already picked available upon request. Over 3000 Blueberry trees (Premier & Climax). *A farm where you can pick you own berries! We also take orders for pick up!
• Sweetpea Farms LLC - No pesticides are used, blueberries, U-pick and already picked, and fresh farm eggs are available
  44033 Chardan Road, Franklinton, LA 70438. Phone: 985-322-2136. Open: May 25 to July 15, Monday to Saturday 7am to dark, Sunday 10am to dark,. Directions: Off highway 430. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate phone: 985-795-9832. We are a small 6 acre farm, just the right size to keep the fields clean of debris and weeds. We prune our bushes so that they are easy to pick and provide the ultimate in health for the plants, the berries, and the people who enjoy them. Sweetpea Farms makes its own jellies, which are also available.Come enjoy our country atmosphere. No chemicals are used in our fields,berries can be eaten right off the bush. (UPDATED: May 11, 2016)

 

Blueberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Blueberries are one of the easiest fruit to prepare and serve. There's no peeling, pitting, coring or cutting. They have few natural pests, (other than birds), so pesticides are generally unnecessary! This year's crop is fantastic (see related news story), thanks both to the weather and to more farms planting more blueberry bushes due to increased consumer demand over the past few years as more studies proclaim the anti-oxidant and other health properties of blueberries.

Click here to find a local Blueberry Festival (usually held between April and July).

If you are looking for information about a similar berry, the saskatoon (also called the June berry or Serviceberry) see this page about saskatoons.

Picking tips:

Select plump, full blueberries with a light gray-blue color. A berry with any hint of red isn't fully ripened.

Ripening AFTER picking?

First, it is key to know that once picked, blueberries will NOT become any sweeter, nor will the flavor improve. The only change that occurs is the color. They will APPEAR to ripen, but it is only a color change, from white to green to rose to red to pale blue to fully blue. So, white and green colored blueberries will not "ripen" after they are picked; while blueberries that have already turned purple, red or blue-ish usually DO change color after they are picked (if they are kept at room temperature to "ripen").

As the blueberries ripen ON THE BUSH, the flavor goes from tastless to bitter to tasteless tart to tart blueberry flavor to sweet blueberry flavor.

Grocery stores sell blueberries that are tart, not sweet because they had them picked unripe by machine so they are very firm and can handled being bumped around in shipping. They may look good, but are not as tasty as those picked when actually ripe.

So, the key is, PICK ONLY RIPE BERRIES!

How to pick blueberries

Since blueberries hang on the bushes in bunches a but like grapes do, the easiest and fastest way to pick them is hold your bucket under them in one hand and with your other hand, cup a ripe bunch and gently rub them with your fingers. The ripe berries will drop into your bucket, while the unripe ones will remain attached to the bush.

When the bushes are at peak, I can easily pick 2 gallons per hour (if I'm not being distracted by the kids and the sun isn't too hot!). A newbie might do 1 gallon per hour.and at the beginning or end of the season it takes more time as the berries are not as plentiful nor concentrated in clusters.

Tips for storing blueberries after harvesting:

• Once picked, don't place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form in the container.
• Don't wash berries until just before using, to prevent berries from becoming mushy.
• Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. Store your fresh blueberries in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep 10 to 14 days.
• Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening. Place berries one layer deep. Freeze, then pour the frozen berries into freezer containers. Because unwashed blueberries freeze individually, they can be easily poured from containers in desired amounts. Remember both frozen and fresh berries should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries in cold water.

Blueberry Measurements and Conversions

Keep in mind that blueberries vary considerably in density and moisture content, so these ranges are approximates.

• 1 gallon of blueberries weighs about 7.5 lbs or (4 liters of blueberries is about 3.5 kg)

• 1 pint of fresh blueberries weights about 3/4 of a pound. (1 liter of blueberries is about 700 grams)

• 1 pound of fresh blueberries is usually between about 2 and 3 cups of berries.

• It takes about 4 cups (about of blueberries to make a blueberry pie (see this fantastic and easy blueberry pie recipe)

• A normal batch of blueberry preserves, jam or jelly requires 5 pints of berries.

• Blueberries do come in a variety of sizes from small (190-250 berries per cup) to extra large (<90 berries per cup).

Blueberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Blueberries

Recipes

• The world's best Blueberry pie, recipe and directions and illustrated!
• Blueberry buckle coffee cake: illustrated directions for this great crumb-topping blueberry coffee cake
• Other easy directions to make blueberry desserts: cobblers, etc.

Canning, freezing and other blueberry recipes:

• How to Freeze Blueberries
• How to Can Blueberries
• How to Make Homemade Blueberry Jam
• How to make blueberry jelly
• How to make and can blueberry syrup (it works for strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, too)
• blueberry pie filling to use later,
• blueberry butter

Baking tips

If you have trouble with blueberries settling to the bottom of muffins and blueberry breads, try one or more of these tips:

• Coat them with flour before adding to the batter. Just gently shake the blueberries in a bag (plastic or paper) with 1/2 cup of flour, then dump them mix in a sieve to remove excess flour.
• It may just be that your batter is too thin. try making the batter a little thicker!
• Fill the muffin cups or baking pan up to 1/4 full with batter (which hasn't had blueberries added to it yet); then stir the blueberries into the remaining batter, and continue to fill the muffin cups or bread pan. The blueberries will start off higher in the mix!

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers