2024 Whatcom County, Washington State Tayberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org
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Tayberry U-Pick Orchards in Whatcom County, Washington State in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for tayberries that we know of in this area.
Not all areas of a state have tayberries 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.
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Whatcom County
Nooksack Blueberries - blueberries, Tayberries Nooksack, Washington, Nooksack, WA 98012. Phone: (253) 432-2131. Email: nooksackblueberries@gmail.com. Open: late June or early July seven days a week from 8:30 am to 8 pm; We have a late variety that extends our harvest to September. Directions: See their Facebook page for directions. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Nooksack Blueberries Facebook page. Family run u-pick heirloom blueberries, including Chandler, Blue crop, Stanleys, and six more varieties, in season typically from late June through September. , . Heirloom blueberries transitioning to organic (in 3rd year of transition). We have 9 cultivars (varieties) that ripen throughout the season. The Reka's are the first to ripen, followed by Sparten, Blue Crop, Hardy Blue, Chandler, Brigtta, Legacy, Jersey and finally the Elliott's.(UPDATED: May 28, 2018) (ADDED: May 20, 2018, Suggested by a visitor)
Tayberry
Tayberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
In
the U.S. Tayberries typically peak during June in the South, and in July in the North. Crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part
of the state you are located. In order to produce good local Tayberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions.
What are Tayberries
Tayberries are a hybrid cross between blackberries and raspberries that combines the best qualities of both. They were developed near the Tay River in Tayside,
Scotland, patented by Derek L. Jennings, hence the name. It took him 5 years to create a raspberry hybrid which he crossed it with the
"Aurora" blackberry. The plant grows as a vine, not at all upright, so it is best to give them a fence upon which to grow, which makes wedding, care
and harvesting much easier. Released in 1979 by the Scottish Horticultural Research Institute
Tayberries are larger than raspberries and have a deep red to purplish-black color when fully ripe. They often have a conical shape with a glossy
appearance and a slightly tart flavor. The taste is often described as a perfect balance between sweetness and tanginess, with hints of both
raspberries and blackberries. They taste much like an equal mix of blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. Tayberries's sweet and intense tangy flavor
makes the best jam
you've ever tried.
Tayberries are delicious when eaten fresh, sweeter than blackberries and with a complex flavor. You can add them to fruit salads, smoothies, or enjoy them on their
own as a healthy snack. Tayberries are also great for baking, as they hold their shape well and add a delightful flavor to pies, tarts, muffins, and
jams.
Tayberries are known for their excellent jam-making qualities. They are naturally high in pectin, which helps the fruit set into a rich and
flavorful jam.
Before you leave to go to the farm:
Always call before you go to the farm - And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
Leave early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
Most growers furnish picking containers designed for Tayberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to
bring containers.
If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Tayberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans
with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun.
Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.
Tips on How to Pick Tayberries
Tayberries are very thorny with tiny thorns, so if you wear some neoprene type gloves, you'll be fine. Without gloves,
you want to carefully reach into the plant in the gaps, so you don't need to touch anything but the berry you're after,
avoiding the thorns.
A ripe tayberry is deep purple-almost black with a plump, full feel. When they are dead ripe, they are plump, soft and sweeter (than
unripe, which are red or red-purple). It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug. If the berry is
red, it's not ripe yet.
Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries .U Repeat the picking process with both hands.
Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.
General Picking Tips
Whether you pick Tayberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Pick only the berries that are fully ripe. Reach in between the stems to grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the plant
and you will find loads of berries that other people missed!
Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunlight any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car trunk or
on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. Tayberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week, depending upon the
initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.
When you get home
DON'T
wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze them. Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash off the others, drain them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away)
Tayberries are perishable so refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34 F and 38
F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the tayberries (while they are in the fridge)!
Even under ideal conditions tayberries will only keep for about 3 or 4 days in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them or freeze
them as soon as possible after
purchase
Tayberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions
The blackberry directions work exactly the same for tayberries
The USDA says 1 cup of
tayberries has about 62 calories.
Like other berries, tayberries are a nutritional powerhouse. They are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and dietary fiber. These berries are also low in
calories, making them a guilt-free indulgence. Adding tayberries to your diet can contribute to your overall health and well-being.
1 cup of tayberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
Select plump, firm, fully tayberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
Researchers have known for quite some time that berries contain antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals. A study at the
University of Ohio has found that tayberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
U-pick Tayberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Tayberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the
refrigerator.
You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as
possible. Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.