Both fresh and frozen blueberries bought from the store are great, but picking your own fresh blueberries from a u-pick farm just makes them taste that much better. Lucky for us, there are several places in Cortland County where you can pick your own fresh fruit and stock up for the months to come.
Here is a list of u-pick blueberry farms throughout the county that make it easy to pick your own fresh berries to enjoy all summer long. Before you go, always call confirm that the blueberry farm is open for u-pick when you're planning to go.
U-Pick Blueberry Farms
Cherry Knoll Farm
Cherry Knoll Farm was settled in approximately 1850 by Lester Hall and has been family-owned since. Originally a 141 acre dairy farm plus a 13 acre wood lot, the farm currently produces only blueberries. These blueberries are used for making blueberry juice, blueberry wines and blueberry wine vinegar.
Address: 3426 Hoxie Gorge Freetown Road, Marathon NY
Website
Payment: Cash
Contact: (607) 849-6886
OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY, 9AM-7PM, SATURDAY 9AM-4PM AND SUNDAY 10AM-3PM
Hall's Hill Blueberry Farm
With over 4,000 plants and different varieties of blueberries, Hall's Hill Blueberry Farm is a local favorite to pick your own!
Located just a short drive from downtown Cortland, Hall’s Hill Blueberry Farm has 4,000 blueberry plants and several different varieties of blueberries. The drive is easy and well marked with blueberry signs as you climb the hill from Blodgett’s Mill. Once you arrive at the farm, you check in at the farm stand just in front of the rows and rows of blueberry bushes.
Address: 2100 Tower Road, Cortland NY
Website
Payment: Cash only
Contact: (607) 753-0712
OPEN DAILY, JULY 18TH - AUGUST 8TH FROM 8AM-6PM
Solon Gardens
A fruit and vegetable store in Cincinnatus with a u-pick blueberry farm available.
Address: 3673 NY Rt. 13, Cincinnatus, NY
Payment: Cash or Check
Contact: (607) 836-8972
OPEN MONDAY, 12-6PM, TUESDAY-FRIDAY, 8AM-5PM AND SATURDAY, 1-5PM
Twin Tower Blueberry Farm, LLC
A u-pick blueberry farm in Marathon, NY. $1.25 per pound. Please be advised that there is a new traffic flow for entering and exiting the field. You MUST stop at the desk for instructions. As per NYS and CDC guidelines, face masks are to be worn whenever staff or other customers are present.
Address: 4113 Rt. 221 East, Marathon NY
Facebook
Payment: Cash
Contact: (607) 316-4800
CALL FOR HOURS
Tips & Tricks
Before you set off on your blueberry picking adventure there are a few things to remember to make your day a success...
- Contact the farm ahead of time to make sure there are berries available, to confirm their hours and to see if you need to bring your own containers.
- Lather on the sunscreen and bug spray.
- Wear sturdy shoes as it can get a little muddy.
- Don't forget water to stay hydrated - picking blueberries isn't difficult, but standing out in the sun can drain you.
- Bring cash as most farms only accept cash payment.
- Plan to go early, lots of farms will only stay open as long as there are berries on the bushes.
Choosing the best berries...
- Avoid berries that are wrinkled, broken or mushy.
- Pick only berries that are completely blue; pink berries are still ripening.
- A silvery-white sheen on the berries is natural.
- Don't skip the small berries! They taste just as good as large ones.
Storing your berries...
- Don't place the berries in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form in the container.
- Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. If you picked enough to last all summer, freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening.
- Both frozen and fresh berries should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries in cold water.
Recipes
Wondering what to do with all those bags of fresh, plump blueberries? Here are some delicious blueberry recipes to try after a day of picking at the farm!
Lemon Blueberry Muffins
Blueberry Crumble Bar
Blueberry, Feta and Honey-Caramelized Onion Naan Pizza
Blueberry Watermelon Salad
Blueberry Whiskey Spritzers
Share your u-pick blueberry picking adventures with us for a chance to be featured! Tag @experiencecortland and use hashtag #experiencecortland.