Many Raspberries Ripe Now, Blackberries Delayed

   Red raspberries are still ripening in quantity, and there will be many to pick now until about June 24.  Many black raspberries are also ripe now, and more will ripen until about June 25, as black raspberries have a more concentrated harvest time of just over 2 weeks.  Many purple raspberries are also ripe now, and purple raspberries will be plentiful until about July 2.

Many purple raspberries are ripe now. Purple raspberries have larger fruit borne higher on the canes, so pick faster than other raspberries.

   All raspberries are sold pick-your-own only, for $2.79 per pint + 7.5% sales tax. Red raspberry plants are almost spineless so are easy to pick, but most of the berries are low on the canes and it takes a while to pick them.  Purple raspberries have larger fruit borne higher on the canes so pick faster, and are the easiest for children to pick, but plants have medium spines.  Black raspberries have the most intense flavor but are drier, so are great for jam and pies but not as popular for fresh eating.  Black raspberry plants have large spines, so are NOT recommended for children to pick.

Black raspberries have the most intense flavor, so are great for jam and pies, and many are ripe now.

   The thornless blackberry season was delayed this spring, so I've pushed back the start date.  Thornless blackberries should start ripening about June 24, and keep ripening until about Aug. 4.  So we will NOT have any thornless blackberries to pick this weekend, June 18-20.  When ready, thornless blackberries are sold pick-your-own only, for $3.72 per quart + 7.5% sales tax.

   Sales dates for all our crops are listed in the sidebar at left under Crop Sales Seasons. That also tells which crops are sold pick-your-own and which crops are sold harvested.  That also shows that we have no peach crop in 2021 due to Feb. cold, as I've posted on this blog since late March.

   Our Summer Open Hours run from June 1 until Aug. 31, as shown in the sidebar at left.  We're open Mon. to Sat. 7:30 a.m.to 12 noon and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. only.  We're closed Sun. mornings for church services, and closed from 12 noon to 7 p.m. each day in summer.

   We do not take appointments in summer; just come during our Summer Open Hours.  With the heat wave of the last week, arriving here by 8 a.m. or so makes for a more enjoyable picking experience than does arriving in mid-morning.  Evenings are still hot but the lower sun angle usually doesn't feel as hot.  Please do not arrive before our opening time, and allow enough time to finish picking and check out by our closing time.  Thanks.

   We still have some harvested 'Enterprise' apples for sale for the next 2 weeks or so, but we've now sold out of 'Gold Rush' apples.  Harvested apples cost $1.30 per pound + sales tax.  A 20-pound box costs $25.00 + sales tax, so you save $1.00 by buying 20 pounds.

   We still have a few harvested 2nds apples, which cost $0.93 per pound + sales tax.  These have hail damage, cracks, or other surface damage, and are great for cutting into slices, in salads, or for cooking, baking or preserving.

   We sold out of asparagus for the season 10 days ago, and sold out of sweet cherries for the season a week ago.

   For payment, we accept cash and checks (from any state), but NO credit cards or debit cards.  We have no phone line to the sales building, and no card reader.  Please bring your checkbook or enough cash to cover the amount you want to buy.  Thanks.

   The Kansas Highway Department is replacing 3 bridges on Highway 166 east of Chetopa, KS, and work is expected to take 15 more months.  They've installed 3 stoplights and have one-lane traffic open, so it now takes about 15 minutes instead of 5 minutes to drive the 4.5 miles from Chetopa to our farm if you go on Highway 166.

   Those coming here from from the northwest can save time by heading east on Highway 160 from Oswego, KS for 5.0 miles to Hallowell.  Just after you pass Angelo's Deli on your left, turn right (south) onto 90th St., and continue south for 10.0 miles on this paved road.  At the stop sign, turn right onto Highway 166, go just 0.5 miles west, then turn left onto 95th St. at the sign for Brenda's Berries.

   Those coming here from from the east, northeast or southeast can follow your usual route here.  Those coming here from from the southwest should come up through Miami, OK rather than through Welch, OK and Chetopa, KS.