Unless closed due to weather or field conditions, normal business hours are Monday - Saturday 8AM to 12 NOON. We will also be open SOME Sunday evenings from 5PM until DUSK. Please follow our Instagram @wildblackberry_farms for most current information as updates will be posted there and not on our website.

Availability of pick-your-own and ready-picked fruit depends on many factors. We always recommend checking social media for any updates before heading to the farm to pick. Fields may be picked clean early and fruit is in its best condition when picked during the cooler hours of the day.

Our farm is made available to all members of your family! Our picking areas and restrooms are handicap accessible but you may encounter uneven terrain, including when walking to and from the parking area, to and from the blackberry field and within the rows of the field. We also love for children to visit! Please just make sure they are accompanied by an adult at all times and ensure that they do not enter any of the animal pastures. Our animals are friendly but can sometimes be unpredictable.

We provide 5-quart pails for picking and removable plastic liners for easily transporting your berries home. If you would like to take a pail home, you are welcome to do so for a $2 charge per pail. Of course, alternatively, feel free to bring your own containers!

NOTE: Some plastic liners have small holes for air circulation and warm berries may produce juice, so, regardless of your container, keep this in mind for car travel home. Also, remember that piling blackberries too high will bruise the lower berries and cause them to produce juice. Shallow containers are your best option for longer-term storage.

Our multiple varieties of blackberries allows for a lengthy growing season - usually from mid- to late June through late August to early September!

Natchez -- earliest ripening (mid-June to early July start) and long harvest season; firm, well-balanced flavor, large elongated shape

Ouachita (pronounced wash-it-ah) -- mid-season ripening (early to mid-July start); firm, mildly sweet, medium to large-sized fruit

Apache -- mid- to later season ripening (later July start) and long picking window; excellent, sweet flavor; very large fruit

Chester -- late season ripening (late July to early August start); very sweet; medium to large-size round fruit; grows in tight clusters.

Pick only berries that are fully black with a brown leafy “cap”. A ripe blackberry is a deep, dull black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug. If the berry is red or purple, it is not ripe and should be left on the cane for another day. (Berries will not ripen further after being picked.)

Avoid placing picked blackberries in the sunlight for any longer than necessary. For best results, berries should be placed in a cool, shaded area until you can refrigerate.

Don't overfill containers or pack berries tightly as this will cause them to juice.

Wash the blackberries only just before you are ready to eat or freeze. Washing will soften the berries and make them more prone to spoiling.

Ideally, use a shallow container to avoid smashing while refrigerated.

If handled properly, locally-sourced blackberries will remain fresh much longer than those purchased from grocery stores, which often ship their berries in from long distances and are purchased many days after picking.

As with all berries, blackberries should be cooled as soon as possible after picking. Even under ideal conditions, blackberries usually will only last for a week or so in the refrigerator. For best flavor and texture, eat or freeze the berries as soon as possible after picking.

Frozen blackberries will last many months for future use in baking, jams, jellies, smoothies, and endless other uses. For freezing, gently rinse the blackberries in cool water and allow to air dry then spread the blackberries out on a cookie sheet (preferably lined with parchment paper) in a single layer and place in freezer. Once frozen, transfer the blackberries to a freezer bag or other freezer-safe container of your choosing.

FOR ADDITIONAL BLACKBERRY FACTS AND TIPS, VISIT WWW.PICKYOUROWN.ORG.