QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. When can we come to Moorhead’s Blueberry Farm and pick blueberries?
A. Normally, we are open from the last weekend in May, through the middle of July. This of course is influenced by seasonal weather changes.
We recommend that you call us to get the conditions of the field before you decide to visit our farm.
Q. When the season begins, what days and hours are you open?
A. 7days a week from 7am until 9 pm. The farm is OPEN INDEPENDENCE DAY (4th of July) due to the short harvest period.
Q. Is there a entrance fee, or bucket fee to pick Blueberries at your farm?
A. No, Unlike other farms we do not charge for anything except the berries you checkout with. We even let you sample as you eat.
Q. When we decide to visit your farm, what time of the day should we come?
A. To avoid the heat, we recommend that you try to
come as early as possible or come late in the evening, such as 7 pm.
Q. What should we wear?
A. Blueberry bushes do not have thorns, so we recommend that you wear light color, cool wearing clothes, comfortable shoes, and a hat.
Q. What should we bring to pick your blueberries?
A. We provide the buckets to carry your blueberries while you pick and the bags to carry them home.
Q. What type of payments do you accept for your blueberries?
A. We accept cash or a good check.
Q. What kind of facilities do you provide?
A. We have restrooms, a pick-nick area with tables, soft drinks and water for sale.
Q. How large is your blueberry farm?
A. Moorhead’s Blueberry Farm is 20 acres with over 20 different varieties of blueberries.
Q. How long have you been in business?
A. Moorhead’s Blueberry Farm is the first commercially operated blueberry farm in the state of Texas. We have been in business since the mid 1970’s.
Q. When during the season is the best time to come pick blueberries at your farm?
A. Because we have over 20 different varieties, some varieties ripen the first of June, others ripen the middle of June and still others ripen the first of July. So we recommend that you make several trips throughout the season to sample all 20 varieties.
Q. What are the names of some your variety of blueberries?
A. Primarily, our farm contains the following varieties:
Tifblue, Premier, Brightwell, Climax, Garden Blue, Becky Blue,
Alice Blue and Sharp Blue.
Q. Do you use any pesticides on your blueberries?
A. No, we have never used pesticides on our blueberries or bushes.
Q. How long would it take to drive to your farm from downtown Houston, Kingwood, The Woodlands, Spring, and Conroe?
A
Downtown Houston 1 hr.
Kingwood 30 mins.
The Woodlands 30 mins.
Spring 35 mins.
Conroe 30 mins.
Q. Are Children allowed in the field?
A. YES! Children of all ages are allowed and encouraged to participate in this fun family event.
Q. How can I arrange bringing a group of children on a field trip to pick blueberries?
A. Just give us a call and set up a date as when you want to come pick blueberries. We charge $3 per child. We ask that you provide a quart size zip lock bag for each child. This size holds two pounds of blueberries. When the children are finished picking, We will provide the children with all the cold lemonade they want to drink.
Q. Do you have blueberries already picked to sell.
A. Unfortunately no we have no one that will pick them for us to sell.
Q. How long will blueberries keep?
A. Blueberries will keep in an open container in the refrigerator up to two weeks, and, in the freezer, up to two years, if they last that long.
Q. How do you freeze blueberries?
A. Because we do not use pesticides on our blueberries, we recommend that you do not wash them before freezing. Should they be wet, simply dry them on paper towels. Place Berries in chosen container and place in freezer. Berries will freeze like marbles and will not cling together.
Often, if the blueberries are washed before freezing, the skins get tough.
Note that frozen blueberries do not look the same as when they were fresh.
Q. Do you have blueberry recipes?
A. Yes, we have four pages of blueberry recipes that we sell for just 25 cents.
Q. It is thought that blueberries are a northern fruit, how can you grow blueberries in Texas?
A. Until the late 1940’s, blueberries could not be produced in the South. During that time, the University of Georgia at its experimental station in Tifton, Georgia, developed a blueberry variety that could grow in the South and produce a good quality of blueberries.
It was named Tifblue. This variety gets ripe around the first of July. It is one of our primary varieties at our farm.
Tifblue and all other southern growing blueberry varieties would be grouped together and called the Southern Rabiteye Blueberry. Currently, the classification is called the Southern Blueberry.
Q. Where can blueberry plants be purchased?
A. Try your local nursery.
Q. How does one grow a Southern Blueberry plant?
A. In order to grow a Southern Blueberry plant, the site selected for planting must be well drained, sandy soil. The soil must be acidic i.e. a low PH balance from 4.5 to 5.5. If you have pine trees growing close by, then chances are the soil is acidic.
Q. How did Moorhead’s Blueberry Farm get started?
A. Back in the mid 1970’s, Albert Moorhead, the founder of the farm, attended a field trip at Overton, Texas. It was given by Texas A & M Agriculture Department. The purpose of the field trip was to get farmers interested in planting the Southern Blueberry in Texas.
My father, a retired elementary school principal, who came from generations of farmers, was very interested and planted about 20 blueberry plants. Through trial and error, he managed to keep them alive and actually produce. In a few years, he produced enough blueberries to offer some to friends. These friends were so thrilled to get the blueberries that they encouraged him to plant more. So, each year he would clear out a little more land and plant more. Five years the hobby turned into a pick-your-own blueberry business.
Q. How many pounds does the field yield?
A. "I really can't say" -Sid Moorhead
Q. How does one get to Moorhead’s Blueberry Farm?
A. Click here for easy directions!