WARSAW — The blueberries are finally ripe and ready to be picked in Kosciusko County. There are many patches in the community open for the season. Whether you’re planning on grabbing your family and making an adventure out of it, or just stopping by to gather some fresh berries for dinner, U-pick patches are the way to go.

“Produce is especially good when it is fresh from the farm,” explains Aime Hoffman, owner of The Berry Patch in Etna Green. “Customers are sure they have the freshest produce available and only pick the berries that look delicious.”

Picking only the tastiest and ripe berry may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually very simple. “Ripe berries are plump and deep blue,” said Hoffman.  “A berry that is firm or shows any red will be tart.  Blueberries that have turned purple, red or bluish may ripen after being picked. Venturing further into the rows is usually the best place to pick.”

U-pick patches allow the whole family to experience that their food comes from nature and not a grocery store. New pickers don’t need to be shy about joining the picking craze. Everything needed to pick will be provided at most local patches.

“Pickers are given a bucket while on their hunt for the perfect berries, said Hoffman. “Seasoned pickers will bring a belt with them to hold their buckets so they can use both hands for picking.  That’s the way I learned from my dad.”

The Berry Patch, 8 miles west of Warsaw on US 30, was established in 1974 by Sam Irwin and previously called The Picking Patch. The Hoffmans purchased the patch in 2012 for the farmland, the 35 acres of blueberries were just a bonus.

“We have learned a lot about berry farming and have a lot more to learn,” said Hoffman. “We have attended a MSU blueberry meeting and are members of the Blueberry Growers of Indiana.  Asking other growers questions and doing a lot of reading and research has also been beneficial.”

The blueberry season is now open and will last through July. The season may stretch into a few weeks of August depending on the weather. The Berry Patch is just one of many places open for the season. Pickers can also go to Blue Barn Berry Farm, 9139 N 300 E, Syracuse, Neibert’s, 5017 Armstrong Road, Leesburg,

“The hardest part is putting the berries in the bucket instead of your mouth,” concluded Hoffman.