Beech Hill Organic Blueberries

Thanks for your interest in our Beech Hill organic blueberries. We are no longer taking 2010 orders. If you are a current Land Trust member, you will receive advance notice for the 2011 pe-order program along with an order form in your Spring 2011 newsletter. (Please note, also, that members get priority when we're filling orders.) Others, please check back on this site sometime in April 2011 for information on next summer's pre-order program, or e-mail blueberries@coastalmountains.org to be put on a mailing list.

bblogolg For three summers we have offered ten-pound boxes of fresh, clean, organic blueberries through our pre-order program. Orders are normally available for pick up from mid-July through August, depending on the vagaries of nature.

All funds raised from these sales support our efforts to maintain Beech Hill Preserve for grassland birds, scenic views, and its unique historic landscape.

The 2010 Free Pick is scheduled to take place August 7, weather permitting. (Current members will get a head start with a special pick on August 6.)

Our Farm at Beech Hill

Coastal Mountains Land Trust has been managing Beech Hill Preserve's blueberry fields since 2003. Currently, there are 20 acres of MOFGA-certified organic blueberries in production on Beech Hill.

For more information about Beech Hill Preserve.

Our Berries

In 2008, we launched a pre-order program for Beech Hill blueberries in which individuals and businesses can order 10-pound boxes of raked, sorted, and packed berries directly from us. See above for more details and to download your order form. Orders are filled in the order they are received, with priority given to members.

Beech Hill Blueberries - Frequently Asked Questions

• Where do the proceeds go? The proceeds from the Land Trust's sales of all Beech Hill blueberries go directly to managing Beech Hill Preserve.

• Who does all the raking, winnowing, and packing to fill the pre-orders? Our Stewardship Project Manager Joe Zipparo, assisted by a paid summer intern, oversees a team of seasonal workers who help him hand rake, winnow, sort, and pack thousands of pounds of blueberries. We are currently hiring this summer's team, who will work from late July through late August. Hours are irregular and dependent on weather and berries, but it's a beautiful place to work and offers a true hands-on experience with sustainable agriculture. If you're interested in joining Joe's team this summer, please e-mail him at joez@coastalmountains.org or call him at (207) 236-7091.

• How do I become a Land Trust member? Click on the "Support Us" box above. This year, being a member will provide you with several blueberry-related benefits: Members will be be able to place blueberry pre-orders earlier than non-members, will be given priority in the filling of blueberry orders, and will be able to attend a special Members Only free blueberry pick on August 6, before the annual public free pick.

• How many quarts of blueberries are in 10 pounds? Each quart is roughly 1.5 pounds. So, there are around 6.5 quarts in 10 pounds of blueberries.

• What kind of facility do you have? A renovated sugarhouse was moved to the Preserve in 2009 and has been outfitted with a new Fresh-pack winnower.

• Are the blueberries clean? Yes! Our winnower has a four-stage cleaning process, leaving ripe blueberries with a very low rate of twigs and leaves.

• Can I pick blueberries on Beech Hill? When? This year the Land Trust will offer one day of free blueberry picking, scheduled for Saturday, August 7, 8:30 - 2:00, weather permitting. In addition, a special Members Only free pick will be offered Friday, August 6, 12:00 - 7:00 pm. Because the fields are primarily managed by the Land Trust as a commercial farm to support the Preserve, we ask that visitors please stay off the fields and not pick the berries except in designated fields during these scheduled free-pick times. Also, no raking is allowed during the free pick, and please leave dogs at home. Thank you for your understanding!