Five U-pick tips

Cinzia Cuneo July 6, 2015 Eat Local, Vegetables

In summer, picking your own fruits or vegetables is one of the most pleasant family activities, as it allows you to spend quality time with your family, bring home fresh produce at great prices, and also teach the little ones, especially those living in cities, about the value of food that we are lucky enough to have on our plate.

Here some practical tips to make the experience even more enjoyable:

1. Choose the right place at the right time, and book in advance

From early summer with strawberries and raspberries until autumn with squashes and pumpkins, you can do your own picking for several months, depending on the season! To learn about the periods of availability of fruits and vegetables, check out our local products availability table.

You’ll find lots of addresses of U-pick farms on the Internet. It is always best to call the farm in advance, because some of them require a reservation.

2. Plan a picnic

Whether it’s to boost your energy levels before heading to the fields or to recharge your batteries after picking, plan a picnic in the open!

Many farms provide picnic tables and sometimes even games for children.

3. Dress appropriately and protect yourself

It’ll be a long day, so you’ll want to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Long sleeves are preferable if you’re going to pick raspberries, because you might get scratches from the thorns on raspberry bushes.

And make sure you carry along a hat and sunscreen for protection from the sun. A mosquito-repellent lotion might also come in handy.

4 Bring your containers

Many farms provide containers on site, usually for a small fee, but we all have tons of them at home and this is an ideal opportunity to recycle them.

5 Preserve properly

Once back home with your precious cargo, make the time to properly process and preserve it. Freezing is the most rapid    and effective option, but you can also resort to dehydration (using a dehydrator). This way, you’ll always have dried fruits on hand which, unlike the ones sold commercially, will have no added sugar, fat, or additives.
But if you are more into making jams, jellies, ketchup and vegetable-based marinades, then be sure to follow a few basic principles for successful preserves every time

Happy picking!

Author

Cinzia Cuneo

Cinzia Cuneo, founder of SOSCuisine.com, never wanted to neglect the quality of her food. She shares her special expertise to make good food quickly and without complications!