4 great reasons to pick your own berries

The only thing better than eating a handful of berries bought from the store is noshing on some you picked yourself. Here are just a few reasons to load the family into the car and head to your local u-pick berry farm.

1. Enjoy time outside. There’s nothing better than spending a day outdoors with your family. Pack a lunch and make a day of it. Just don’t forget your hats and sunscreen.

2. Teach kids where food comes from. Picking their own berries teaches your children that food doesn’t come from the grocery store.

3. Support local agriculture. Supporting a local farm means that your hard-earned cash goes toward supporting a local family instead of lining a corporation’s coffers.

4. Get the freshest berries. When you pick your own berries, they go from the plant to your plate in a matter of hours — or minutes!

In addition to picking berries, be sure to discover your local farm’s freshly made pies, jams and juices. You can also buy extra fruit by the basket to freeze and enjoy later or to make your own preserves.