This August, get ready to pick your own blueberries and blackberries because it’s berry-picking season! Picking your own berries is not only fun but can be healthier than getting store-bought berries. They are much fresher and taste better. Are you ready? Get started by getting a group together and find a local farm where you can pick berries for your Power Juicer recipes.

Once you are ready to go, there are some things you need to know about picking these berries. So we’ve put together a list of Picking Tips and Dos and Don’ts for once you have finished picking them.

Read on to find out what they are!

Blueberry Picking Tips
- Pick plump, full blueberries with a light gray-blue color.
- If the berry has a hint of red that means it is not fully ripe.
- White and green berries will not ripen after being picked
- Purple, red and blue-ish berries will ripen after being picked if kept at room temperature.
- To pick blueberries, hold your bucket under a brand with one hand while you cup a ripe branch with the other. Gently rub them with your fingers and the ripe ones will fall into the bucket. The unripe blueberries will remain unattached.

Blueberry Dos and Don’ts
- DON’T leave berries in a closed container once picked so moisture doesn’t form.
- DON’T wash the blueberries until right before using to prevent them from becoming mushy.
- DO chill berries after picking to increase shelf life. They will last about 10-14 days if refrigerated.
- DO freeze berries without washing to store for longer time frames.

Blackberry Picking Tips
- Pick deep black, plump blackberries that feel full.
- There are two types of blackberries, thorny and thornless. The thornless blackberries are easier to pick however, it has been said that the thorny ones are sweeter.
- Don’t overfill the containers so the blackberries don’t crush.
- The ripe blackberries will pull free with just a slight tub.
- The red and purple berries are not ripe yet.

Blackberry Dos and Don’ts
- DON’T wash until ready to use.
- DO use within a week unless freezing to store.
- DO keep in a cool environment and out of the sun after picking.
- DON’T wash before freezing.

Here’s a tip when using berries in your Power Juicer. Make sure you always juice the berries before any other ingredient so you get the most juice out of it. So now that you know how to pick and store blueberries and blackberries, it’s time to use your fresh picked berries in your Power Juicer. Here are two recipes you can try!

Blackberry Lemon Ice Pop
Serves 4
1 orange
1 lemon
3 cups blackberries
Juice the fruits. Pour into ice cube trays. Cover the tray with plastic wrap. Poke popsicle stick through the plastic wrap into the center of each section of the ice cube trays so that it reaches about halfway into the juice mixture. The plastic wrap will help hold the stick straight up. Freeze & serve. You can also use your favorite ice pop molds.
Note: Always juice berries first.

Lemon Blueberry Margarita
Serves 4
1 cup blueberries
½ lemon
½ lime
2 tbsp. agave
2 cups ice
½ cup water
4 fl. oz. tequila
2 fl. oz. triple sec
1 wedge lime (for the rim: optional)
kosher salt (for the rim: optional)
Juice the fruits. Take a lime wedge and squeeze around the rim of the glass and dip the glass in kosher salt to create a rim of salt. Add the rest of the ingredients into blender and blend. Pour into the prepared margarita glass to serve.
Note: Always juice berries first.

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