Jul 6, 2011
10:17 AM
The Time is Ripe for Berry Picking at Ellsworth Hill Farm
Summertime means berry picking time at Ellsworth Hill Orchard and Berry Farm in Sharon. The family owned and operated farm has acres of land in the rolling Litchfield Hills abounding with ripe strawberries, raspberries, cherries and blueberries this season. Ellsworth Hill’s selection of berries is unrivaled by any other family farm in the area.
Berry picking, an entertaining and delicious family outing, has always been a great summer activity, and is becoming even more popular due to the increased interest in local agriculture in past years. Pick Your Own (PYO) sites give visitors the opportunity for a fun experience that at the same time supports family grown produce and makes a small stride towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
Currently, Ellsworth Hill Farm is the only farm in the county with fresh raspberries ready for picking. If you go soon, you might also find the last stragglers of the strawberry harvest. Blueberries are quickly ripening and will be available sometime within the next week. Cherries, plums and peaches will also be available later in the summer. Aside from the fun of PYO fruit, pre-picked berries, along with homemade pies and jams are all available for sale at their farm stand store.
I visited the farm myself yesterday in the sunny afternoon. After driving up the dirt path, red arrows guide you to the berries. Stop by the farm stand and pick up your carton, which, when filled, holds 2 pints, or around $6.00 worth of fresh berries. The friendly staff directed us to the rows available for picking and we set to work, filling our cartons and our stomachs with berries right off the bush.
Expert berry pickers recommend getting down on your hands and knees and picking from underneath the bush, where you'll find the ripest fruit that other pickers have missed. When ripe, raspberries are a deep red and pop off the plant easily. Remember, if a gentle tug doesn't do the trick, then the berry isn't ready to be picked!
Of course the best way to eat the berries is right from the bush, but Ellsworth Hill Farm also provides their own great recipes to put your harvest to good use. Try this one for Raspberry Cobbler!
Ellsworth Hill Orchard and Berry Farm is located at 461 Cornwall Bridge Rd, Route 4, Sharon. Open 8am-6pm 7 days a week. Call 860-364-0025 for up-to-date picking conditions.
Check out these other Litchfield County farms with PYO fruit:
- March Farm, 160 Munger Lane, Bethlehem—Blueberries, cherries, peaches, plums
- Maple Bank Farm, 53 Church Street, Roxbury—Blueberries
- Litchfield Hills Blueberry Farm, 23 Schrowback Road, Plymouth—Blueberries
- Starberry Farm, 47 Keilwasser Road, Washington Depot—Cherries, peaches, plums, blueberries
- Ruwet's Farm, 1600 Torringford Street, Torrington—Blueberries
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