Thomas Berry Farm

For 2017 we will open at the end of June and remain open until the crop is gone...usually middle August. We will charge $2.00 per pound ($12 per gal). We provide picking buckets, plastic produce bags. Bring a hat and wear proper shoes. We are easy to find and offer a really pleasant experience along the river.

Welcome to the Thomas Berry Farm. We've been here since Pelham Thomas retired from teaching math to become a berry farmer...40 years ago! Pelham who just turned 95, is still more active than most folks half his age. The WWII marine veteran who started out as a county agriculture agent, soon achieved a Ph.D in mathematics and came to Western Carolina to teach. He is truly a local legend whose latest endeaver has been to invent, manufacture and market men's suspenders that "stay-snapped". He regrets that he didn't think of putting wheels on suitcases.

Many parents and grandparents of Jackson County have fond memories of picking blueberries with the kids along the Tuckasegee River. The 2 acre field, conveniently located in Cullowhee along Wayahutta Road is filled with Rabbiteye blueberry bushes. While some bushes are gone due to drainage and/or common plant disease problems, more that 500 plants continue to vigorously produce great blueberries. Rabbiteye blueberry bushes are big and tall, and over the past several years, the work has became a bit overwhelming for Pelham and the family. As you all know it doesn't take long for nature to take over and the field became a bit overgrown. Over the past winter a huge effort was made to rehabilitate the field and people have noticed! It was essential to the health of the plant to aggressively prune and pull out the invasive vines and weeds that were choking them. This incredible field of locally grown blueberries should not be allowed to fade away. Local food, Yeah!

Let's talk about how healthy locally grown, freshly picked blueberries are. Loaded with valuable nutrients (notably high in cancer preventing antioxidants), high fiber when eaten whole, blueberries are pretty close to an ideal food source. Easy and fun to pick, flavorful, convenient size for snacking, and pretty durable. The long shelf life of locally grown food is no secret, but did you know how easy it is to freeze them? Many will ask if we are 'organically certified'. The straight answer is no. Organic farming was not well defined in the 70's and some of the adverse effects of chemical approaches to crop problems began to be recognized. The world has changed leading to farming techniques that are less harmful to the environment and kinder to the existing flora. Since we can't go back in time we have adopted what is referred to as 'low spray' techniques. That is to say we only treat a specific problem with minimal chemical remedies (mummy berry fungus disease in early spring before fruit develops) and trend towards cultural (environmentally friendly) solutions where possible. Cultural solutions include annual pruning, mulching, and hand pulling weeds and vines from plants, timing activity to maximize impact. In other words, we are committed to techniques that don't threaten the environment and we avoid using pesticides and herbicides to control pathogens or weeds. Our goal is to produce a happy, healthy blueberry crop...Enjoy!

Time spent in a lovely setting, along a picturesque river, on a beautiful day in western Carolina. We hope to be around when you come, but if not we are self serve...that's right, the honor system, how rare is that! Bring a hat and wear good shoes.!