As the year comes to and end we start to get excited about a number of things like the coming of Spring, Christmas, and New Years Eve. There is something else exciting that happens at the end of the year and the start of a new one, berry picking season. On a clear day there is no option more fun nor more tasty, and there are a few options around Adelaide that will send you home with a full basket of goodies.
Beerenberg is probably one of the most well-known places, as they're not only famous for their berry picking but also for their jams, sauces, and condiments. Their
Hahndorf farm and store make the perfect summer day trip location. Browsing through their huge range, and sampling some strawberry ice cream is plenty of fun, but the most can be had out in the strawberry fields. You'll head off with a few containers in hand, picking the biggest a juiciest strawberries you can find. When you're done head back to the shop to weigh and pay. They've had their pick-your-own strawberry offer since 1975 so they must be doing something right.
If strawberries aren't your thing you might prefer the
Blueberry Patch at Mt Compass. There is only a short window for picking blueberries, from December till February, so make sure you plan your trip sometime in the summer holidays. They open during this time, but can close if the bushes are sparse or if the weather is too hot. You can check whether there will be plenty of berries, or slim pickings, by viewing their
Twitter stream before you leave.
Agon Berry Farms are also in Mt Compass, and they grow strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Their pick-your-own season is from the 1st of November till the 20th of April, and they're open from 9am till dusk. Relive the days when blackberry bushes grew wild and you could pick them at will till your mouth was smeared purple.
Berries aren't the only thing on offer, when the weather starts to warm it is also the season for cherries. There are a host of different cherry orchards that will let you pick your own including
Stella Creek in Forest Range. Grab a bucket and head out to the orchard, for every 3kg they'll also refund one entry fee. Cherries are the perfect compliment to a Christmas spread, so this is the perfect time to stock up.
You might as well make a day of it, most of the farms will have areas where you can sit down and enjoy your own lunch, and of course the fresh fruit you've just picked. Don't worry if you think you'll pick more than you can eat, all of the cherries and berries can be frozen and enjoyed latter, and frozen strawberries make the perfect summer treat.
