The farm gates have swung open at the blueberry farms of Bright & Surrounds, with a bumper crop ready for you to hand pick these summer holidays.
“It looks like we’re going to have a really good year,” said Nathan Mirt, a third-generation local farmer who has been growing blueberries since he was nine years old. Mirt, who owns Alpine Blueberries in Myrtleford, said he had a great volume this year, and the forecast for bright sunny days would concentrate the sugars in the berries just nicely. That’s doubly good because our region already produces some of the best blueberries in Australia.
“Our berries are a lot sweeter than other areas,” he said, adding that our warm summer days and cool alpine nights were ideal for producing the juicy blue fruit. Fertile soils and good rainfall complete the trifecta.
The farm gate shop at Alpine Blueberries, which was converted from an historic tobacco kiln on the family’s property, opens from 11am to 5pm daily, with fresh ice cream and other locally produced goods available. Local favourites include chocolate-coated blueberries as well as blueberry gelato made by Topolino Gelateria.
Mirt said the orchard will now stay open for you to pick-your-own berries through to the end of the January school holidays.
There are four blueberry farms in Bright & Surrounds and each operates a little differently. Alpine Blueberries (Myrtleford) offers pick-your-own berries as well as a farm shop. Buffalo Berry Farm (Eurobin) and Feathertop Blueberries (Harrietville) have a pick-your-own orchard only. And Gunnadoo Berries (Smoko) sells fresh berry packs—including blueberries, boysenberries, and tayberries—at their farm-gate store as well as jams and honeys, but does not offer pick-your-own.
Blueberry season in Bright & Surrounds runs from mid-December through to the end of January (farm and harvest dependent). Make sure to stop in on your summer getaway.
- Alpine Blueberries—245 Myrtle Street, Myrtleford (Pick-Your-Own + Farm Gate Store)
- Buffalo Berry Farm—6300 Great Alpine Road, Eurobin (Pick-Your-Own)
- Feathertop Blueberries—153 Feathertop Track, Harrietville (Pick-Your-Own)
- Gunnadoo Berries—1380 Great Alpine Road, Smoko (Farm Gate Store – No Pick-Your-Own available)
Tip: The end of the berry-picking season varies and closes once all the berries are gone. As the season enters its final weeks from mid-January onwards, we recommend you check with the farm prior to arrival. Either way, the farm-gate stores at Alpine Blueberries and Gunnadoo Berries remain open and are well worth a visit alone.