Local berries are ripe
at Nodaway Blues
Opening July 10th!

 Admire plump blueberries because of their healthy properties. Taste the amazing flavor of Nodaway Blues Blueberry Farm (24275 S.W. Nodaway Lane; 503-638-4989) berries.
  Blueberry sales begin July 10th. This is the first year West Linn blueberry grower Sam Pap is offering flavor-packed berries at his popular berry farm. Buy direct from the grower and get the best locally grown berries at the best price possible. All the berries are handpicked by the same pickers who have carefully harvested the marble-sized gems for the past several years.
  There is no U-pick at Nodaway to ensure the plants are treated with the utmost care. Visitors are welcome to go out into the 2.7-acre field and see how the plants are grown and learn about the different berry stages and varieties.
  Sam, who is an eight-year general contractor of new single-family residential homes, cultivates three types of blueberries. The Earli Blues, the smallest and sweetest of the varieties, are coming on right now. The larger and less sweet Blue Crop will soon follow. The largest and most tart Blue Ray will ripen last. Delicious berries will be available until the end of August. Call503-638-4989 to check on the harvest.
  The berry plants have required more water during the recent hot spell and that nicely sweetens the crop. Plump, sweet, and consistently even purple/blue color is exactly what Sam wants to see. Sam's top priority is to offer the freshest berries to local markets, including historic West Linn's Taste of Tuesday farmers' market, and ready-picked berries to customers who visit his farm, less than five minutes south of the Stafford/I-205 interchange (exit 3). The berries are boxed up in half and full flats (ten pounds), so all you need to do is drop by. Sam or his assistant, Kelly, who is in his third year at the farm, will greet you.
  Come visit the serene pastoral setting and listen to recorded birds chirp as they protect the fragrant berries from predators. Enjoy the sweet berries year round and freeze some. Blueberries are great in salads, breads and desserts.
  Nodaway's hours, including the Fourth of July, are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday until the season winds down in late August.
  Advertorial and photos by Gail Park