Smith’s Blueberries and More Farm – Featured

Location: Collinsville, AL
Type: Organically grown (not certified) without the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, or sprays
Products and services available: U-pick (or pre-picked) blueberries and muscadines, available seasonally

Written and photographed by: Breanne Brazeale

Smith’s Blueberries and More is a u-pick blueberry farm nestled on a scenic county road in Northeast Alabama. In addition to blueberries, they have several varieties of muscadines to pick seasonally as well. You can pick blueberries or muscadines yourself by the gallon at a discounted price, of purchase the fruit pre-picked for a higher price (to account for the labor). Blueberries are typically available at the end of June through early to mid-July, and muscadines are ready in early fall, usually September. Check with Smith’s Blueberries and More for field updates, to plan a visit, and current pricing.

Smith’s Blueberries and More is a u-pick blueberry farm nestled on a scenic county road in Northeast Alabama. In addition to blueberries, they have several varieties of muscadines to pick seasonally as well. You can pick blueberries or muscadines yourself by the gallon at a discounted price, of purchase the fruit pre-picked for a higher price (to account for the labor). Blueberries are typically available at the end of June through early to mid-July, and muscadines are ready in early fall, usually September. Check with Smith’s Blueberries and More for field updates, to plan a visit, and current pricing.

 *Pictured above are blueberries, ripening in the sun, and vines laden with muscadines, respectively.

The property, which has been in Ms. Knight’s family for several generations, represents the dreams of her father. Her dad originally planted the blueberry bushes close to 40 years ago. Sonya now tends the bushes, which tower far above our heads after being planted with only a shovel full of compost to feed their growth so many years ago. The multigenerational aspect of their farm and the importance of family is evident in Sonya’s two granddaughters who are frequently with her on the farm. Now teenagers, the girls have grown up assisting their grandmother and often help visitors to the farm choose the ripest blueberries and muscadines. The girls are active in gymnastics, and the money they earn picking gallons of fruit for long-time farm customers help pays for tournaments and gymnastics-related fees.

*Pictured above is one of Sonya Knight’s granddaughters, helping my children find golden colored muscadines, which are their favorites!

I have been coming to Smith’s Blueberries and More with my family every year since my second child was a baby. Picking ripe blueberries under the hot Alabama sun until our fingers are stained purple and our gallon buckets (and bellies!) are full has been a family tradition for nearly a decade. Run by Collinsville, AL resident Sonya Knight, the property has over 600 blueberry bushes as well as muscadines and other fruit trees.

*Above is Smith’s Blueberries and More, with the hundreds of muscadine vines in the foreground and the blueberry bushes in the background.

One of Ms. Knight’s favorite aspects of the farm is the way it connects the community and brings people back year after year. She told me that one of their customers, an elderly gentleman who visits every year to pick up gallons of blueberries, has been coming there for almost 30 years. She sells blueberries (pre-picked and frozen) to a woman who makes and cans homemade blueberry syrup every year for she and her husband to enjoy on their pancakes in the morning. Some people even travel to Smith’s Blueberries from as far away as Atlanta, GA, seeking the high-quality blueberries, relaxed u-pick environment, and family-oriented business.

*Above is the picturesque view of the muscadine vines at Smith’s Blueberries and More.

Sonya encourages all visitors who come to pick to fill their bellies as well as their gallon baskets. Something her father emphasized, and she believes strongly as well, is that you should be able to taste the quality of blueberries or muscadines you are picking. Different varieties have different flavors, and she encourages you to taste the difference of naturally grown fruit, cared for with love.

*Pictured is Sonya Knight, chatting with my daughter two summers ago.

Smith’s Blueberries uses only natural growing methods, which means no pesticides, herbicides or chemical sprays of any kind are used on their berry bushes and muscadine vines. The fruit is organic, but because of the high cost of seeking official USDA organic labeling, prohibitive to many smaller farms and growers, the farm is not officially certified.

*Above is our haul of blueberries from last summer, and my son digging into our baskets of muscadines last fall, respectively.

To learn more, or to pick fresh blueberries or muscadines in season,
Smith’s Blueberries and More can be found on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/smithsblueberriesandmorefarm/

Or in Collinsville, AL:
Smith’s Blueberries and More
2466 AL HWY 227, Collinsville AL