LONDONDERRY — The Ashegh family has a strategy when they pick blueberries.
"Mommy does the top, and they do the bottom (of a bush)," said Angela Ashegh. "But this year they've been doing more eating than picking — it's a 5-to-1 ratio."
On cue, Abigail Ashegh, 5, pops another blueberry into her mouth and grins at her 2-year-old sister, Audrey.
"Mmm ... this one tastes good," she said.
Abigail isn't making it up — this year's blueberry crop is not only plentiful but a farmer's dream according to local and state officials.
The Ashegh family of Windham was one of dozens of families that flocked to Sunnycrest Farm to pluck the newly ripened berries from bushes yesterday.
Blueberry season started last week and can last until October during a good year, according to Sunnycrest Farm owner Dan Hicks.
And Hicks should know. The farm is one of few in Southern New Hampshire that offer pick-your-own blueberries, probably because it's such a huge time commitment, according to Hicks.
"It takes a lot to establish blueberries, at least 10 years" he said. "A lot of people aren't willing to do that commitment."
But at Sunnycrest, a farm that's been owned by the Hicks family for three generations, the commitment was made long ago and some of the bushes in the 4-acre blueberry area are more than 70 years old.
The berries are high-bush blueberries.
There are two types of blueberries in New Hampshire, according to Richard Uncles, director of the Division of Regulatory Services at the state Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food.
There are low-bush blueberries, which are tinier berries that grow in the wild in northern New Hampshire and Maine. And there are high-bush blueberries which are common on Southern New Hampshire farms.
This year is a good year for either crop, according to Uncles.
"From what I understand it's a good year, and last year was a good year as well," he said. "What really determines that is rainfall. We've had an adequate rainfall that gives us nice, plump, juicy berries."
Hicks agreed and said this year's conditions were "perfect." In addition to rain, there was a good, long winter with lots of snow to protect the crops. The blueberries at Sunnycrest are also netted to keep the birds away from the abundant crop.
And most importantly, most farmers in New Hampshire have avoided summer hailstorms — the thing that "berry growers fear the most," according to Uncles.
Hicks said Sunnycrest has escaped any serious hailstorms — but he's still knocking on wood.
"We haven't had any of the, what we call the 'h word' — we don't even say it around here," he said. "It can devastate everything, but so far we've been lucky enough to avoid it."
And so far, the crowds that line up to go blueberry picking are pleased with what they're finding.
The Ashegh family was trying to collect between 6 and 12 pounds of blueberries to eat now and freeze for later in the year.
Angela Ashegh said there wasn't a shortage of berries to chose from — and there wasn't a shortage of fun.
"I didn't get this when I was a kid. I grew up in the big city," she said. "But it's a great activity."
That fun will continue when the family returns home and the baking begins.
"She lets me pick the blueberries," said Abigail. "Then I get to help her make the muffins."
The New Hampshire blueberry industry produces about $4 million annually. There are more than 3,000 acres of berry plants, which include blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.
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Associated Press material was used in this report.
Pick Your Own
Blueberries and raspberries are ready to pick
Sunnycrest Farm in Londonderry: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon
Monahan Farm, East Kingston: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
