Blueberries - Budget Buster

[aidensmom73]

Does anyone know why blueberries haven't gone below $4 a pint? I have been watching them in several stores for 6 weeks know and they haven't budged. Am I missing something?

 

[ShiPooOwner]

I think it might be just too early in the season for them to be reasonably priced. At least here up North we don't see good prices on them until summer. Then the prices really drop. I froze a bunch of them last summer but I won't do that again. They are pretty nasty when they thaw out. Tough and leathery and blobby. Yuck!

 

[Green Tea]

I buy a huge bag of frozen wild blueberries at Costco for about $6. They are so much better than the big cultivated ones in the grocery store, IMO. I eat a huge amount every day.

 

[TarzansKat]

Not sure where you are, but one of my local grocery stores has them this week 2 for $5, so $2.50 a pint. Which is pretty good, and most likely the cheapest I'll see them. We're in New England, if that helps.

 

[ceecee]

Our store had them last week for $2.00, they went up for awhile and I quit buying them.

 

[Jennabeth]

I think it might be just too early in the season for them to be reasonably priced. At least here up North we don't see good prices on them until summer. Then the prices really drop. I froze a bunch of them last summer but I won't do that again. They are pretty nasty when they thaw out. Tough and leathery and blobby. Yuck!

This year, don't wash them before you freeze them. Washing then freezing toughens the skin. We freeze ours right after we pick them, then wash them after they thaw and they are great!! We pick a ton every year and love them in muffins, pies and pancakes.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Around here, they're $2.50 - $2.99 for a half-pint. Every once in a while I'll see them for $2. It won't be blueberry season in this area until June. OTOH, blackberries are really inexpensive right now (for blackberries, that is). Go figure that one, because they're not in season around here, either!

 

[ShiPooOwner]

This year, don't wash them before you freeze them. Washing then freezing toughens the skin. We freeze ours right after we pick them, then wash them after they thaw and they are great!! We pick a ton every year and love them in muffins, pies and pancakes.

So that's what I did wrong! Thanks for the tip!

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Do you have room to plant your own blueberry bushes? We bought 3 bushes last year. We have lots of berries on them now! I'm pretty sure you could grow them in a pot, as well, if you don't have space for a garden.

 

[Reagan&Co.]

You might want to check a farmer's market once they come in season. I sell blackberries there for half what the stores charge, and mine are pesticide free!

 

[writermommy6]

Do you have room to plant your own blueberry bushes? We bought 3 bushes last year. We have lots of berries on them now! I'm pretty sure you could grow them in a pot, as well, if you don't have space for a garden.

This is what I'm going to do this year. Lowe's has them for $9 this week. We love blueberries but I'm always too cheap to buy too many.

 

[branv]

I find this so interesting, b/c this year I've never seen blueberries so cheap! For a few weeks there, I was buying them for .77 a half pint. The most expensive I've seen them have been $1.50. Same with blackberries. And oddly, the blueberries and blackberries were some of the fruits affected by a late freeze that really hurt the summer fruit industry in TX. Now these great prices were found in the more specialty stores I visit like Sun Harvest and New Flower (aka :Sun Flower markets), so I can't speak for the chain stores. I just can't help but be amazed at the price variation, esp. since blueberries are notoriously pricey in my area.

 

[angwill]

We are in the midwest and there is a blueberry farm near us. The season for picking starts late June at the earliest but most times they are not ready till the first week of July. That should be when they are cheapest.

You can wash blueberries you just have to make sure they are completely dry before freezing. We wash them and put them on paper towel lined baking sheets till dry.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Meijer has them on sale this week at 3 for $5 - I was so excited as we all love them but hate the price!! Hopefully they will start to come down.

 

[extremesoccermom]

I bought a blueberry bush this year that claimed it needed only one plant. I am hoping we will have blueberries next year.
I also just finished planting my summer garden over the weekend. I built 4 raised beds but only 2 are in use this year. (That was a lot of dirt to move. )
I am also working on building a strawberry fountain. Can't wait to start eating all my goodies!

 

[Parkhopper]

For those of you who have blueberry bushes...how do you keep birds from eating the berries?

Suzi

 

[C.Ann]

I buy them when they're in season and dirt cheap at Aldi's.. Then I freeze them and use them throughout the year..

I've never had a problem with them being mushy or leathery.. They always taste just as fresh as when I first purchase them..

 

[BrightScouter]

You might want to check a farmer's market once they come in season. I sell blackberries there for half what the stores charge, and mine are pesticide free!

Oh how I wish you were near us. There are two farmer's markets across the street from each other near us. Neither one is as cheap as the local grocery store. I WANT to support the local farmers, but it is tough when they are so high priced! We even have a farmer's market that opens one evening a week for the smaller farmers and they are the same way. Even when stuff is not on sale, I can get it 20% cheaper at the local Meijer store. That makes it tough to buy from them. I still do somethings, but not as much as I would like.

 

[tasha99]

Many, many years ago, my dad decided to plant blueberries in his yard. There are the "ornamental" blueberry bushes around his house, and then maybe 30 bushes in rows back by the garden. I am so glad he did that--I love blueberries, but can't afford them! He's always had a come on and pick em policy for all the kids and grandkids, which has been great. Just wish I could convince him to plant a bunch of raspberries and marionberries as well.

 

[tasha99]

Oh how I wish you were near us. There are two farmer's markets across the street from each other near us. Neither one is as cheap as the local grocery store. I WANT to support the local farmers, but it is tough when they are so high priced! We even have a farmer's market that opens one evening a week for the smaller farmers and they are the same way. Even when stuff is not on sale, I can get it 20% cheaper at the local Meijer store. That makes it tough to buy from them. I still do somethings, but not as much as I would like.

The farmer's market is the same where I live. I love to window shop at it, but it's too expensive for my budget.