Long before people were spending most of their day trying to “stay connected” with an electronic device called a Blackberry, sweet, delicious blackberries were one of the true highlights of summer. If you’re willing to endure a few prickly points, this wonderful treat is only a pail and a picker away.
Back when people lived closer to the land, their lives were in tune with the seasons of wild grapes, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Harvesting these natural delights served several purposes. Besides adding variety to a simple menu it was an activity that brought family together for the harvest as well as cooking pies, tarts or making preserves that stretch out their enjoyment through the winter months.
In the warmer climate of Florida, the annual blackberry crop begins to ripen around the first week of June, depending on the arrival of the rainy season. These rains not only produce more fruit, they make the berries fat and juicy.
When the berries first start to appear, you’ll notice a lot of little red berries, a few that are black with red tips and the all black berries you’re looking for. Leave the berries with the red tips for another day. They’re not fully ripe and will taste a bit tart.
As the summer progresses, like other crops both wild and domestic, the harvest moves north gradually. You’ll have to check with local sources to find out when blackberries ripen in your area, or do some scouting and keep an eye on the area you intend on harvesting. Once the blooms set, it doesn’t take long for the berries to form and ripen.
Picking this soft, delicate berry requires a slow, steady hand and more than a due ration of patience. Place your fingers behind the berry and pull gently without squeezing the berry. Hold your hand with the palm up, so if the berry slips from your grasp you won’t lose it. Once they drop into the undergrowth they’re usually gone and you will get frustrated quickly. I’ve found that it is best to carry a small container and dump it into a larger pail when it becomes full, so I don’t have to carry the full weight around. My daughters like to make their own pails out of small cherry tomato boxes and a piece of pipe cleaner. These small boxes fill up quickly, and they like to come back home reporting the number of boxes they filled. This gentle form of sibling rivalry fills up the big pail quicker and they don’t get discouraged trying to fill a larger container. With the number of berries that get eaten during the picking, it’s a wonder that any make it home, but the promise of blackberry pie usually tempers the on-site consumption. 
When you reach into a thick bunch of brambles to get the big berries the briers will grab your hands and arms. To extract yourself, just back out slowly. Carrying a short stick is a great way to avoid many of the briers. Just use it to lift the big limbs as you reach into heavy cover. During the peak of the season, which only lasts for about 10 days to two weeks, you can go back every day to find plenty of new berries that have ripened overnight, especially after heavy rains. We have two areas to pick, and I don’t tell many people where to find them until we’ve gotten a good supply laid in.
The uniform of the day for a berry picker is long pants and a good sun hat. I wear long sleeves as well, but some people find their bare arms attract less barbs. That’s a point of personal preference, so I would suggest that you wear long sleeves and then roll them up to compare the advantages of each approach. The important thing about berry picking is to be diligent once the season begins, because once a year is the only time you’ll have. Take plenty of cool water and make the best of it while the blackberries are fat and sweet.
