Organic Blueberries
Would you like to pick your own blueberries by the bucket? Well, you can enjoy the family fun of doing this at the Tomsha Blueberry Farm. It is located between Spokane and Cheney just off Hwy 195. The season starts in July and will continue through the first week in September.
If you have not tasted freshly picked blueberries, you are in for a real treat. The flavor is so much more bold than berries that have been shipped a long distance or have been kept in cold storage. Blueberries are a rich source of antioxidants and a nutritious addition to your favorite foods list. They are also a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K and fiber. The color of blueberries, from deep blue to purple, is caused by a group of flavonoids called anthocyanins, which produce the antioxidant properties.
A Family Operation
Rod and Rachel Tomsha started the berry farm from transplants about 4 years ago and opened for picking that summer. It takes about 3 to 4 years for blueberry bushes to produce so they continued to expand their farm from seedlings. At full production a single berry bush can produce about 20 pounds. They have 1,000 organically grown berry bushes made up of seven different varieties of berries. I was also very impressed by the fact that they use an environmentally conscious drip system for irrigation.
It is definitely a family operation, involving Rod, Rachel and their two young sons. Rod’s hobby is restoring vintage vehicles so it is no surprise that the center piece for advertising is the farm truck, a classy 1953 green GMC.
Season continues through early September
I was there a week ago and the berries are still plentiful. You can pick your own at $2.50 per pound or order ahead and pick up your berries at $3.50 per pound with a minimum 10 pound order. They are open Saturday and Sunday from 7a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Like them on Facebook at Spokane Berries.
Since it is near the end of the season, you may want to call them at (509) 217-1316, as the hours could change.
Directions
The address is 1515 W 44th Avenue, Spokane. Take southbound Hwy. 195 from I-90 and then you can take the exit just after Thorpe Rd. and before the Cheney Spokane Rd exit. Take an immediate left and follow the road to the left a few hundred feet to a gravel road which will take you to the Tomsha Berry Farm in less than a mile. It is actually easy to find and these wonderful blueberries are definitely worth the trip.
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