Marymac Berry Farm and Its Blueberries
Small Farm Opens Up to Visitors to Pick Their Own Fruit
Jul 20, 2009
Marymac Berry Farm is just the place to be if you like the satisfaction of picking your own fruit. Lush blueberry bushes line two acres of land and are capable of producing upwards of 15,000 pounds of blueberries each year.
Every summer, owners Bob and Mary McNabb, open up their farm to the public for picking. From mid-June to mid-August, anyone of any age can come and pick blueberries.
Close to Huntsville
The farm is located just 9 miles from downtown Huntsville, more commonly recognized for its major presence of technology, space, and defense industries. These include the Army's Redstone Aresenal, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, and Cummings Research Park.
For a simpler side of life, though, one doesn't have to go far to find a farm of fresh fruit for the taking.
Marymac Berry Farm's Blueberries
The majority of the blueberry bushes are of the "Rabbit Eye" variety, most suited for the climate of the south. The bushes can range in size from 3 to 8 feet tall, typically producing dime-size blueberries. Sub-varieties include Climax, Tifblue, Premier, and Brightwell -- all chosen because they tend to ripen at different times during the summer.
At Marymac, the berries are never sprayed and always hand picked. They sell for $1.50 per pound and customers are encouraged to sample the berries while picking.
Human visitors aren't the only ones that come by for blueberries. According to the Marymac Berry Farm recipe book, birds tend to eat some of the crop too. As the recipe book states, "We tell the birds the same thing we tell our customers ... eat all you want."
Blueberry Specifics
One can tell that blueberries are ready to pick when they are plump and a deep blue color, according to the US Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC). Not only are blueberries delicious, but they are also nutritious.
The USHBC states that one cup of blueberries contains 14 mg. of Vitamin C and 0.8 mg. of Vitamin E.
"Based on data from the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (Boston, MA.), blueberries are among the fruits with the highest antioxidant activity," the USHBC web site states.
According to the Marymac Berry farm recipe book, a cup of blueberries has about 40 calories. Blueberries make a tasty and healthful snack.
Contact Marymac
Owners, Bob and Mary Lou McNabb, came to Huntsville in 1962, states their recipe book. They bought the Marymac farm site in 1973 and built their house there in 1974.
For over 50 years, Mary Lou has been an active gardener and participates as a member in several gardening associations. Both Bob and Mary Lou are also active supporters of the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
Marymac Berry Farm is located at 2060 Dug Hill Road in Brownsboro, Ala. For more information or to call ahead for a visit to pick blueberries, call (256) 534-5328.
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