True blue
Merek Ringwelski picks fresh berries Saturday afternoon with his family.
ill Moreton says the secret to growing nine varieties of blueberries in Lehighton is "organic matter." Moreton is the owner of Spring Mountain Farms and has been growing the berries for over 10 years.
"The ground up here is all clay, so a whole lot of matter is needed," he said.
Luckily for the crop the farm is occupied by over 150 cows that provide the secret ingredient naturally. Moreton and wife Sharon live on the 240-acre organic farm with cows, pigs, chickens, lambs and seven dogs. The couple relocated from Ohio to New Jersey before living on the then-50 acre farm.
"I just kept adding on acres and opened in 2006," he said.
Moreton said he planted his crops as a draw to help his meat sales.
"When I planted the berries 10 years ago there was only one variety on the farm. Now they keep coming up with new varieties. There are probably over 100 kinds of blueberries out there now."
Spring Mountain Farms is a pick-your-own place with the season starting the first week of July and continuing into the fall with different varieties of fruit.
"When we first started there were at least 15-20 cars here every day. The majority of pickers are families," Moreton said.
"Since I'm organic and because they can pick their own, they bring their kids. It's a nice way to spend an afternoon for about $5," he said.
"They park and go pick the berries. They get a bucket and a bag and are on their way," he said.
With all the berries popping up, the couple will freeze the leftover blueberries for a Christmas blueberry cobbler and holiday pies.
"Blueberries are amazing. They help with diabetes and are an anti-inflammatory. There's a lot of things you can do with them," he said.
Sharon bakes pies, cobblers, muffins and whips up smoothies with the antioxidant-packed fruit.
"We grow Patriots, Blue Crop, Elliots and Ruhels. I call Ruhels the 'muffin berry' because of their small size. They are most like the wild variety," Moreton said.
The couple has continued to expand the farm to grow raspberries, pears, plums and apples.
"It extends our picking season into October."
Emilia Ringwelski, along with her children, husband and mother, arrived at the farm on Interchange Road to spend the Saturday afternoon together.
"We live in Effort and my mom wanted to take the grandkids," she said.
"The berries are very yummy. My mom has been just waiting for the Facebook message that says 'the berries are here,' " Ringwelski said.
"The best part for the kids is the fresh-off-the-vine berries. They can pick and eat them," she said.
Spring Mountain Farms is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
