Follow me to the blueberry patch: Daytrip to Cattaraugus

By Michelle Blackley Glynn

Winding through the peaks and valleys of tree-lined roads in the hills of Cattaraugus, one may feel far away from the Buffalo-Niagara Region – but knowing the destination is a multigenerational, family-owned blueberry farm makes the journey all the more exciting.

Burdick Blueberries is a place to get lost and find yourself at the same time. The rolling hillside of 40 acres of farmland abuts a tree farm, encapsulating 10 varieties of blueberries, all tended to by a third-generation farmer and her dedicated helpers. Bees are contained to their hive pallets outlining the blueberry patch, acting as workers to help pollinate the produce.

Amy Edwards owns and manages her grandfather’s vision, and added a flower garden, guest house, 100-person event space, pumpkin patch and even Blue, the pony, who resides in a barn on the property. There is also a retail space for floral bouquets, maple syrup, locally baked goods with blueberries from the farm, and souvenirs.

Her grandfather also didn’t allow children under age 11 to pick blueberries on the farm, but Amy changed that, and families of all ages are now allowed to participate in selecting seasonal selections of blueberries.

Deciding which type of blueberry to pick couldn’t be easier, with dedicated employees willing to take visitors out to the patch and guide them to what’s in season.

Blueberry varieties growing at Burdick include:

√ Herbert – large, medium blue blueberries, ripen in late mid-season (mid- to late-July). A fan favorite.

√ Berkley – light blue, firm and large with a very good storage capacity. Sweeter and good for baking.

√ Blue crop – produces big clusters of large, all-purpose berries; perfect in salads or pies, or served with cream. 

√ Blueray – extra-large berries with extra-sweet taste. This abundant, mid-season producer will give buckets of delicious, aromatic, light-blue berries.

√ Bonus – a hardy, mid-late variety, usually the size of a quarter to half dollar.

√ Collins – firm, sweet berry. Often large in size and ready to pick mid-to-late-July. 

√ Coville – usually ready mid-summer. These round berries have a sweet taste and juicy texture. 

√ Elizabeth – one of the most popular, and award-winning for flavor.

√ Jersey – one of the tallest blueberry varieties, and its fruit is extra-large. A triple-threat of vigor, productivity, and cold-hardiness.

√ Nelson – a late, mid-season blueberry that yields sweet, very large berries that are firm and juicy.

Originally a potato farm, Edwards said her grandfather introduced blueberries to the land when he discovered both produce liked the same soil. The potatoes may be gone, but the same work ethic and love remain at Burdick. Passed down to her father, Edwards took the business over following her sister in 2014. A warm welcome from Amy and her partner, Beth Strasser, is sure to be guaranteed when arriving at the farm.

The charm isn’t just an act in the Enchanted Mountains. The team’s expertise is in agriculture, especially all-things blueberries. Last year, Edwards’ Burdick Blueberries was named Farm of the Year at the Cattaraugus County Farmer-Neighbor Dinner.

While blueberry bushes can grow all over the U.S., and farmers in 26 states produce blueberries commercially, more than 98% of that production happens in just 11 states, according to Highbush Blueberry Council.

Recipe: Blueberry crisp

6 servings

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Spread in 8-inch square pan:

• 4½ cups fresh blueberries

Sprinkle with mixture of:

• ¼ cup water
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt

Work together until crumbly, using pastry blender:

• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ cup sifted Gold Medal or King Arthur flour
• ⅓ cup soft butter
• ½ of fresh lemon juice

Spread crumb mixture over blueberries.

Baked uncovered about 40 minutes.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

According to the Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York state has a little more than 700 acres of blueberries in production, yielding about 2 million pounds of blueberries annually – making it the ninth-most important blueberry production state in the nation. Consumer interest in dark-colored fruit containing high amounts of healthful antioxidants has resulted in many more acres being planted over the past several years.

While the blueberry u-pick season at Burdick Blueberries begins in mid-July and lasts until August, weddings take place in June and September. When the snow covers the ground, opportunities to sled, cross-country ski and snowshoe take place.

Burdick Blueberries is located at 8267 Thompson Road, Cattaraugus, and open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit burdickblueberries.net or discover it on social media, at Facebook, Instagram and X.